Ventura in Talks to Keep Kinko’s Offices in City
Ventura city officials say they are in talks with Kinko’s Corp. on possible incentives to keep the company’s corporate offices in their city as it weighs the need to expand.
“We met with them recently, and they are being wooed by other communities that have more to offer than we do, mainly open space,” said Ventura Mayor Sandy Smith.
Kinko’s, one of the city’s largest employers with 1,800 workers, is looking for about 30 acres on which to build a campus-like complex of offices, he said.
Kinko’s spokeswoman Maggie Thill said there are no plans to move the corporate offices “as far as I know.”
“Ventura is our headquarters, and I can’t speculate about any change,” she said.
In August, Kinko’s gained a new president and chief executive--Texas native Gary Kusin, who retains business and family ties to Dallas. That fueled speculation within the company that the offices might be moved to Dallas, Smith said.
Kusin could not be reached for comment, and board members of the privately held company declined to discuss a possible move.
The company moved into its Ventura offices more than a decade ago in an industrial area surrounded by oil derricks and warehouses. The lease is up in 2003, company officials have told the city. Expansion is complicated by the city’s voter-approved anti-sprawl law that limits space for development.
Smith said Kinko’s executives have indicated they are months to a year away from a decision and will give Ventura officials an opportunity to make their sales pitch.
Susan Daluddung, the city’s community development director, said she has met several times recently with Kinko’s executives, including Human Resources Director Greg Lowe and Operations Director Kevin Holland.
“We very much want to keep [Kinko’s] here,” she said. “There are some parcels that could be added at their current site.”
The city also is working to improve the area around Kinko’s headquarters. Street improvements are underway. Southern California Edison is burying power lines. And plans are in the works to add bike lanes. With more than 1,100 locations worldwide, Kinko’s ranks as one of the largest copying and business services firms in the nation. The 24-hour Kinko’s outlets also offer Internet access, videoconferencing and on-demand printing.
The company began in 1970 as a 100-square-foot copy center near UC Santa Barbara, then moved to Ventura in 1988. Founder Paul Orfalea, who named the company Kinko’s for his curly hair, resigned as chairman in April 2000.
