Page 31 - Vallejo_Chamber_of_Commerce_Magazine_Fall_2019

Taking his

James Gang
time and
Construction

choosing

his line

just kind of clicked,” Jim explained. He added, with a
laugh: “I didn’t know there was a band called James “I really don’t do any advertising; it’s really all word
of mouth,” Jim said. “There are a lot of people
Gang in the ‘70s; I didn’t know they existed! But people recommending me in Vallejo … It’s nice having people
would ask, ‘Oh like the band,’ and I’d just got with it. trust us when they need something done. I think our
By Nate Gartrell I’d go, ‘Oh yeah, exactly,’ but then I had to go home work speaks for itself.”
and research that.”
James Gang Construction was recently called in to
While Jim was growing his business his wife, Nikki work on clearing debris after a large building on the
Jim said. “We’ll go through and remodel the house
James Gang Construction was founded in 2005 by Jim Folan, was busy building her own resume as a corner of Sonoma Boulevard and Curtola Parkway
… a lot of what we get called out for is remodeling
Folan, a Solano County resident with a reputation for successful small-business owner. She’s the head of burned to the ground. “We were in and out in four
bathrooms and kitchens.
top-notch work. Folan had spent the previous eight Shear Bliss, a Vallejo beauty salon that she took over and a half days,” he said.
years as a union carpenter, before breaking away from at the impressive young age of 24. She credits Jim with
the union and setting off on his own. “It’s crazy how busy it is,” he continued. “It’s hard to three things: helping remodel the place, coming up His favorite work is remodeling kitchens and countertops.
keep up with the work, the phone’s ringing off the hook. with the name Shear Bliss—“He loves to take credit for “It’s fun type of work, building cabinets and putting
“The market was changing and the union was pretty slow, We’re constantly looking to hire more guys so we can the name,” she said in an interview earlier this year— them together,” Jim said. “You get to stay clean and
work was hard to find,” Jim said in a recent interview. take on more projects. We need skilled carpenters, and giving her the confidence to give it a shot when use some fun tools … Some time I would like to set up
“Instead of going to union every day, I just started going people who want to work; it sounds like that would be the opportunity came along. a custom shop and do custom pieces for people.”
out myself … I started as a handyman and started taking easy to find but it’s really not, it’s harder than it seems
large scale projects as time went on.” like it should be.” “I was kind of nervous and scared but [Jim] told me to James Gang Construction is listed at 220 Texas
just go for it,” she said. Street in Vallejo. Examples of their work are posted
Within a short time, he’d established himself, bought A lot of people assume the name “James Gang to their Facebook page at facebook.com/James-
a home in Vallejo and met his wife here who, like Jim, Construction” is some sort of tribute to the James The Folans recently moved from Vallejo to Vacaville, but Gang-Construction. To contact them about jobs or
runs her own successful small business in town. “Moving Gang band—a Cleveland rock and roll group from the they stay active in the community out here; both are still any questions, call (415) 250-1809. To contact them by
here was one of the best things I ever did,” Jim said. 1960s and ‘70s, best known for their hits “Funk #49” and members of the Chamber of Commerce. email, visit vallejochamber.com/list/member/james-
“Walk Away”—but Jim said gang-construction and click on “Send an email” under
Over the years, Jim was able to build the business up that’s not the case. There “My wife and I have met a lot of great people at the Jim Folan’s name.
and now he has a three-man crew, but he may need to just happened to be a lot of Chamber of Commerce, made some really solid
hire more due to the high number of offers that they James’ in his life. friendships,” he said. “And I think it’s been a very positive
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied
get. They specialize in home repair and remodeling, as thing for both of our businesses.” journalism in college, and has written for a
well as decks, fencing, and backyard add-ons. “My dad was James, he kind handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires
of taught me the trade, and Jim said, Vallejo’s “nice, central location” for to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums
“We do a lot of interior work, mostly working for and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
the last guy I worked with homeowners, as well as its small-town feel, has helped
homeowners and property management companies,”
was named James too, so it his business tremendously.

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