City Glass was founded by Allan Forrister in 1975. Originally an auto glass and residential glass replacement facility, the business expanded to include commercial glazing in the late 1980’s. Al’s son Jim still maintains that Al is the best glazier he’s ever seen.
Jim Forrister began working for his father in 1977 at the age of 10. He began with screen and storm window repair and by the age of 12 was helping install auto glass. Jim worked for numerous other glass businesses while living in Kalamazoo and attending college. It was there that he learned much of the commercial glazing side of the business that would help to expand City Glass when he returned to Coldwater to raise his family with wife Debra. Jim purchased the family business in 2007.
City Glass is now one of the largest independent glass shops in the state of Michigan installing more than 1500 pieces of auto glass each year while also continuing to replace and repair all forms of residential glass. They are the area leaders in frameless glass shower enclosures installing more than 100 each year. But what City Glass truly excels in is aluminum commercial storefronts and doors. If you live in the Branch county area you have undoubtedly walked through several doors installed by City Glass at dozens of local businesses. While the business is larger than it was in 1975, City Glass still stresses quality over quantity and that the small piece of non-glare picture frame glass is every bit as important as the storefront they are currently working on. Their 7 employees will always greet you with a smiling face and Jim guarantees nobody in the industry will do it better, faster or more affordably.
Sometime in 2018 City Glass will install its 30,000th windshield since opening and they are doing it for free! Stop in and see if you might be the lucky winner. City Glass is open Mon-Fri, 8am to 5pm and Saturday’s 9 til Noon. 277 N. Angola Road (old 27) across from the Skate Ranch. Call (517) 278-5543