Chris Downs has a passion for improving the quality of life for his customers. As the president and CEO of Mobility City of Louisville, he gets to do just that.
Mobility City is a one-stop shop for mobility equipment repairs, rentals and sales in Louisville and the surrounding area. With equipment like rollators, walkers, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, power chairs and lift chairs, Downs and his team help customers achieve independence in their every day life.
“My goal is to make someone’s day a little longer,” Downs says. “If you can’t walk more than a mile, a scooter can make sure you can enjoy the state fair with your grand kids or go to their baseball games and not be tired at the end of the day. That’s the mission for us.”
Downs started Mobility City with his wife, Malori, a registered nurse at the University of Louisville Hospital. Before opening Mobility City, Downs sold prosthetics for amputees and was hands on with assisting patients and helping them improve their quality of life. Having the opportunity to help others had a profound impact on Downs.
“It really drove my passion to improve people’s quality of life,” Downs says. “When you give them something that could get them out of the wheelchair, it’s incredible to see. That work drove my passion.”
Mobility City is a franchise with more than 30 locations nationwide. Some of the services offered include battery replacement, equipment tune ups and sanitization. Products are available to purchase or to rent, and come with financing options to help offset hefty price tags. Mobility City also allows customers to try out different selections before deciding what is best for them.
“We have a large show room where you can test products out,” Downs adds. “A lot of times people want to buy items online but then you don’t know how it feels or how it turns or how long the battery might last.”
People of all walks of life visit Downs and his store, including seniors, veterans and the disabled, young and old. Downs is determined to help everyone find what they are looking for.
“We want to try and make it as easy as a process for anyone in whatever situation they are in,” he says. “It’s a very wide range of people who we encompass and help out.”
Downs says he took out his life savings to start Mobility City of Louisville. With two young daughters under the age of five, Downs hopes that passion comes through to everyone who walks in through their door.
“I have put my livelihood and future on the line because I really believe in what we’re doing and have a passion for this business,” he says. “I think that is unique. A lot of people won’t take the risk to do something like this but I chose to go after it. I feel like there is a need in the community and it’s something I wanted to do for the place I grew up in.”
Mobility City of Louisville is located on 6504 Bardstown Road. For more information, give them a call at 502-289-6509 or visit them online at louisvilleky.mobilitycity.com.
