Downtown business to close doors, focus on swap meet sales

  Time 'N Tune, 281 S. Main St., will be closing the end of April, owner Erica Weichmann reported. She said April 30 will be the last day for the store she started in 1986 in downtown Yuma. In the meantime, she will be offering close-out sales.

  "I just can't make it downtown," she said. With her lease up, "it was time." Instead of operating the store, she will focus on her business during the winter months at the Arizona Market Place, where she has set up shop the past four years.

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  Plans have been submitted for renovations to the former Mr. Lu's at 2331 S. Avenue B, Suite 101, to add a bar area for the Brewer's Restaurant and Sports Bar that will be going into the space. Owner Courtney Grunewald also has applied for a liquor license.

  She said she decided to go into business because the empty space kept beckoning to her.

  "We'll open when everything comes together," she said, adding that hopefully will happen by June, if not sooner.

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  Home-building activity might be coming back a little, if the number of permits issued in March is any indication, said Randy Crist, city of Yuma building official.

  He said year-to-date, the city has issued 68 permits for single-family homes - 30 of them in the past month. Hall Construction is leading with the most permits, followed by TDG by Elliott Homes.

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  A Panda Express will be going in near the Foothills Wal-Mart Supercenter at 2375 S. Avenue 8E, Crist reported. Plans were submitted to the city last week for the 2,400-square-foot restaurant.

  In addition, plans have been submitted for a new 2,200-square-foot beauty salon at Tuscany Plaza, No. 12, for Ambiance Salon now located at 2855 S. 4th Ave.

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  The construction activity at the southeast corner of Giss Parkway and Madison Avenue is for a new office for Realtor Christine McConnaughay, reported Alan Kircher, city of Yuma assistant building official.

  Also, the three Yuma McDonald's restaurants plan interior renovations to make space for an enhanced line of coffees, Kircher said.

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  The April issue of Yuma Business Direct is now available online at businessinyuma.com.

  Featured are Glen and Debra Sparlin, who took over ownership of Sun Graphics in 2007 and were honored as the 2009 Success Award winner for Yuma and La Paz counties by the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network.

  The issue also features Arizona Western College and retiring president Don Schoening as the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month.

  John Baas, general manager of the golf course and Microtel Hotel at Coyote Wash in Wellton, answers 20 questions as the hospitality profile of the month.  

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  Speaking of Sun Graphics Printing, the company is one step closer to being a "green" print shop with the purchase and installation of the Heidelberg Top Setter, said Shelby Sparlin, production manager. The direct computer-to-plate system uses no chemicals or water to prepare a press plate. In addition, the new system enhances print quality and has faster turnaround time because it eliminates seven pre-press steps.

  The shop's move toward green began last year by starting to recycle all cardboard and scrap paper. With the Heidelberg in place, the next step will be soy inks.

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  Here's some good news for San Luis, Ariz., residents:

  Carl’s Jr. has pulled its building permit and expects to have the new restaurant in front of the San Luis Wal-Mart completed in 120 days for an anticipated early August opening, reported Karin Mesa, spokeswoman for the city.

  She also reported that Dollar Tree, Maurices and Rue 21 are now officially open in the multitenant building next to the San Luis Wal-Mart.

  Maurices is a women's apparel retailer with extended sizes to 24. It can be reached at 627-8925.

  Rue 21 offers teen fashions, shoes and accessories. The store can be reached at 627-2830.

  Both stores are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

  Dollar Tree can be reached at 627-2665. The discount store is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

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 The Crossing Grill and Bar, 2690 S. 4th Ave., is donating a percentage of sales in April to four randomly selected local schools: Crane Middle School, Gila Vista Junior High, Kofa High School and Ronald Reagan Elementary.

  April Haile, spokeswoman for the restaurant, explained that the staff has been concerned about the budget cuts facing schools and wanted to help out.

  During the entire month, "each time you dine at The Crossing, you will be contributing," she said. For more information, the restaurant can be reached at 726-5551.

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  Staples is providing environmentally friendly printing solutions - and savings - during the tax season. April 5-15, Yuma Staples will offer free black and white, double-sided copies – up to 20 pages - of 2008 tax returns.

  In addition, documents can be scanned to PDF and saved onto a flash drive as an electronic backup file.

  Local Staples stores are at 101 W. 16th St. and 500 W. Catalina Drive.

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  Primerica Financial Services has moved and now is at 250 W. 24th St., Suite 12. It has the same phone number of 726-6683. The office is managed by Julian Gonzales, senior vice president.

  A subsidiary of public parent company Citi, Primerica offers term life insurance, mortgage refinancing and security investments.
 Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and other times by appointment.

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  Deanna Scotty Dunaway, LMT, has relocated her business, Old Town Massage Center. It is now downstairs at the historic Gandolfo Building, 202 S. 1st Ave., Suite 107. The phone number remains the same at 329-7300.

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  Entertaining Tea at a Discount has moved out of the Arizona Market Place and into its new store in the little village of shops at 224 Main St. in downtown Yuma, announced owner David Kish.

  The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, at least initially. For more information, call 304-9505.

  The shop carries tea, teapots and other things needed to make tea from around the world, including organics, bone china and tea cosies from England and Ireland.

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  Cactus Propane, 28311 Los Angeles Ave. in Wellton, has been purchased by Kurt Whitney.

  The business delivers propane for recreational vehicles and residential and commercial customers. Its service area covers much of Yuma County, from Wellton to San Luis, Ariz., as well as Martinez Lake. With the winter RV season winding down, the business will be expanding its residential service to Somerton and San Luis, Whitney said.

  In the winter months, the business also has a station at Foothills Boulevard and 40th Street where people can get their propane canisters and motor homes filled.

  Whitney had moved to Yuma from Colorado a couple of years ago after retiring as a building contractor for 25 years. Tired of daytime television, he decided it was time to go back to work when the business became available.

  The office can be reached at 342-6683.

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  Humane Society's thrift store, 2375 S. 4th Ave., has expanded its hours and is now open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The store has a new phone number of 783-0408.

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  Sunset Vista Funeral Home, 11357 E. 40th St. in the Foothills, now carries Picture Weave throw blankets. Turn your favorite photos into soft 54-by-70-inch throw blankets to hang on the wall, display on your couch or to snuggle with the memories.

  For more information, call 342-2800 or stop by from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

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  Chuck and Mary Klawuhn, owners of Chuck's Stage Stop at 28534 Los Angeles Ave. in Wellton, are celebrating the first anniversary this week of their restaurant.

  They added that Chuck has perfected his recipes, including cinnamon rolls, homemade bread and dinner rolls, chicken and dumplings, swiss steak, pizzas, calzones and much more.

  The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call 785-3131.

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  Guest Chef Isabel Cruz returns to Carla Renee Restaurant, 265 S. Main St., for two special events this week.

  On Tuesday, she will conduct a cooking demonstration at the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; attendees will get a sampling of her cuisine. The cost for the demonstration/sampling is $30 per person – call 782-0499 for reservations.

  Then on Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m., Isabel, Chef Kyle and Carla will team up to present a special menu for the evening featuring Isabel’s creations.

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  RTA Hospice and Palliative Care, 1025 W. 24th St., Suite 15, will change its name to Hospice Compassus. RTA has been providing hospice care for patients and their families in the Yuma area for the past four years.

  The address and phone number of 344-6100 will remain the same.

  “The new name was chosen because it truly reflects our core mission and encapsulates what we do each and every day," said Amberly Hodgin, executive director. "Compassus is derived from the root of our core value of compassion."

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Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.