Akbani also believes that American popular culture has played a major role in the rolling success of Gateway Classic Cars. Gateway Classic Cars’ involvement in charitable endeav- ours is no secret to classic and exotic car aficionados. Akbani sees his “fun business” as the perfect starting line for worthy causes including the Red Cross, Children’s Miracle Network, The American Lung Association, and Shriners. Retired NFLer Demetrious Johnson, formerly of the Detroit Lions (1983-1986) and the Miami Dolphins (1987), is a friend of Gateway Classic Cars and now the founder and face of the Demetrious Johnson Foundation in St. Louis. “We just recently signed up to help his foundation,” Akbani explains. “His foundation helps inner-city kids graduate from high school while gettingthem involved with music and arts programs. We’re sponsoring his orga- nization and we’ve got a few events with them this year and in the coming years. We’re really excited.” The future of Akbani’s dream is directly tied to the dreams of his customers. “There is a culture of friendship and trust here – on both sides actually,” he explains. “Forty percent of our business is from repeat sellers so you know they get the quality they are expecting time and time again.” Akbani’s commitment to customers sees its cul- mination right at home. The original St. Louis location, his stomping grounds, now includes an events space which features 80,000 square feet of classic and collectible vehicles, 6,000 square feet of formal meeting space, 6,000 square feet of informal lounge seating in a contemporary setting, 45,000 square feet of trade show and convention space, and a state-of-the-art theatre room with a 120” rear-projection screen. With all this forward momentum it is not a surprise to hear that Akbani and his team have found a few more garages for their cars. “We’re expanding to Philadelphia and Mil- waukee on-top of the Atlanta move. Our total goal is to lay down 38 showrooms and locations in the United States and up to ten overseas.”
played a major role in the rolling success of Gateway Classic Cars. “The movies and music videos that we export to the world really expand our market. There’s a Taylor Swift music video with over a billion views on You Tube and it features a 1965 Mustang. This kind of cachet is encouraging us to set up a showroom later this summer in Atlanta where the music, television, and movie industries are strong.” (The 1967 Shelby GT500 Eleanormodel that Akbani mentioned earlier was used in the 2000 re-make of Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage.) As a nationwide team, the folks at Gateway Classic Cars are not strangers to requests from those in the spot- light.Among the A-list who calls themselves Gateway Classic Cars customers is two-time Cy Young Award winner, MLB pitcher, Johan Santana, singer-songwriter, Jimmy Buffett, and now- retired NBA shooting guard and legend, Kobe Bryant. While these celebrities certainly bring-in business for Gateway Classic Cars that exceeds the spending limits of their average clientele’s bankroll – $150,000-$400,000– Akbani sees in their patronage more than meets the eye.
111 DECEMBER 2016 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS
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