Gold shovels break ground on new Fenton's Custom Collision

Fenton's Custom Collision owner Tracy Fenton was joined by Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan, commissioners Yvonne Morris and Kathy West, SIU Small Business Development Center representative Robyn Laur Russell, Du Quoin chamber director Stacy Hirsch, vice-president Chip Banks and secretary Doc Holladay in a gold shovel groundbreaking Monday for a new automotive collision center.

The 100,000 square foot building (80 x 100 feet) plus offices and a conference room will be located immediately south of the All-Skate skating rink at the intersection of Rt. 51 and Rt. 14 south of Du Quoin.

Fenton, who contributes to the community at every turn in terms of goodwill and charity through his donated barbecue and food preparation skills, has owned the seven-year-old business for the last four and a half years. His business has grown exponentially in a short amount of time.

When the new collision center at 1671 South Washington is completed by the end of the year, he will let his lease expire on a satellite location in Du Quoin and sell or lease the current Elkville location.

D & R Construction of Mount Vernon is the builder. Mathis & Sons Excavating of Du Quoin is expected to begin site work on Wednesday.

The collision center will have 12 automotive bays, two paint booths, a frame rack (used to bring collision-damaged frames and chassis back to original specifications), a detailing bay, enclosed drive-through for estimating and vehicle acceptance for service and other support facilities.

The entire shop will be computer networked.

The collision center currently has six employees.

Fenton said support from the City of Du Quoin and from the Southern Illinois Business Development Center have been all-important to this project.

Fenton Custom Collision also provides a 24-hour towing service, paint free dent removal and Hertz car rentals if you need use of a vehicle while your car is being repaired.

You can make an appointment by calling 568-2639.