Lauderdale County residents, elected officials and business leaders celebrated the grand opening of Red Hot Powersports with a ribbon cutting Friday with the dealership offering food, music and fun to the community.
A dealer for Kawasaki, Gravley USA and Big Tex Trailers, Red Hot carries a variety of motorcycles, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, ATVs, mowers, trailers and more. It offers parts and service to repair and maintain equipment as well.
Lauderdale County Supervisor Kyle Rutledge said the Carr family, which owns the business, has invested a lot in their community, with Red Hot Powersports being one of several businesses the family owns.
“It’s awesome, what you all have built and the investment you’re making in the community, and I just appreciate you all,” he said.
Owner David Carr, who also serves as president at Trucker Supply, said thanks is owed to the family’s longtime customers and employees who have brought success to the businesses. Starting with the Red Hot Truck Stop in 1955, he said, the family has been blessed with both.
“I was thinking last night, we had customers at employees at Red Hot, that have been loyal to us at Trucker Supply and came down here and bought motorcycles, side-by-sides and lawn mowers. So, they’re still customers,” he said.
Carr said his father impressed upon him that good employees can make or break a business, and he has passed that same mantra on to his sons. Employees are the ones who will interact directly with customers, he said, and it is vital to the business to have quality workers on staff.
Matt Schanrock, director of Meridian Main Street, part of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, said he was impressed by the line of products Red Hot carries.
“Thank you guys for carrying such gret products. Thank you for reinvesting into our community, and on behalf of the EMBDC, if you ever need any help just reach out and let us know,” he said.
Craig Hitt, chief administrative officer for the city of Meridian, said Meridian and Lauderdale County both have benefitted greatly from the Carr family’s business success, and he looks forward to seeing this new venture take off.
“We appreciate what you have already done. We appreciate your investment here and what you’re going to do,” he said.
Red Hot Powersports is located at 2622 N. Frontage Rd. For more information, visit redhotpowersports.com.