AEA to trim hours, close downtown branch
Some changes are coming to AEA Federal Credit Union to "strengthen the bottom line," said Denise Sweet- McGregor, vice president.
As of April 1, the lobby to the central office at 275 W. 17th Place will no longer be open for business on Saturdays, she said.
The drive-through will still be open and the ATM machines, one of them a depository, remain available 24 hours a day. The branch at Albertsons will still be open Saturdays, or customers can access many services online.
In another change, the credit union will be closing its downtown branch as of mid-April and consolidating its services at the central location. Sweet-McGregor said that it is disappointing but the downtown branch has never developed the growth that had been anticipated to make it profitable.
In addition, the call center that had occupied the back of the downtown branch office will be relocated to the central office later this spring. With the completion of the expansion to the central office, there now is room for the call center there, she explained.
By the way, AEA's employees raised $28,000 for the Children's Miracle Network through a variety of fundraising activities throughout 2009. That's twice the money that had been reported earlier by the campaign spokeswoman. The money will remain in Arizona to benefit local children.
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A new tenant is coming to the former El Pollo Loco store at the corner of 24th Street and 4th Avenue.
Sombrero Mexican Food has leased the property and plans to open a restaurant there by late May or early June, said Javier Correa Jr., vice president of the business his father founded in 1984 in San Diego.
Today, the family-owned business has several restaurants in San Diego and one in El Centro. While checking on a parcel the family owns on Fortuna Road, Correa said he became aware of the vacant restaurant.
"I saw the location as a prime site. We saw the potential out there."
For more information about the restaurant and for employment opportunities, go to sombreromex. com.
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Emily C. Dolan has joined the law office of Shadle & Walsma, PLC, as an associate attorney.
Raised in Prescott, Dolan attended Grand Canyon University and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Dolan earned a juris doctorate degree in 2005 from the University of Arizona. While attending UA, she was on the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law.
Dolan has focused her practice on criminal law and probate and has experience in family law and civil litigation.
She and her husband, Tom, have one daughter. They moved to Yuma in January.
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Sephora, a cosmetics specialty store located inside JCPenney - that's what has going in behind the draped plastic sheets in the middle of the store over the last several weeks - at Yuma Palms Shopping Center, is having a grand opening Friday, starting at 10 a.m.
Sephora carries a variety of brands of skin and hair care products and cosmetics. The fun part is that customers can try out products before purchasing them.
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Snap Fitness is now open for business - or more specifically, workouts - at 3840 W. 24th St. next to Mission Valley Plaza.
This is the third workout club in Yuma for owner Josh Schaubach, offering free weights, cardiovascular workouts, machines, tanning and personal training. Members have access to the club with a card anytime they want to work out. For more information or to arrange for a tour, call 783-5510 weekdays.
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Building permits have been issued for the new home for Goldsboro Bakery, reported Alan Kircher, city of Yuma deputy building official. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held last week.
The new bakery, a 3,200-square-foot building, will be constructed at 2345 S. Avenue A across the street from the business' current location. That property had been purchased by the city for improvements to the intersection at Avenue A and 24th Street.
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In other city building activity, Kircher reported:
• A certificate of occupancy has been issued for Big Swirl, a frozen yogurt shop located at Yuma Palms Regional Center in Suite H4 near Starbucks.
• Permits have been issued for tenant improvements for a medical office for Dr. Ricky Ochoa in Space 303 at ProMed.
• Work has begun to install a new modular building for an office at Last Chance Motors, a used car lot at 1755 S. 4th Ave.
• Work also has begun on exterior improvements to the Heritage Branch Library at 3rd Street and 4th Avenue. The project includes new walkways, new landscaping along the front walk and some facade work.
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That A.T. Pancrazi Real Estate sign by the Yuma Community Food Bank? It's for some warehousing space that's available for lease. The available space is 9,500 square feet with an adjacent truck dock.
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Margie's Crafts, which recently moved from Arizona Market Place into the 261 Main Street Shoppes, has just expanded into a second space with more room for inventory and classes, said owner Marge Allen. For details, call 580-7929.
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A local business has been selected as a 2009 Best of Business Award winner in the construction category by the Small Business Commerce Association.
Award recipient Sunnyside, a Yuma construction company, was founded by Abraham Pino four years ago.
Award winners are chosen based on monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, and review of consumer rankings and other consumer reports.
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Frank Ruiz of Desert Best Enterprises LLC and Tami Harmon of Pinnacle Health Care are this year's Success Award winners for Yuma and La Paz counties.
They and other winners from around the state will be honored by the Arizona Business Development Center Network during an awards ceremony this week in Phoenix.
The winners were nominated by their local SBDC. Selection is based on job creation or retention, sales increases, financing with SBDC assistance, woman or minority ownership, owner perseverance and type of industry.
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Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.
