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Since the Jones Motor Company moved from its original location at 3226
Central SE in 1957, the building has been home to a Furniture Mart, a Good
Will Store, body shop, army surplus store, J.J. Moped, Strings and Spokes,
and a thrift shop. In early 2000 (after restoration and renovation) it will
become Kelly’s Brewery, and the new owners are in it for a long stay.
Janis and Dennis Bonfontine have bought the building and are working
closely with Dale Zinn of the State Historic Preservation Division to restore
it to the original design. This includes installing a Texaco gas pump in the
front, three new garage doors, a new roof and new windows.
They knew they had challenges when they saw that all the walls had been
painted black by a former Halloween shop owner in the building. "We’re having
a lot of fun doing this," said Janis, who looks forward to seeing the final
product. "I wish we had no time constraints, but that would never be possible
- ever." They hope to open by late February or early March.
Janis and Dennis have stayed in close touch with Jones’ children, Don
Jones and Marvi Jones Woods, who worked at the business. When asked how she
feels about the remodeling going on, Marvi said, "I think it’s wonderful.
We’re hoping to have a Jones reunion as a trial run before the grand opening,
and the count is already up to 80." She says her children have seen the
building mainly from the outside, and they’re looking forward to seeing it as
it was.
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Although Ralph Jones never owned the building, he knew what he wanted
when he hired Tom Danahy to design the modern structure. Jones had operated
an agency in Springer, New Mexico, but it was a large step moving to
Albuquerque and pioneering the east mesa. One of his requirements was to have
a service station built into the dealership.
Jones Motor Company opened on November 18, 1939, and the westward
migration along Route 66 continued to bring people from Kansas, Oklahoma, and
other points east, their cars loaded to the top. Because many needed repairs,
Jones built a canopy in the back so they could get everything unloaded, then
the cars could be repaired.
The business was building momentum when the war started in 1941, and
factories building cars were geared up for the defense effort. It was a real
downer for Jones - but he realized that if no one could buy cars, they would
have to have them fixed. He upgraded the repair shop and hired mechanics. He
traveled to Kansas City and St. Louis, and bought used cars wherever he could
find them, fixed them and sold them.
All of the five Jones children worked for the business at one time or
another. Marvi, her younger brother Keith, and her sister Carol worked there
during the war. Don and Frank worked there before and after the war. In spite
of the uncertainties, everyone hung together. Jones hired servicemen in their
spare hours who needed extra money. Albuquerque was only about 35,000 in
population, and just beginning to grow.
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Winter 2000
