January 7, 2016
THIS WEEK IN
VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 44 | 75¢
LIFE
LOCAL
Midwives offer mothers options for natural childbirth
page 10
EnglewoodHerald.net A publication of
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Svigel Auto Parts closing
Burglars hit local businesses Spree strikes 11 stores in Englewood and Sheridan By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Plywood panels covered shattered glass front doors at businesses in Englewood and Sheridan following what police are calling smash-and-grab burglaries. Over the weekend, burglars hit nine stores along Broadway in Englewood and two at the River Point at Sheridan shopping center. “We had nine businesses targeted from the 2700 block to the 3300 block of South Broadway,” Englewood Police Sgt. Chad Read said. “Our first report came in about 1:45 a.m. Jan. 3 and the last report was taken about 7: 30 that morning. We do have surveillance video from some of the businesses and we are analyzing them for information we can use in the investigation.” He said he heard about the similar crimes in Sheridan. “I understand there have previously been about 20 been of the same types of crime sprees around the metro area in cities like Denver and Aurora,” Read said. “Part of our investigation is to determine if our cases tie in with cases in other communities.” The Starbucks at Bates and Broadway was hit as were the three stores in the Burglaries continues on Page 17
Jim Svigel Jr. uses fire to complete cutting out a vent window for a 1930s Chevrolet from a sheet of flat safety glass. Glass cutting is just one of the services Svigel’s Auto Parts offers car enthusiasts and those doing vehicle restorations. Photos by Tom Munds
Family has operated business for more than 85 years
By Tom Munds tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com The final chapter in the history of an Englewood business is being written as Svigel Auto Parts prepares to close its doors for the final time. The family operated firm has done business since 1959, but the roots of the company date back to the 1930s when Dave Svigel and his wife, Julia, operated an auto-related business near the intersection of Santa Fe and Hampden. Jim Svigel Jr. said the business used to be the place to come to buy new or used auto parts. Those restoring older cars came to Svigel’s for original parts, plus the company could rebuild auto parts like carburetors and generators for vehicles from the 1930s to the ‘70s.
He said gradually competition from corporate auto parts stores and the Internet increased. “Our business has long been new and used auto parts,” Jim Svigel explained. “My cousin Wayne, who handles the new parts business, had a customer who bought some gaskets, put us in touch with another new parts dealer in the state of Washington who came in, and we worked out a deal for him to buy our entire new parts inventory, which is huge.” Svigel said he estimates that, starting on Jan. 20, it will take 15 tractor-trailer rigs a month until July to remove the entire new parts inventory from Svigel Auto Parts. “As we are getting out of the new parts business, it will probably take until the
end of 2016 for us to dispose of all our used auto parts so we can close down for good,” he said. “It will take that long because the price of scrap metal is so low that we would suffer financially if we tried to do it any quicker.” Jim Svigel is the third generation heading the Svigel business. “My grandfather got things started when he owned and operated a gas station and repaired cars back in the 1930s,” he said. “My dad ran the business, now I am running the business plus my son and his son are also involved in our business. We also have cousins and other family members who either are working here or have worked here.” The business is in the 4300 block of South Santa Fe Drive. The current Svigel continues on Page 17
A sheet of plywood is being used to replace the glass front door of Trompeau Bakery after the business was the victim of a smash-and-grab burglary. Englewood Police are investigating nine burglaries along South Broadway and Sheridan Police are investigating two at the River Point Sheridan shopping center. Photo by Tom Munds
ENGLEWOOD HERALD (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 176-680) OFFICE: 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LITTLETON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 11 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.