Dusty's Collision HQ to double in size with new $3M building

It's part of Dusty Whitney's business model to own the properties that house his six Dusty's Collision locations, and after 15 years, he'll be applying that model to his headquarters on S. Industrial. He plans to start construction on a new, 30,000 square foot facility right next door to his existing headquarters later this year. 

 

"It's really about growing our existing location," Whitney says. "We have three separate buildings now, and at the new building we'll be all under one roof."

 

He'll be able to fit a lot more under than roof as well. As he's now operating with 15,000 square feet, the new, $3 million facility will double his space. With the additional room he plans to upgrade his equipment, expand his aluminum repair operations, grow his staff and have three car lanes dedicated to insurance companies processing claims. 

 

"It's a way to capture some customers, but it also helps the insurance companies," says Whitney. "Now all the cars have to sit outside for estimates, which isn't fun when it's winter for six months like this year."

 

After planning the project for more than a year, Whitney hopes to begin construction in August and move to the new location in spring of 2015. Dusty's Collision currently operates three Ann Arbor locations and one each in Canton, Temperance and Grand Blanc. After the new headquarters is up and running, Whitney plans to continue to grow with new locations.