Asian restaurants preparing to open doors

  The sign is up, confirming that Jeanie Wah-Gorman, who had been managing Gene's Restaurant until it closed recently with the sale by the family of the property, has a new location for her restaurant with a new name.

  Called Jeanie Wah's Chinese and American Bistro, the restaurant will be located at 1360 S. 4th Ave. That's the old location for Sizzler's and more recently Pio Pio Chicken.

  Wah said she's been busy giving the building a makeover. Late Thursday she wasn't ready to announce an opening date but expects it will be soon.

  With the exception of one retiree, all her staff made the move with her. And to make it easy to call, she was able to transfer the old Gene's Restaurant phone number of 783-0080.

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  Meanwhile, at the former Gene's Restaurant location, 771 S. 4th Ave., new property owners Alex Aw and Kenny Chuah are preparing to open their restaurant by Dec. 1, with plans to offer something new for Yuma.

  Their new establishment, Palagor Asian Fusion Cuisine, will feature recipes items brought back from Asia and New York City. The new restaurant, according to Aw, will include Thai, Malaysian and Indian tastes "with a touch of Chinese." But it will be a healthier version with less sodium and oil.

  Chuah came up with the new restaurant's name from a small village in Thailand rumored to be a peaceful town with the best Thai food in the country. He researched the area when he was in Malaysia earlier this summer.

  This will be a second restaurant for the partners, as they plan to continue to operate Highway 95 Cafe at 2585 E. 16th St.

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  Across town, Deng Chen and his wife, Kitty Lau, were at work at the former Mr. Lu's at 1960 E. Palo Verde St., where they intend to open Eat Asian Super Buffet. Lau said they're doing extensive remodeling and will be installing all new furnishings, with DHG Construction as the contractor.

  They hope to open by mid-December and will offer a buffet of Asian and American foods, lots of salads and a sushi bar. A party room will be available for private parties, and they will offer catering.

  "We thought Yuma has good potential," said Lau, who will be the manager.

  Those who go to Phoenix may know their other restaurant, New China, at 7th Avenue and Bell Road, which they've operated for about seven years.

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  People can get a jump on their holiday shopping with the liquidation sales now going on at Mervyn's and Shoe Pavilion. Both stores are closing because the companies are going out of business.

  Shoe Pavilion, located in Las Palmillas shopping center on Castle Dome Avenue, is expected to close sometime in December. Mervyn's Department Store, 475 W. 32nd St., likely will close shortly after the holidays.

  Also, the liquidation sale is continuing at Crescent Jewelers in Yuma Palms Regional Center, but no closing date has been announced.

  Hoping to lure in shoppers, other stores are offering huge markdowns of 25 to 50 percent.

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  After 12 years in the moving business, Ken Brandon has opened his own business, Brandon Moving and Storage. He's located at 3266 E. 33rd Place where Grimes Moving and Storage had been located. Brandon said he bought out the assets of that closed business and negotiated a new lease for the property.

  His company is affiliated with National Van Lines so he can move you across the city or across the country and even around the world.

  The business can be reached at 726-3620.

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  Vista Moving and Storage, LLC, the agent in Yuma for Mayflower Transit, was honored recently by the nationwide van line for exceptional professional performance.

  The business received the Impact Award, recognizing agents who made a positive impact in cargo claims reduction and prevention, as measured by cargo claims liability percentages.

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  Montes Multiple Service will be opening soon in its newest location in the Foothills at 11274 S. Fortuna Drive, Suite 1. The phone number will be 342-2686.

  The business, owned by Alicia Montes, offers third-party Arizona Motor Vehicle services such as titles, registration and some inspections.

  Other locations include 526 N. 1st St. in San Luis, Ariz., 245 W. Main St. in Somerton and 2255 W. 32nd St., Suite B, in Yuma.

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  Yuma Community Bank has moved its mortgage department from the main office to the Foothills branch, 11242 S. Foothills Blvd., announced Kathy Brandon, president and CEO of the bank.

  Theresa Wine, senior vice president, oversees the residential mortgage and constructions loans. She has been in the Yuma market for than 20 years and enjoys a very successful career in mortgage lending.

  Wine currently is handling conventional, FHA and VA mortgage loans, as well as residential construction loans. She can be reached at 345-3888.

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  After six years in the real estate business, Realtor Michelle Roden has opened a satellite Realty Executives office at 1325 S. Pacific Ave. in the new Pacific Plaza (east of Yuma Palms Regional Center). She focuses primarily on residential sales and property management.

  Roden can be reached at 317-1307 or 581-8055, and said she's always on call and willing to work around her clients' schedules. For listings, visit ShopYumaRealEstate.com or RentInYuma.net.

  Also, on Thursdays, she has a booth at Arizona Market Place at 3351 S. Avenue 4E to provide information to prospective buyers.

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  Gary and Patty Black have translated their love for miniature horses into a breeding business, appropriately named The Tiny Hooves Mini Ranch, 16620 S. Avenue B in the Somerton area. For more information, call 627-7022.

  Their journey began quite by accident. They were out driving with their grandchildren and saw the mini horses in a field. Finding out they were for sale, they bought two. That eventually led to them buying the owner's entire herd and expanding their passion to breeding and selling the small horses.

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