(Nov. 4, 2021) -- Todd Allen is the hardest working person in Long Beach.
``Yeah, I've been putting in at least 18 hours,'' says Mr. Allen matter of factly.
Who in tarnation is Todd Allen, and what's with his grueling schedule during a period in this country when so many choose to idle away their time living off government entitlements?
Well, Mr. Allen has been busy turning that large, long-empty eyesore of a building at 5470 East Second Street in Naples between Venetia and Siena into an international distribution center for Mercedes electric bikes as well as a walk-in outlet for customers interested in buying such battery-aided two-wheelers.
Todd Allen stands in front of what soon will be the Shujaa Electric Bike Company
He has been so busy the past two months that he and his girlfriend and partner in the enterprise, Monica Clark, have been residing in the back parking lot in an RV-style, 37-foot Cougar trailer.
During the day, Mr. Allen oversees the massive renovation of his 5,000-square-foot half of the structure that once housed a thriving sushi restaurant, as well as outlets selling rugs and bicycles.
``We're completely re-doing the place,'' he says. ``There's going to be three walls erected in this room, with different style bikes filling up each one. And on the second story, we're going to put in a nice lounge for customers to relax in when they come here to shop. It's going to be a nice first-class place.''
But also during the day, Mr. Allen is immersed in filling out orders for shipment of the upscale Mercedes bikes that are wrapped in cardboard and are on the floor of his establishment that is known as the Shujaa Electric Bike Company.
Todd Allen shows some of the upscale Mercedes he has been distributing around the country and the world and which soon will be sold at his establishment in Naples
``We send them out all over the country as well as the world,'' he says. ``Our phone never stops ringing. Gets really hectic around here. I start work at around 6 a.m., and close up shop here at 4 in the afternoon.'''
Lest, you think that's the conclusion of Mr. Allen's daily labors, forget it.
``I take a little break, eat an early dinner, and then I'm on the phone to Australia and other places until around 1 in the morning taking orders,'' he says. ``I'm totally drained when I go to bed. But I love what I'm doing. . .''
Australia is the venue where these upscale Mercedes bicycles---the $4,500 Formula E Team Silver Arrows, the $3,200 Formula E Team Black Bike, the $1,990 Formula E City Formula Bike and other lower-priced models---are manufactured.
Todd Allen grew up in Baldwin Park, attended the local high school where he played football, got married, had three daughters and wound becoming heavily involved in battery-operated devices since he long had worked in the low voltage and fiber optics industries.
A real estate friend, Carl Ocha, touted him on the vacant building in Naples, and a deal soon was struck with its owner, Ali Homayouni.
When is Shujaa Electric Bike Company going to open?
``Our target date is Black Friday, November 26,'' he says. ``We'll definitely be open by then.''
Todd Allen revealed that the Mercedes people are strongly interested in opening a Formula 1-themed restaurant on the other side of the building, which still is unoccupied.
But, blessedly for his health and sanity, Mr. Allen doesn't plan to run it.
``I have enough to do in the bicycle business without also being actively involved in the restaurant business,'' he says with a laugh...
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