Cart Community

Erik Sims

Have a friend, Erik Sims, with a golf cart dealership down in Brunswick, GA. The Golf Cart Factory. Well not exactly golf carts but what are now called LSV’s. Low speed vehicles. Fast, comfortable, street legal. All the latest technology. Lithium batteries, aluminum frames, disc brakes. Dashboard screens a lot like a Tesla.

And yes, you can even play golf with them.

Was down that way for a visit recently and stopped by to see him.

Erik’s a natural salesman with a great product that he believes in. Well built, efficient technology that’s helping wean us off fossil fuels, fight climate change, knock around the neighborhood, etc. And fun to drive. All good things.

But he’s also actively involved in the community. Like, on his own block. He and his partner have taken an old brick front building in the Historical District, remodeled it, and put their money where their mouth is, starting a thriving business selling a product they can be proud of.

And others have taken notice. A new restaurant, ShroGlo Seafood, has gone in next door serving fresh seafood and killer burgers. We stop in to get lunch and say hi to Javier and Keith, the proprietors. It’s also open at night with open mic on Tuesdays. Last Tuesday a local high schooler was trying out some tunes from the stage. It was a big deal for him and he was nervous. But some of his friends from school had turned out to support him and the place was hopping. Good music and fun.

VSM The Hub across the street, a non-profit indoor skate park, is giving local kids a place to go in the afternoons after school. Inside a couple of kids are doing tricks and falling down a lot, and a clean cut young man named Noah greets us and explains their mission. 

“ A lot of these kids don’t have anywhere to go in the afternoons, or they sit at home playing video games and scrolling their phones. We’re trying to get them up and moving, doing something constructive.”

Next door Linda owns Creative Frameworks, a cool art gallery featuring local artists and framing up prints from all over the low country.

An Indian couple operates a convenience store on the corner. They’re upgrading the store, new paint, flooring, shelves and displays. We talk for a while, buy some candy and drinks. Their father is visiting from India. He  doesn’t speak English and we don’t speak Indian. But he listens and nods with a beatific smile that requires no translation. Welcome to our establishment. We’re glad you’re here. Universal.  

Erik has reached out and sold golf carts all over town and out to St Simons. The local police department bought one. He raffled one off to support the high school football team. Open six months, he’s working on sprucing up the block and getting the word out.

While we’re there an older African American gentleman is unplugging his weed eater, getting ready to do some clean up around the store. He’s soft spoken and polite and we talk for a few minutes.

“I just got outta prison this year and Erik has been helping me out. Loaned me the money to buy this weed eater. Took me round to these local businesses and got me on cleaning up their places.”

“I was living in a dump and he helped me get a place just down the street. Called the landlord and put in a good word.”

Everyone’s always welcome at the Golf Cart Factory. Doors open, brightly colored carts parked in front, it’s a beacon on what a year ago was a pretty run down block.

Somebody needs to take Erik to lunch.