03-28-2019, 11:33 PM
I grew up in Oakland, California and San Leandro was just down the road. Arlen started in very tiny shop and very humble beginnings. His timing was perfect. He was the first or one of the first to showcase his work at the Oakland Roadster Show which at the time was the "Grandaddy of Shows' on the West Coast and just featured custom cars. He quickly expanded with his line of custom parts and had his "Big Book" which increased his sales. This was prior to the internet. From that one little shop, he moved three more times to his Mega Store in Dublin, California. If you ever make it out to California, the visit to his store is worth the time. Upstairs in the store is his museum of customs from his early days to now. He set the Bar for other custom builders throughout the world and leaves that legacy of work. He was indeed a very humble and grateful guy. Approachable and always enjoying what he was doing with motorcycles. No big ego, no putting on "airs." Just a regular guy who enjoyed bikes and was successful building them. What a great Life Story. Russ