OUR STORY

From Cellular 911 to iPhone BLVD, our story is about hard work, family, second chances, and an incredible community that never stopped believing in us.

2004 — It All Started With a Dream

In the early 2000’s, I lost my job with the railroad.

With a family to support and an uncertain future ahead, I took every penny I had—$10,000—and invested it into the inventory and contents of a struggling cell phone business called Area Codes.

I didn't have a business degree, a big financial backing, or any guarantees. I just knew I needed to provide for my family, and I was willing to work for it.

What started as a leap of faith would eventually become something much bigger than I ever imagined.

A SMALL START — A Tiny Storefront and a Big Opportunity

In the beginning, we didn't even have a permanent storefront.

I started repairing phones out of a small apartment, doing whatever I could to get the business off the ground.

Then came my big brother, Jason. He found a tiny storefront for $300 a month, handed me the keys, and said, “You're open. You've got a business!” Apparently, that was the entire business plan. 😂 Jason has always been the big brother looking out for his little brother, believing in me even when I was being a complete idiot. He's always been the guy to call and say, “You got this. We got this. What do we need to do?” And just like that, with a little faith, a lot of craziness, and absolutely no idea what we were getting into, we were in business!

It wasn't fancy. We didn't have much. But we had an opportunity, and we were determined to make something of it.

A TRUE FAMILY EFFORT — Family Made It Happen

From the very beginning, this was a family effort.

I handled the repairs. My brother Jason worked in sales. My mom helped with the accounting and getting everything organized. My dad provided support and helped make it all possible.

When no one else believed in this crazy dream, my dad did. He invested his time, money, and hard work into making it happen. He helped build the store with his own two hands and managed inventory for the first ten years. His dedication helped lay the foundation for everything we've built, and his impact is still felt in this business today. A true family effort and a legacy I'll always be grateful for.

Everybody contributed what they could.

To Mom and Dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your love, sacrifices, hard work, and unwavering belief in me helped turn a crazy dream into a reality. You gave so much of yourselves to help make this possible, and I'll never forget it. This business will always carry a piece of both of you. I love you, and I'm forever grateful for everything you've done.

Looking back, those early days taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my life: work hard, take care of people, appreciate your family, and never forget where you started.

WHEN OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED UP — The Day We Almost Closed Our Doors

One of the hardest moments in our journey happened at our Grandridge Boulevard location.

Our store was broken into, and every phone in our display cases was stolen.

To make matters worse, our insurance wouldn't cover the loss.

I was devastated.

I had reached the point where I was ready to shut the business down.

But then something happened that I will never forget.

A glass company showed up and replaced all our broken glass, completely free of charge. To this day, I still don't know who they were.

Then boxes of donated phones started appearing at our front door.

Our community was showing up for us when we needed them most.

People who didn't owe us a thing stepped forward to help keep our doors open.

That experience changed me.

It strengthened my commitment to this business and to the Tri-Cities community that believed in us when I was ready to give up.

So we gave it another shot.

Roughly 15 years later, we're still here, stronger, wiser, and with a few more security measures in place!

I have never forgotten what this community did for us, and I never will.

Built on Family. Supported by Our Community.

BEFORE SMARTPHONES — We Were Fixing Phones Early On

Long before iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices became part of everyday life, we were already repairing phones.

Bag phones, car phones, Nokias, Motorola Razrs, flip phones, Sidekicks, and early keyboard devices—we worked on them all.

We replaced screens, repaired flex cables, recovered contacts and text messages, and helped customers navigate an industry that was changing faster than anyone could have imagined.

Technology kept evolving, and so did we.

One thing I've always believed is that you should never stop learning.

Always be learning.

That mindset has helped us grow from basic cell phone repairs into advanced electronics repair, data recovery, motherboard repairs, and so much more.

A CHANGING INDUSTRY — From Cellular 911 to iPhone BLVD

Our original name, Cellular 911, represented what we did: repair all kinds of cell phones.

Then the smartphone revolution happened.

The iPhone arrived. Samsung's Galaxy lineup grew. Customers started calling and asking, "Do you fix iPhones?"

I could see where the industry was heading, and eventually we made the decision to rebrand as iPhone BLVD.

The name changed, but our commitment to repairing all brands never did.

Today, we repair iPhones, Samsung Galaxy devices, tablets, MacBooks, laptops, gaming consoles, and everything from simple charging problems to advanced board-level issues.

And yes, we're still learning.

OUR HOME TODAY — A New Home on Canal Drive

Today, you'll find us at 5219 W. Canal Drive in Kennewick, Washington.

After years of growth, changes, and challenges, this location has become much more than just a storefront.

It's our home away from home.

In fact, Google Maps even displays the drive through our parking area as "iPhone Blvd."

It's an official street name, a pretty special reminder of how far we've come.

This building has been the starting point for some of the biggest opportunities in our lives.

MORE THAN A BUSINESS — Time for What Matters

At one point, we expanded to multiple locations throughout the Tri-Cities.

But somewhere along the way, I realized something important. My parents ingrained in me that family comes first, and no amount of money or success can replace time spent with your kids. That's a value at the core of who I am and everything we've built.

I didn't want to spend my life building a business only to miss watching my children grow up.

So we made the decision to consolidate and focus on one location.

And I'm so grateful we did.

Today, I get to work side by side with my wife, Alisha. Alisha has transformed the way this business operates. Her knowledge and mine complement each other in ways I never imagined. She's the reason I can accomplish everything I do, working side by side with me every day. From sales and customer service to inventory, bookkeeping, and budgeting, there's nothing she can't handle. She's the backbone behind so much of what we do, my partner in every sense, and truly the hidden gem of iPhone BLVD. I couldn't imagine building this business or sharing this journey with anyone else.

I get to work alongside my kids, help them with their homework, and be part of their everyday lives.

Sometimes we're repairing phones. Sometimes we're helping customers. Sometimes we're sitting down working through school assignments.

And sometimes we're simply spending time together.

Those moments mean more to me than any number on a sales report.

I'm extremely grateful that this business has given me the opportunity to provide for my family while actually being present with them.

That's what success looks like to me.

MORE THAN A PHONE STORE — Where New Opportunities Began

What started as one small cell phone business has opened doors we never could have imagined.

Over the years, iPhone BLVD has given us the opportunity to build two additional businesses: A&J Storage Kennewick and Water Slides Kennewick.

Through A&J Storage Kennewick, we provide property management services for storage facilities. We don't own the storage properties; we help manage them.

With Water Slides Kennewick, we've built a business centered around family fun, celebrations, and bringing people together.

Three different businesses. Three different industries.

But they all have one thing in common.

They were all born right here at 5219 W. Canal Drive in Kennewick.

That little phone store has become so much more than a place to repair electronics.

It's where we've raised ideas, taken chances, learned new skills, and created opportunities for our family.

And none of it would have been possible without the customers and community who supported us along the way.

A PERSONAL THANK YOU — This Business Gave Me a Life I'm Grateful For

When I look back at everything we've been through since 2004, I realize this business has given me something much more valuable than a paycheck.

It's given me the opportunity to be a father, to work alongside my wife, to be present for my children, and to spend my life doing something I genuinely love.

It's given us opportunities we never expected and friendships we never would have made.

And it's reminded me, more than once, just how incredible our community really is.

To the glass company that repaired our windows all those years ago, whoever you are, thank you.

To the people who left boxes of donated phones at our door, thank you.

To every customer who has walked through our doors, recommended us to a friend, trusted us with a repair, or simply believed in what we were building, thank you.

And to my family, especially my wife Alisha and our kids, thank you for being part of this journey.

I am genuinely grateful for the life we've been able to build.

After more than 20 years, we're still here, still learning, and still doing what we love.

From our family to yours, thank you, Tri-Cities.

— Joe & Alisha Thiel
Owners, iPhone BLVD

iPhone BLVD — NOT JUST A PHONE STORE.