By Victoria Phillips
Correspondent, Gainesville Sun

Battery Source isn’t just a new Gainesville business — it’s a Glass family tradition.

The specialty store, located at 4811 SW 34th St., sells batteries for laptops, cell phones, golf carts, camcorders, mopeds, boats and other equipment.

“Gainesville was a good market,” said C.R. Glass, the store’s owner. “We want to sell to people that have all the toys and a lot of batteries around the house.”

Glass’ father, Ray, has been in the battery business since 1958 when he sold car batteries wholesale.

Now, the family owns 15 battery-focused stores in three states.

Last year, the company added three stores to its growing chain.

“I was born into batteries,” Glass said.

With what he calls “competitive pricing,” the store carries older battery models to accommodate customers who don’t have the newest model of phone or computer.

Although cell phones are rampant, since opening on Jan. 2 the market with the biggest increase in sales is the cordless phone, Glass said.

“If we don’t have the battery in stock, we can build it for you,” he said.

Large photos of each type of battery and its purpose adorn the walls of the store as both decoration and aisle designation.

The building itself is evenly split between what Glass labels specialty batteries and his automotive workshop.

Pull into the pit stop area and exchange your faulty car battery for a new one in 10 minutes or less, Glass said.

Battery Source also sells golf carts, as well as electric car parts and accessories.

The battery business isn’t without its non-believers, but Glass said the industry still amazes him every day. He also hopes to bring a second store to the Gainesville market in the near future.

“It’s a mobile society,” he said. “We’re in the correct business. People need batteries.”