Mr. B's moves into new Las Palmillas store
Donnie Bennett has closed his Avenue B store, Mr. B's Bicycles, and moved into his new store at Las Palmillas, where's he now open for business seven days a week. You can find him in the space next to Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Bennett said he's calling it his all-new Specialized store. That's a premier bicycle name, and one that some of the Tour de France competitors are riding in this year's international race.
"I've got all kinds of new bikes and accessories," he said. That includes new dirt jumping BMX bikes for the kids along with all the safety gear they'll need.
The new phone number: 782-MrBs (6727).
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Another space has been spoken for at Las Palmillas. Plans have been submitted to finish off a space in the shopping center at 12th Street and Castle Dome Avenue for H and H Mattress, said Alan Kircher, assistant building official for the city of Yuma.
In other building activity:
- Plans are under review for a new 6,000-square-foot office and warehouse at Curtis Industrial Park for Wildquail Vortex.
- Construction is well under way for a new home for Roman's Tile and Carpet. The 5,000-square-foot showroom and warehouse is taking shape at 24th Street and Avenue 2-1/2E.
- Steel framing is going up for the new Red Lobster just east of Logan's Roadhouse at Yuma Palms Regional Center.
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The August issue of Yuma Business Direct is now available online at businessinyuma.com. The issue features longtime restaurant owner Bessie Gutierrez, who has been in the business for 61 years, and her son John, who today manages two of the three family-owned eateries: La Casa Gutierrez, Mr. G's and Chile Pepper.
The issue also features Starlight Solar as the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce member of the month. And it introduces a new feature on leaders in the local hospitality industry, leading off with Jeanine Rhea, general manager of Yuma's award-winning Hampton Inn and Suites.
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John Mitchell has discovered that renovating his property at 4340 E. Highway 80 (where Chateau Basque Restaurant previously was located) was a little bigger project than he first thought. Mitchell plans to open Bubba's Ranch House Restaurant there as a steakhouse.
Instead of a simple renovation, he's now undertaken a building expansion project that will add 500 square feet to double the size of the existing kitchen.
"I decided to take the time and do it right," he said. He's now looking at a December opening.
The steakhouse will be the second restaurant for Mitchell, owner of Bubba's BBQ.
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A new restaurant is coming to Wellton. Ground was broken last week for Chuck's Coach Stop at 28534 Los Angeles Ave. The two-story building will have a 3,600-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor and an apartment on the second story.
Owners are Chuck and Mary Klawuhn. Chuck has been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years and, his wife reports, "is a great cook."
They're polishing off several of his recipes for things like Spanish dishes, wings, steaks and specials of the day, as well as soups and sandwiches for a lunch menu. They hope to open the restaurant by mid-November, initially for lunch and dinner, and adding breakfast when they get more established.
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There's a new pest control business in town that's all about satisfying the customer, whether it's getting rid of household pests or a wildlife problem, said Ron Boutwell, co-owner with Michael Hull of The Pest Police.
Hull has been in the pest control business for 26 years and even earned the nickname, "Mike the Bird Man" from Paul Harvey for Hull's invention of a system that gets rid of pigeons without hurting the birds.
"It just makes them want to go elsewhere," Boutwell said.
The partners met about six years ago in church in Mississippi and recently decided to go into business for themselves. Hull provides the technical background, while Boutwell, who has a Ph.D. in business administration, runs the business.
While the business specializes in pigeon control, it is a full-line pest control service for such pests as termites and bee swarms - and even wild chickens, a call they recently received, Boutwell said.
The Pest Police is at 1161 E. 21st St., Suite C, and can be reached by calling 344-0334.
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BJ's Hair Care, 11242 S. Foothills Blvd., is under new ownership.
Emmett and Michelle Sorensen have purchased the 25-year-old business from Janis Siel, who has retired.
Michelle, who has been providing hair services for 17 years around the community, said they saw an ad for the salon and decided "we were ready to go into business for ourselves."
The salon offers hair care from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The phone number is 342-1642.
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The new owner of the former Cousin's property at 1995 S. 4th Ave., has decided to open a doughnut shop there instead of leasing it out, said Gary Lee of Commercial Brokers, who handled the sale.
Renovation of the building of the building is in progress, with JWL Construction doing the work. The renovation is expected to be completed by mid to late September, according to the contractor.
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Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.
