When Kenneth R. Kindt was in high school, he began working for his neighbor, who opened El Monte Campers in 1975. Kindt moved to full time after graduation and took over the business nearly eight years ago.

Coming from an entrepreneurial family in which his father ran several businesses, Kindt knew even as a young man he would eventually take over El Monte Campers. “It was something that I always assumed would happen,” he said. “Working in the industry was something I’ve always enjoyed.”

The original owner sold out to a camper-shell accessories manufacturer, which stocked the Southern California store with its products. Kindt continued working at the store and, nine months later, took over. That interlude left the sto
re stocked with hard-to-move products, and the condition of the store and lot was neglected.
In 2007 Kindt overhauled the building that was built as a gas station in the 1950s, converting some of the shop space to a showroom and an office, and added racks to store the impressive inventory of camper shells. “It’s taken me seven years to get it where I want it, and I’m pretty proud of it so far,” Kindt said.

He’s slowly worked through the inventory he inherited when the accessories manufacturer owned the store. It’s been a challenge to make room for shells and lids for the new Chevrolet and Toyota trucks. “With the slow down in business, it’s hard to move inventory fast enough to make room for new items,” Kindt said.

Kindt sees his business as a lifestyle company, enabling his customers to enjoy the activities they love and live the kind of life they want to lead. He knows that customers shop for price on the Internet and call his store when they want service from a real human being.