T-Shirt Shop offers customer service, variety

  • Published
  • By Steve Milligan
  • Nucleus Staff
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  If you haven't been to the T-shirt Shop in the BX concessions lobby across from the Art Gallery and Flower Shop, you're in for a big surprise.

There is a lot more to the place than the name implies. They even sell Emmrod fishing poles which are small and compact and can land up to a 25 pound fish. They are one of only two authorized Emmrod dealers in the state.

Owner Rick Shankles is a 100 percent service connected disabled veteran and can't stress enough that service and giving the customer what they want is his number one goal.

He has been in business since 2001 and started with a table in the BX lobby. He also operated out of the mini-mall for awhile.

He says there is no order too small or too large. He can do one item, 10,000 (his biggest order to date) or more. For instance, if you want a customized backpack for your child for school, you can buy it there or bring one in.

They can do custom bumper stickers, computerized embroidery, direct print, Therma-Plex, screening and much more. If you have an idea, Mr. Shankles says to run it by him and they can probably do it. One customer wanted customized floor and dash mats.

If you need a custom name plate for your desk or door, they can do that with a new engraver they just received.

For base units and organizations, Mr. Shankles said he will waive the set up fee. This would include items such as duffle bags, tee shirts, and hats with the organizational logo, etc. Bring in your unit patch and with their computerized embroidery machine they can duplicate it on a shirt, hat, jacket or just about any other item you have in mind.

Maybe you need a medical alert tag or you want a picture of your child on a heart shaped pendant. How about a picture of your deployed loved one on customized dog tags? You really have to see the items to appreciate the uniqueness of the work.

So, the next time you're strolling through the BX checking out the many concessions, stop in and say hi to Rick Shankles and check out his shop.