Above the shop, you have three pieds-à-terre that you rent out on Airbnb, correct?
Yes, we have three complete apartments on the second floor of the building. All have full kitchens and all amenities for a short or long stay.
Tell us about the other Cartersville business you own.
In 2008, I started Porkchop BMX, which specializes in restoration parts for vintage BMX bicycles. The idea to open Cartersville Bicycle in 2019 stemmed from a need for a larger storefront. Between a bigger demand than expected for bicycle repairs and parts and the huge bump in sales of bicycles during COVID, we grew quickly and moved from our 5,000-square-foot building on West Avenue to our current 18,000-square-foot building downtown.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I work on cars and house projects, both of which have been neglected the past two years because of The Jerks building and restaurant project. I look forward to revisiting many unfinished projects at home in the near future.
What’ s your favorite place or activity in Northwest Georgia?
I love walking and hiking. About 10 years ago, I ran both loops regularly( but slowly) at Pine Mountain, and I try to get back to hike it when I have time. I do walk to work downtown every day, though.
Photo by Megan Treglown
What’ s your go-to vacation spot?
Anywhere with low humidity. I ' m probably most fond of the Olympic National Forest and Peninsula in Washington state. I also recently visited Tokyo and really want to go back to explore Japan even though it breaks the humidity rule.
Photo by Megan Treglown
What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid?
An architect, mostly, and I did go to school briefly for mechanical engineering. Despite not achieving that goal, I’ ve enjoyed the four building / restoration projects I ' ve been involved with the past 10 years. It scratched that architecture itch, and it’ s been very satisfying to save three downtown buildings and my 80-year-old house for future generations.
What’ s the craziest job you’ ve ever had?
I ' ve had a few. I did data center cleaning in college( crawling under the raised floor with vacuums). I moved on to industrial cleaning and vacuumed beams 50 feet off the ground in the hangars at Boeing in Everett, Washington, and refinished floors in labs at the University of Washington. And for years, I hauled the spent brewer’ s grain out of Budweiser here in Cartersville and dumped it at dairy farms all over the tri-state area.
What do you do when you need inspiration?
I imagine how good accomplishing something feels, even if the doing part is miserable.
What’ s something that always makes you smile?
Seeing my dog play with his dog friends. He’ s sort of a rock star at Mission Road Kennels.
If you could meet anyone alive or dead, who would it be?
Probably Elvis. But not for reasons most people might want to meet him. I’ d really want to talk to him about decisions he made with Graceland. I ' m also a big Teddy Roosevelt fan. I think we would have gotten along.
What’ s something you’ re addicted to? I can ' t resist a good sandwich.
Photo by Megan Treglown
The Jerks 8 S. Wall St., Cartersville 30120 cartersvillejerks. com nwgeorgialiving. com | 17