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Then it was time for motorcycle stunts, with hundreds of people watching.
"That was one of the most exciting ribbon cuttings I've been to as mayor," Mayor John Medinger said after the noon event outside the 145,000-square-foot building, which served as a Fleming Cos. health and beauty aids distribution facility until it closed last year. "It was unusual to hear all those revving engines" as the ribbon was cut. "That was some fun."
Medinger estimated about 500 people attended the event, the largest crowd he could remember at a ribbon cutting since he became mayor in 1997.
S&S, based in Viola, Wis., makes high-performance engine parts and engines for motorcycles. The fast-growing company announced in March it would expand to two former Fleming buildings along Causeway Boulevard. It said it would move its distribution center to the larger building, and later do some manufacturing there.
About 40 people are working at the distribution center, which has been operating since Aug. 11, company President Brett Smith said Tuesday. S&S has said it expects to have at least 60 employees in La Crosse within two years.
Smith said the company has a total of about 350 employees, and could have 425 to 450 next year.
He said the company hopes to start using the smaller, 20,000-square-foot building along Causeway Boulevard by next spring. It will be used for such functions as sales, marketing, technical support and training.
"It's so nice to take this facility and put people back to work in it," Medinger said.
"I'm very, very glad this day has arrived," said James Hill, executive director of the La Crosse Area Development Corp. LADCO, the city and Xcel Energy are partners in the La Crosse Industrial Park Corp., which bought the two former Fleming buildings from Supervalu Inc. LIPCO is leasing them to S&S Cycle, with an option to purchase.
S&S Cycle is a very successful company that has demonstrated "tremendous commitment to the community" and strong family values, Hill said.
Steve Cahalan can be reached at (608) 791-8229 or scahalan@lacrossetribune.com.
