Midwest, such as Chicago and St. Louis and some large
cities of the West Coast, such as Los Angeles and San Diego. Over the years,
the city has been home to other large corporations in the central United
States, making Denver a key trade point for the country. Several well-known
companies originated in or have relocated to Denver. William Ainsworth opened
the Denver Instrument Company in 1895 to make analytical balances for gold
assayers. Its factory is now in Arvada. AIMCO (NYSE: AIV) the largest owner and
operator of apartment communities in the United States, with approximately 870
communities comprising nearly 136,000 units in 44 states, is headquartered in
Denver, employing approximately 3,500 people. Also Samsonite Corp., the world's
largest luggage manufacturer, began in Denver in 1910 as Shwayder Trunk
Manufacturing Company but Samsonite closed its NE Denver factory in 2001, and
moved its headquarters to Massachusetts after a change of ownership in 2006.
The Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company, founded in Denver in
1911, is now a part of telecommunications giant CenturyLink. MediaNews Group
purchased the Denver Post in 1987; the company is based in Denver. The Gates
Corporation, the world's largest producer of automotive belts and hoses, was
established in S. Denver in 1919. Russell Stover Candies Inc. made its first
chocolate candy in Denver in 1923, but moved to Kansas City in 1969. The Wright
& McGill Company has been making its Eagle Claw brand of fishing gear in NE
Denver since 1925. The original Frontier Airlines began operations at Denver's
old Stapleton International Airport in 1950. Frontier was reincarnated at DIA
in 1994. Scott's Liquid Gold, Inc., has been making furniture polish in Denver
since 1954. Village Inn restaurants began as a single pancake house in Denver
in 1958. Big O Tires, LLC, of Centennial opened its first franchise in 1962 in
Denver. The Shane Company sold its first diamond jewelry in
