New ‘Blast From The Past’ Moving To Pottstown

The entrance to Blast From The Past appears Thursday above the hood of an aging Cadillac parked in its East High Street lot. The adjacent sign announces a liquidation sale due to the owner’s retirement

SANATOGA PA – Blast From The Past Street Rods Inc., the producer of restored classic cars and customized street cruising vehicles that has been a business fixture at 2965 E. High St. for years, officially closed its doors last Thursday (April 30, 2015).

It will be downsized and relocated under new ownership to the west side of Pottstown with a different name, “Borneman’s Blast From The Past Restoration and Customs.” The reason: former owner Bill Borneman is retiring, so he can go back to doing what he loves.

The new company will set up shop at 405 Keystone Blvd., Pottstown. Rather than be its boss, Borneman joked, he’ll be an employee working on the shop floor for his son Dave and daughter-in-law Paula, co-owners of the new entity.

“I have made the decision to wind down my business … and return to being a designer and builder of custom cars” Borneman wrote in an April 15 letter sent to customers and clients, and then posted Monday (May 4) on the company’s Facebook page. “I will spare myself of all of the mundane office tasks that seem to fill all of my time each day. Instead, I will be able to get back to the cars, creating and building again … my true passions.”

Dave Borneman is no stranger to the business, his father reminded clients in his letter.

The son followed in Dad’s footsteps, and most customers “met and worked” with Dave when they visited the East High Street complex of several buildings and vacant yard space at the rear. “I know you can have every confidence in Dave and Paula, and that they will provide you with the highest quality and service,” Bill Borneman added in his letter.

The Pottstown location, Borneman wrote, encompasses 18,000 square feet of space “that will allow for enhanced services and results for customers.” For those who visit the new shop, he noted, “I look forward to meeting with you to discuss new projects and getting my hands dirty.”

There are, however, unfinished tasks that remain on East High Street. Geyer Real Estate Auctioneers Inc. has scheduled a 9 a.m. auction on May 23 (Saturday) to sell off everything the old Blast From The Past has left: equipment, paint booths, trailers, lifts, cars, motorcycles and a warehouse full of classic car parts. A preview of the goods will be held May 22 (Friday).

In the meantime, the elder Borneman continues to offer his thanks to all those who patronized his company.”You have become more than customers to me,” he wrote. “I consider you all to be my good friends … Thank you all for the opportunity to be of service.”

Geyer Real Estate Auctioneers will handle the May 23 disposition of the Blast From The Past properties and its many assets, including cars, motorcycles and parts