Oconee Off-Road barrels into the future
Oconee Off road
3975 Atlanta hwy
Athens Bogart Georgia 30622
706 534 9955
Oconee Off-Road barrels into the future
By Nick Coltrain updated Saturday, October 6, 2012 - 2:30pm
Six months ago, Oconee Off-Road was “bursting at the seams,” sales tech Robby Ward said.
Today, it has four-times the number of bays available to do custom off-road modifications and has pushed past its Watkinsville roots as an operation specializing in Jeeps to offer a variety of accessories and services for all kinds of vehicles.
“We sold a guy some floor mats for his Camaro last week, so we kind of do everything,” Ward joked.
He said the expansion has been “a wild ride,” meaning a was a bit of a risk. But with other shops specializing in off-road accessories closing down, Ward said they decided to take the chance.
“We saw that void and took a chance and threw that curveball out into the dark,” he said.
The business moved during the summer from a Watkinsville strip mall to a former GoodYear tire store building at 3975 Atlanta Highway.
Ward said the move gave him the opportunity to expand the business’ wares and offerings to custom fabrications for off-road modifications.
“We can make anything,” Ward said. “If we can’t find it already made, then we can make it.”
They had some of the equipment earlier, but it wasn’t quite fire safe to use plasma cutters and blow torches in a strip mall, he said. They would also need to jam cars they were working on into the showroom when it was busy. With eight bays now, too many cars isn’t a problem, Ward said.
Oconee Off-Road reaches the world through a 4,000-item online retail business while still carrying parts down to the bolt to restore classic Jeeps.
Ward said they aim to give back to the community also, be it through charity trail rides or by taking on apprentices.
“We understand that business is good, but it’s the local community that makes it good,” Ward said. “… We want to give back because that’s really the only way to be successful.”
