Open for Business

After 20 years of creating choppers in Springfield and Omaha, Neb., AC Motorcycles moved April 1 to 314 E. Chestnut St., between Boonville and Jefferson. Owner Roger Bergei and six employees build custom motorcycles, both from existing bikes and from scratch, in their 4,000-square-foot shop. Bergei, who also sells leather accessories, jackets, sunglasses and motorcycle parts, said he’s been fabricating motorcycles since 1985, but has seen a surge in demand for his Bergei’s Bad Boyz Bikes line since the advent of TV shows such as American Chopper on the Discovery Channel. “The TV shows are great,” Bergei said. “People from all walks of life own custom bikes now.” No two motorcycles are the same, and thus no two motorcycles share the same price tag. However, $31,250 will buy Bergei’s newly completed 2005 Custom Softail, pictured at left. Shop hours are 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday.

Altis Insurance Agency, an Allstate affiliate, moved June 10 to 1525 E. Republic Road, Ste. B-105. Owner Virginia Altis, who opened her agency in October 1997, provides standard insurance lines, including auto, home and life, as well as some financial services. The five-employee agency moved only about 100 yards, across Republic Road, in order to make the switch from leasing office space to owning it. Office hours are 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday.

Vision Communications Inc., which operates KADI 99.5 FM at 5431 W. Sunshine St., purchased 1340 AM in May and changed its call letters to KADI Aug. 4 to match its FM counterpart. The former KIDS 1340 AM was a Branson information station. Now Vision Communications airs conservative talk programs, such as Fox News analyst Mike Gallagher’s syndicated show, as well as a radio auction and financial advice shows, said President R.C. Amer. The frequency’s tower is still located in Christian County, but offices were relocated to Springfield from Branson. Two sales staff and two on-air employees were hired as part of the conversion, Amer said.