New Owners, Same Great Service

As co-owner of Jimlo Glass Center, 1205 Kansas, Jason Wondra offers services to businesses, vehicle owners and homeowners. And once in a while the need is immediate. For example, Wondra said, “when it is cold during this time of year, customers with broken windows need it replaced as soon as possible.”

Other quick-response jobs include fixing up after commercial or residential burglaries, and replacing storefronts when a motorist hits the accelerator instead of the brake.

Then and Now - Jimlo Glass currently occupies the location pictured below at 1205 Kansas in Great Bend. Many years ago, Jimlo shared that space and the one next to it with Sexton Wheel Alignment, as pictured above. Eventually, Jimlo grew so much that they occupied both buildings. It wasn't until 1997 that the business was downsized to its current size, due to the pending retirement of its former owners. "Back then, you had to keep a lot of inventory, so y ou needed a lot of storage," current owner Jason Wondra says. "Now, we can get product in a few business days, so we can keep up the workload without as much space."

While Jimlo is called upon to handle these types of circumstances from time to time, the normal day-to-day work keeps rolling in.

The business was started in 1971 through a co-ownership between Lores & Dolores Appel and a partner at 1207 Kansas in Great Bend. Lores had worked for two other local glass companies since the age of 17, and that expertise helped him quickly grow a loyal customer base.

The steady growth that followed led to an expansion into the neighboring shop at 1205 Kansas. "At the time, Jimlo was only occupying the back half of the 1205 location for storage and fabrication," Wondra says. "Sexton Wheel Alignment occupied the front half of the shop."

In 1997, as owners Lores & Dolores Appel grew closer to retirement, the business was down-sized to the 1205 location alone, where it is still located today. Shortly thereafter, current owner Jason Wondra  was brought on as a laborer. "There was a huge hail storm that year so I got to know how to do things pretty quick," Wondra says. "And then a few years later, the Hoisington tornado came through and destroyed the town, so we spent endless hours servicing their needs and helping them rebuild their community."

Jimlo Staff - Seated in front is Jimlo's secretary Pat Jones. Pictured from left to right in the back are Tim Rebein, Todd Wondra, and owners Megan and Jason Wondra with their son Jaxson.

In 2008 when the Appel's were ready to retire, they offered to sell their business to Jason. "My wife and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to carry on the legacy of professionalism and quality work that was started by the former owners," Wondra says. "The business already had established customers and a good reputation in the area. It was a win-win."

In addition to continuing the lines of products and services offered before, Wondra has expanded as new products become available on the market. "We do a lot of entryways and storefronts," Wondra commented. "We have our own fabrication shop here and have a lot of glass in stock. We cut all glass to fit, so our customers know the finished product will look clean and professional."

In addition, Jimlo stocks laminated safety glass that is used for farm and other heavy equipment. The business also provides decorative glass for cabinetry.

More than Glass -Jimlo's name makes it evident that their staff knows how to handle glass. But it takes a lot more than just glass to satisfy their customers needs. The machine pictured above cuts and bends sheet metal to fram commercial windows and entryways. "It takes specialized equipmentto do a lot of what we do," Wondra says. "But more importantly it takes expertise."

On the automotive side of the business, windshield replacement is part of the regular schedule. "We try for same-day service," Wondra said. "But it depends on how much work we have backed up. It can normally be done within a couple of days."

One of the most unique services provided by Jimlo is its frameless glass shower enclosures. "This is all custom work and is fairly new to the market here," Wondra said, noting he uses three-eighths-inch tempered safety glass that comes in a range of colors.

Jimlo has four employees, including Wondra. Tom Rebein is the auto-glass technician and shop repairman, and has been with the company for over fifteen years. Pat Jones, Jimlo's secretary, started there in 2005. Todd Wondra, Jason’s brother, has been the service technician since 1997.

Precision Work - Jimlo Glass Todd Wondra uses a precision instrument (pictured above) to temper a sheet of glass. Once the glass has been tempered, Wondra uses speciality grip tools to break the glass into two pieces with clean edges.

"Our employees do a great job with our customers, as they are our highest priority." Wondra says. "We hope we can continue to serve Barton County and Central Kansas for many years to come."

Jason was born and raised in Great Bend, and graduated from Great Bend High School in 1995. In 2006, he married his wife, Megan, who graduated from Ellinwood High School in 1999. Megan helps at Jimlo in addition to working as office staff for Central Kansas Orthopedic Group. The couple has one son, Jaxon, and another child due this month.

Wondra was born and raised in Great Bend, and his wife was born and raised in Ellinwood.
The Wondras’ son, Jaxon, 2, is expecting a baby brother this month.

Custom Installation - Jimlo Glass installers set a commercial window at Damm Body Shop in Great Bend.

 

-Sidebar-

Services offered by Jimlo:
Auto glass replacement & repair
Residental glass replacement & repair
Decorative cabinetry glass
Mirrors
Shower enclosures
Heavy equipment glass
Vinyl windows
Commercial entryways & storefronts

Notable Examples of Jimlo's Work
Barton Community College Additions
Great Bend High School Panther Athletic Center
Front Door Facility
Cheyenne Bottoms Inn in Hoisington
Community Bank in Ellinwood

Present Day Building