SPRINGFILD, Mo- A local company is growing to keep up with the demand for motor-scooters.
Before moving off to med school, Whitney Knapp is making a last stop.
"I am buying a Buddy 50," Knapp stated. "I love the retro feel, and the scooters kind of bring that out."
Knapp says saving money is her biggest motivator to ditch the car this semester.
"With gas prices soaring and approaching four dollars, I mean, why not? It takes a few bucks to fill them up and you can go forever."
The pain at the pump is bringing those like Whitney to this scooter store with a funny name: "Kiss My Gas."
"This is what you want to tell the oil companies…they can just 'kiss my gas,' explained co-owner Joe Berrer. "People here in the Ozarks- they like saving money. And they hate spending money on things they don't have to."
Joe just opened up this big new showroom on S. Campbell Ave., a few miles from the his old shop downtown
He started his venture in 2011 as a way to keep busy during his retirement from the auto industry.
"I figured I could have my scooters downstairs, sell maybe 10 scooters a month," Joe said.
Soon, those ten scooters a month became ten scooters a week…then twenty.
There would be no retiring, at least for now.
His new place, which opened last month, is twice as big. He says he is already seeing twice the business.
"Really, it exceeded our wildest expectations. We never thought Springfield would be such a mecca for scooters," Joe explained. "We will never argue with success. It has been wonderful so far."
