Open door policy

MOSES LAKE — There are more to doors than meets the eye.

"There's a lot to garage doors, especially," said job foreman Kevin Walz of Garage Doors and More. "Lots to fixing them. A lot of people don't know what they're doing, they could get hurt."

Kevin's father, owner Jim Walz, first opened the business in the Columbia Basin in Othello in about 1990, and made the move to Moses Lake in roughly 1996.

He has been a general contractor for about 37 years, and began in the business by installing doors in the buildings he built.

Jim Walz's business evolved into more door work before he moved into the state from Minnesota.

"We moved here and decided to open a garage door business full time," he said. "We've done real well with the business."

Jim Walz made the move because he knew people in the area, and he wanted to get away from the Minnesota winters, he said.

"I love the country (of the Columbia Basin)," he said. "Minnesota's a beautiful state, but when we moved here, it was about the middle of April, and I was delayed leaving Minnesota in the morning because of ice on the roads and ditches were still half-full of snow."

Jim Walz remains a general contractor, but at least 90 percent of the business is garage doors, rolling steel doors and overhead doors.

The operation primarily does commercial business for a number of area industries, but also offers residential doors.

"Any type of door," Jim Walz said.

The business can also make an opening in a wall for the door, and carries parts.

"We're here to be a full-service door business," Jim Walz said.

Son Kevin Walz has worked for the business since he was 15 years old.

Robert Escalante, door installer, said the best part of the business is the opportunity to go different places.

The business employs three people besides Jim Walz.

"I used to work for a print shop for five years before I did this," he said. "Just doing the same thing is just not for me; I can't be inside stuck. I like going out there and being able to use my head to fix problems."

"Not being tied down to the same job site or place every day," Kevin agreed.

Jim Walz said the business covers the majority of the Columbia Basin.

He hopes to one day see Kevin take it over and keep increasing volume, he said.

The business, located at 3190 Bell Road, operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. On Saturday, customers are urged to call and leave a message.

Call 509-764-7740 for more information.