Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Those who frequent Main Street in Fort Fairfield may have taken note of the new signs proclaiming the arrival of the Crippled Indian Vintage Garage, which will be open for the first week of March. Fuel services to be offered by the garage will also be coming soon. The emerging business has defiantly found a unique niche in the Main Street dynamic by offering a working-man’s garage, among other things. “It will be the only full service gas station out of the three stations in town,” said artist, minister, and entrepreneur Indian Glenn, the Crippled Indian.
Vintage Garage is also a savings opportunity for anyone remotely handy with a wrench.
Instead of paying a mechanic to perform simple repairs, Vintage Garage charges a daily lift-fee of $50 to use the extensive equipment in the garage and access an ample supply of parts.
“Someone that can’t afford a conventional mechanic can come here and do it themselves,” said Indian Glenn, “It’s a working-man’s garage.”
The two businesses are in affiliation with the multifaceted Crippled Indian, a business that does tattooing, piercing, provides Bible study on Monday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., participates with and organizes numerous charitable fund-raisers and events, offers drug-rehab services, and allows individuals to utilize their lounge as a recreation center, and is an active supporter of the local arts and artists. Despite already having participated in a year-long food drive, a blood drive in Bangor, and a successful $900 fund-raiser for a two-year-old with cancer and her family, more charitable events are in the works for this summer, including some involving the Sons of God.
Aside from offering a vast array of goods and services, Crippled Indian is also anticipating the opening of an arcade and is working on plans to open a country bar in Fort Fairfield.
“I don’t want to be rich,” Indian Glenn explained, “I just want to pay the rent. I’ve been in this business for a while, and I’m looking for a way to give back,” he added, “I’d rather do 10 tattoos for $10 each than one tattoo for $100 dollars; it puts nine more tattoos on the streets and it’s good advertising for us.”
Crippled Indian first opened just over a year ago; for a business to survive the harsh economic times of our nation, let alone flourish, speaks volumes of the owner, Cindy Mersereau, and her staff.
Not only was the economic situation seemingly against Crippled Indian, certain Fort Fairfield individuals created a large amount of negativity about the business; within a month of first opening in November of 2007, an editorial was published in the Fort Fairfield weekly calling Crippled Indian an abomination as well as other colorful remarks.
“We’ve been accused of having AIDS and hepatitis, we’ve been accused of being busted by the DEA for illegal drugs and alcohol involving minors, we’ve been accused of having stolen fire arms from Canada,” listed Indian Glenn, “the town manager called the board of health and said that we were creating a distraction and illegally drinking over here,” he continued. “We ignored all of it and did our jobs.”
According to Indian Glenn, the negative slander surrounding Crippled Indian persists despite the positive aspects of the business, such as the touching story of how youths that once threw rocks at the windows of Crippled Indian now attend the weekly Bible study, which is assisted by Rev. Ronald Doughty of the Pentecostal Church in Fort Fairfield.
From body art to body work, Crippled Indian works with their customers on price.
“I came to Indian Glenn and asked him how much a tattoo that another shop had originally quoted me at $150,” said Ethan Pelkey, “Indian Glenn told me that he would do it for $75 dollars. When I asked him if he was serious, he said ‘okay, $50 dollars,’” Pelkey explained.
As part of a good natured contest, Crippled Indian is offering a free tattoo to the first person who responds correctly to the following question: what do you add to dehydrated water?
For those who don’t fancy trivia, Crippled Indian is also offering a free tattoo to the first individual who can artistically depict what a chair would look like if our knees bent the other way.
Crippled Indian is located at 314 Main Street in Fort Fairfield and can be reached at 472-0002.