Merlin Motors preparing to ship roadsters
Merlin Motors is revving up operations.
The company – which makes a high-performance vehicle that’s part roadster and part three-wheel motorcycle – is getting its first machines into the marketplace.
“The ball has started rolling,” said Ron Keto, vice president of manufacturing.
The company, which is owned by Keto’s Seattle-based brother Dan Keto and his business partner Dean Dorcas, moved to the area last summer.
After six months of streamlining the vehicle’s design and testing its performance, the company is moving into new leased space at Spokane Business and Industrial Park and embarking on a production schedule.
The 5,840-square-foot space offers additional storage for parts and has subassembly areas, where eight employees will assemble high-end and custom parts into Merlin Roadsters.
Within a few weeks, five completed roadsters will be shipped to East Coast dealerships and to Redmond, Wash., for use as floor models.
The next batch is slated for dealerships in Texas, Iowa and to a client who ordered extensive customization to create a mean-green Irish theme.
“The biggest goal is to stretch our production,” Keto said, adding the company hopes to build 270 vehicles this year and 1,500 next year.
Production of standard bikes may eventually transfer to Detroit, leaving the Spokane facility to focus on testing and custom work, which will likely become a large part of the business.
Standard vehicles sell for $29,950. To find out more about Merlin Motors, visit www.merlinmotorsusa.com.
Salon styling in Spokane Valley
A full-service salon is offering a sea of color for men and women looking for a change.
Kathy Bymers opened Retro Salon at 14201 E. Sprague Ave. earlier this month.
Opening her own salon in Spokane Valley was a natural progression after more than 20 years in the business, Bymers said.
“I graduated from Central Valley High School, so I’m a Valley girl.”
The salon offers coloring services that include brightening, which lifts natural color one shade, and men’s hair coloring. Both services are $25 or less and take 10 to 20 minutes.
They also offer cutting-edge techniques that require special training, Bymers said.
Retro Salon offers manicures, pedicures, artificial nails and massages and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For appointments, call 927-4848.
Little Bennies on East Trent still cooking
Although Little Bennies on East Sprague closed recently, fans of the restaurant’s hamburgers can still get their fix at the East Trent location.
Nathan Michaud, who owns the business with his brother, Zeke Sawyer, said business at the 2-year-old East Sprague burger stand was sporadic.
“It was eating up six days a week. It wasn’t enough money to justify it,” Michaud said.
The brothers continue to operate the East Trent restaurant, 11923 E. Trent Ave., which offers hamburgers with fresh ingredients and locally baked bread, deli sandwiches and hard-ice cream milkshakes.