ARP, founded in 1968 by Gary Holzapfel, is a metal fastener manufacturer for specialty automobiles that – once he recognized the need - was started in his garage. ARP is now worldwide, and no car driven in Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR or NHRA drag racing wins without ARP fasteners, noted Wright.In 1991 ARP moved a manufacturing plant to Santa Paula, and later, “despite a fair amount of opposition” from then city staff, opened Hozy’s, the unique racing-themed eatery that has proven to be a draw for those who love fine dining. In addition, ARP is “as generous as any business in Santa Paula when it comes to supporting community events,” being the largest donor for the last two years for Santa Paula Beautiful cleanup days.Wright noted that ARP is a regular sponsor of “all the city’s youth special events…. No business of their size in Santa Paula the last few years has been as generous with their financial resources for community events as ARP.”ARP Vice President of Sales/Marketing Bob Florine, who with President Mike Holzapfel also owns the business, now with four locations, accepted the Business of the Year Award. Florine noted that ARP has grown to “ close to 200 employees from 40,” and that “opening the restaurant was a rare battle, but we don’t do Hozy’s to make money… it’s a love of cooking and good food.”“ARP has a good heart for Santa Paula and I love Hozy’s!” noted Supervisor Long, who presented Florine with the Board of Supervisors Proclamation.The city proclamation is in appreciation of ARP’s business expansion, as well as its generous “contributions to the community,” said Krause.Representatives of Rep. Elton Gallegly, Senator George Runner and Assemblywoman Audra Strickland also presented proclamations, and the Chamber of Commerce gifted award recipients with fine, inscribed clocks.
|
(Above left) John and Susan Kulwiec accept the Business Improvement Award from the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce. (Right) ARP Vice President of Sales/Marketing Bob Florine accepts the Business of the Year Award. Photos by Don Johnson |
Kulwiecs, ARP/Hozy’s honored for Beautification, Business by Chamber
January 27, 2006
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesImproving the Downtown and being a unique acclaimed Santa Paula business were reasons why Susan and John Kulwiec and Automotive Racing Products (ARP) were honored by the Chamber of Commerce respectively for the 2005 Building Beautification Project and 2005 Business of the Year. Also honored as the 2005 Citizen of the Year was architect and community activist Doug Nelson.The annual Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner was held Saturday at the Community Center. Among the crowd were Mayor Rick Cook and Councilmembers Gabino Aguirre, Mary Ann Krause and John Procter, as well as Supervisor Kathy Long.Susan and John Kulwiec have made a “wonderful difference on Main Street,” even though the couple – respectively an interior designer and architect – had been operating out of their home and away from the downtown, said presenter Kay Wilson-Bolton. The Kulwiecs, who have long been active in charity and service organizations, in 2004 bought the 1923 Roy Wilson designed building that had fallen into disrepair and lost its original design facets through decades of various uses.During the restoration, the Kulwiecs painstakingly adhered to the “1923 finish,” both in and outside the building at 854/858 East Main. “Thirty tons of old material was removed” and the vintage tin ceiling “revealed,” as the Kulwiecs “transformed an unused and underutilized building in a strategic location on Main Street into the jewel that Santa Paula deserves,” noted Wilson-Bolton.John Kulwiec said that his work had encompassed several award-winning Main Street buildings, and that the “Downtown has a tremendous future.” Susan Kulwiec, credited by her husband as the “driving force” of the restoration project, said that getting to know the Downtown and the merchants has perhaps been the “best part” of the project, as Main Street “has become our neighborhood!”The “Wonderful vision” and talents of the Kulwiecs has benefited the downtown, noted Supervisor Long, who presented the couple with a Proclamation from the Board of Supervisors.“Bricks and mortar are perhaps our most enduring legacy,” said Aguirre. “Thank you for bringing history alive.”Business of the Year ARP is an industry leader that is one of the rare area enterprises that offers “good, well-paying manufacturing jobs in Santa Paula,” said presenter Peter Wright.
