New Facility

Dive Mom left town over the weekend and we decided it was time to add to the list of things we “stole” from the Bissonnet Facility.  This weekend saw us remove all of the grid wall displays from the retail area and the basket storage from the inventory closet!

We are sure she would not notice!  The crew is responsible for this dastardly deed?  Zaide, Coad, Bill, Zac, and Eric were the co-conspirators but please don’t tell.

After loading everything up, and moving it to the new facility, Dave, Madison, and Coad set to work hanging it up while Zaide and Eric took over cleaning from Dave so he could assist with the grid installation.  Once again, Christian was chasing electrical issues; this time it was upstairs where we found an incorrect wiring job.  After a few more, Christian can probably work as an apprentice electrician for his Father, George.

Zac also worked on the electrical as well as re-wiring the dishwasher, hanging blinds, and cleaning blinds.  And speaking of cleaning, Zaide and Christian tasked themselves with cleaning years of dirt and dust off of the grid wall fixtures.
Here are a few photos from the weekend…

Christian Fuss has spent two afternoons  this week, chasing lighting issues and installing more track lighting in the facility.  Every room now has light!  This is a real treat when the sun goes down and the rooms get a little dark.  It will also be great when the merchandise arrives in a few weeks.  Of course, we could not have done it without the help of Sonny from SCT Electric.  He worked for two to three hours trying to get all of the circuits and daisy chained switches operational.  We even have a lot of new GFIC outlets throughout the facility (where they need to be).

Speaking of merchandise, Dave Snyder and Eric got the new wetsuit racks installed and they too are ready to accept merchandise.  These racks look really cool and will make it easier to find your size when you come by.

Colin volunteered to build some benches and he and Eric sat down and designed them so they could also store boots.  And speaking of custom work, Colin also volunteered to help Al out by making him his own stand.  Look for photos of these in the next few weeks.

And lest we forget the most important thing to happen this week – Joe Thompson donated a new commercial ice maker!  We should have it hooked in an a day or two.  You know – it is really hot here in Houston!

The painting is really progressing.  Able and Caesar along with Richard have been working hard to complete the transformation.  They have even had tome to finish the custom color on Eric’s office wall!

Todd Frank came by today for the second time to work on the mailbox installation.  He just sneaks away before we can snap a photo.

As you can see, things have been moving along.  We are trying to get everything complete this week so Rick and the computer team can come in and install the cabling and monitors throughout the office.  Oh and lets not forget the cameras…

Over the past few days with some help, we have made a lot of progress!  Dave came into town this week and told me — I am here for you so let’s get to work.  What do you need done?  With his help, things moved along quickly.  We were able to build the new wetsuit racks using structural steel components (lots of trips to Lowes in outside the loop — inner loopers have not discovered this yet so it was not available close-by.)  Dave became an electrical contractor and took over the ceiling fan installation; so, now the ceiling fans are up in the classroom and my office.

The painters have finished the ceilings and trim and are moving on to the walls.  The upstairs is about 75% finished and they will be trying to finish most of the second floor this weekend and move on to the first floor.  Ceasar has promised to finish at least the “wetsuit room” this weekend so we can attach the racks to the wall.

Joe surprised us today by not only loaning us a powerwasher but actually powerwashing the front of the building to remove some wild paint that was on the brick.  Joe spent a few hours cleaning the brick and the sidewalks removing dirt, grime and paint.  The brief rain shower didn’t even deter him from his work!  It looks so much better now!
We had a bit of a set-back with the electrical — we lost several circuits.  Christian came over and with some consulting with his Father, George, who is an electrician in Germany, we were able to get back some of the power but we still don’t have power going to the lights in three rooms.  We know it is a drop in the electrical daisy chain but we just cant figure out where it is.  It would seem logic could solve it but Dave and I finally decided there was some institutional knowledge we just do not have.  So, we have a call into our electrician for some assistance in solving the problem.
Chuck, from Chill-Co Air Conditioning  came by to rescue the painting crew by getting the upstairs A/C running again.  He still has to come back to do some other work but things are cool again upstairs.

Ann, Amelia and Coad have been making sure that everyone’s scuba needs are being met during this transition.  Of course they have been coming by to supervise as well.
Tomorrow, Zaide is coming over to the Bissonnet location to help me pull down some of the track lighting so we can put it up in the new facility on Monday!
So we are continuing to push forward to get things ready for the big move — which we have yet to schedule since we need to get the painting done and now the electrical issue resolved.

Just a quick update…
Abel Dominguezand his crew of painters arrived on Saturday and set about updating and transforming the interior.  Of course I did not help matters much by ordering the wrong size doors.  Luckily, Caesar knows everyone and fixed my problem post-haste.  The Carpenters are due in to install the doors tomorrow and the wall crews start tomorrow as well.  The exterior shutters are being painted as we speak.
There was a fence between the two buildings but after a discussion with the landlord, we removed the fence from the front and are going to bring it back to the back o f the building.  Aesthetically , it makes the building look larger while retaining the separate spaces.  Of course this meant that we had to remove some poles, grind down the little bit remaining in the concrete and fill the holes with concrete — all in the Texas sun!
More transformations tomorrow…
 

After Ann and Joe ran around the new facility, replacing smoke detectors, adding fire extinguishers and replacing the battery operated “Exit” sign, we passed our occupancy inspection for the City of Bellaire which allows us to start working on the space to prep it.  We have also transferred the power and while transferring the utilities, Ann has now met the permitting staff at City Hall.  They helped her to figure out what we can and can’t do for signage and window treatments in the new space.  So, some plans have changed and others have developed further.

 

Progress – Small Things Count

Now that we have the occupancy permit, we are making progress on the new facility renovations!.  One of our friends stopped by while he was in town and volunteered to help.  Little did he know that he was about to be covered in plaster dust as we sanded down a plaster wall that was too rough for the paint that we had selected.

When he was done, the wall looked much better and the paint will hide the rest of the sins.  He also helped by removing all of the doors we no longer needed as well as all of the hardware to make the painting go faster (and reducing our cost).  The new interior doors we selected were not available until September 17 so back to the design team and well — we have new doors on-site ready to install!  The carpenters are scheduled to come in this weekend to install the doors and the painters are shooting the upstairs ceilings.

After reading Dive Mom’s Wish list, Joe donated a microwave oven to the cause.  On Friday, Christian came by and helped me install it in the “kitchen/Repair Area.”  Yes, install it — it is a large under the counter microwave.  Christian and I looked at it, internalized Joe’s hints and then dreamed up the way to install it.  NO there weren’t instructions with it!  With a little ingenuity, we got it installed!

We have done a lot of other things this week too:

• Removed most of the light fixtures,
• Removed the non-working refrigerator,
• Purchased new hardware,
• Ordered track lighting (who would have thought that track lighting was our of vogue for homeowners so it has been discontinued locally),
• Removed old mail boxes, ready for a new one we purchased, and
• Installed some light fixtures.

The transformation continues…

Our current location is being torn down, not for an intergalactic superhighway, but for another shopping center.  We have been looking for a new home since we found out about the plans for this property last year.  Well, with the help of a lot of people including, Joe Henry, we found a new location and we have signed a lease.  Now we have to renovate it and get it ready for our diving friends and family.  Keep watching here for the progress toward the Grand Opening and the party we are planning to showcase the new facility!

The Plan

As you know, Oceanic Ventures is a Boutique Dive Facility so we operate best in a little different type of facility.  The new facility is no different.  The retail showrooms are divided up into three different spaces and there is now a separate room for orientations or small classes.   The classroom will be upstairs and Eric has been put up there as well to aid in his workout program.  Ann will still be near the front to greet people as they come in.

The compressor and trimix blending station will be on-site along with an expanded repair area.  We also plan for an outdoor patio and BBQ grill and entertainment area(so fajita Fridays will be coming back).  Maybe we can even find a Guinness Tap to put in!
There will also be a small apartment on the second floor which Ann plans on renting to some medical Fellows or Residents.  This will allow for future expansion.
The near/long-term plan is to bring the compressor to the facility in a weatherproof container in the back along with a new repair workstation.

Progress Towards Opening

We have a number of things to do before we are able to move from the current facility to the new facility.  Zaide Scheib helped us with line drawing for the facility and the containers and Holland Geibel has been working with Ann on wall colours for the facility.
We are also working on the interior to prepare it for the for the carpenters and painters.  Along with finishing plans for the containers.
Dive Mom has also put together a “wish list” for things we need for the facility that someone might want to re-purpose to us.  You can see it here.