Last call for Nestle Tollhouse; Pier 1 not on closure list

  Nestle Tollhouse Cafe by Chip is closing its doors. Today is the last day of business for the shop - and last call for its delicious cookies and other goodies if there's any left.

  Sandy Curtis and Beth Snyder opened the store nearly four years ago at Yuma Palms Regional Center in The Village next to the Harkins Theatres.

  Commercial equipment and store fixtures are for sale. Anyone interested can stop by the store or call 580-5130 for an appointment.

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  Yuma's Pier 1 Imports, 839 W. 32nd St., is safe from closure, at least for now, according to a spokeswoman for the retail chain.

  "There are no store closures planned for the Yuma area at this time," Whitney Rogers, media relations specialist for Pier 1, told Comings and Goings Friday morning. She added that the only store slated for closure in Arizona is one on east Bell Road in Phoenix, which is to close its doors April 25.

  The company has begun negotiations with landlords to seek rent reductions for its stores across the chain in an effort to "meet the challenges of the current environment," according to its Web site.

  These negotiations could lead to closures of up to 125 underperforming store locations if a rent reduction agreement can't be reached for them, according to the Web site.

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 Rush Enterprises Inc., which operates the largest network of heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in North America, will open operations at its new 25,000-square-foot facility in Yuma on Monday.

  The new Rush Truck Center, 3382 E. Gila Ridge Road, can be reached at 726-9818 or visit rushtruckcenters.com. The center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

  The center is a dealership for Peterbilt and also will sell all makes and models of used vehicles.  The new location features an extensive parts and state-of-the-art service department. In addition, the dealership will operate two fully equipped mobile service vehicles to provide roadside and job site service and maintenance.

  “We are excited to start operations in this new facility. It allows us to provide expanded capabilities to our existing customers while being more conveniently and centrally located in our market area of responsibility,” said Randy Voutt, general manager for the truck center.

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  Home Instead Senior Care has moved to 2475 S. Avenue A, Suite C. Dave Kirchner, who purchased the local franchise in October, explained that the lease came due and the decision was made to move to a location that better suited the business' office needs. It can still be reached at 317-3037.

  Home Instead provides nonmedical companionship care for seniors, such as personal hygiene care, light housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation to the doctor's office, thus enabling the individuals to remain in their homes, Kirchner said.

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  The Beverage House at 2951 S. Pacific Ave. has been closed and the business consolidated at the main location at 166 W. 32nd St. in the Big Curve Shopping Center.

  Manager Arthur Ramo explained that the Pacific Avenue store wasn't cost-effective to operate and so the business owner gave up the lease.

  The Big Curve location is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 726-3452.

  Ramo said the owner is looking for another possible location or a potential buyer for the liquor license.

  As for the Pacific Avenue property, for leasing information, call 317-3138 or 246-7454.

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  Realtor Irene Crites is seeking a fast food chain to locate a restaurant at Yuma Mesa Shopping Center on the corner of 4th Avenue and 16th Street.

  She explained that when the city of Yuma purchased land where the Red Lobster previously was located at that corner, it didn't need the entire parcel. There's still 32,000 square feet available for a free-standing fast-food restaurant with "great visibility" from both 4th Avenue and 16th Street, she said.

  For more information, give her a call at 344-4050.

  The city purchased the corner, as it has the property on the other three corners, for improvements to the busy intersection.

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  A tasty new treat is coming to the Foothills area, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop named Tiki Hut. It's located at 11274 S. Fortuna Road, Suite B2, near Lotus Day Spa in the Pioneer Shopping Center.

  The way it works is that the customer selects the flavor - or flavors - of frozen yogurt they want after being offered a taste. They then can help themselves to hot chocolate, fresh fruit and a wide variety of dry toppings such as crushed cookies and nuts. They're charged based on the weight of the final creation.

  The shop opens its doors for business Tuesday and will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and until 9 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 305-9090.

  Owners are Phil and Sue Mitchell and their partners, Phil and Laurie Johnson. Mitchell said they have two shops in California, which have been very popular. With the opening of the Foothills shop, they'll be looking for yet another location in Yuma.

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  To all of you who have asked about the heavy equipment on the vacant parcel along 32nd Street on the east side of Sun Vista RV Park ...

  The lot is a staging area for the equipment being used to work on the infrastructure for the first phase of Saguaro, a subdivision Hall Construction is developing at 40th Street and Avenue 8E (just south of Sierra Montana). The upcoming neighborhood, located on about 60 acres, will have 147 lots.

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  Sunset Community Health Center Wellton Clinic, 10425 Williams St., will hold a grand opening from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday to celebrate the completion of its expansion project.

  In addition, the clinic will hold a health fair from 1 to 5 p.m.., offering health screenings, education and the unveiling of the Wind Advisory Flag Program implemented by the Yuma County Health Department.

  Lucy Murrieta, Sunset spokeswoman, said the clinic has moved into the former Wellton library after completing renovations. With the added space, the clinic will be able to expand the health care services it provides residents of eastern Yuma County, including OB/gyn (obstetrics and gynecology), pharmacy, dental, education for patients with diabetes and other long-term conditions.

  The clinic can be reached at 785-3256.

  Sunset Community Health Center has provided affordable health care to Yuma County for more than 25 years,| and operates clinics in Yuma, Somerton and San Luis, Ariz., as well as Wellton.

  As a federally qualified health center, Sunset is able to offer services on a sliding fee scale basis to patients who do not have insurance. The clinic also accepts AHCCCS, Medicare and other insurances.

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  About the Barney's reported closed in last Sunday's column. The correct address is 1610 S. Maple Ave. at the corner with 16th Street.

  Still no details on why it's shuttered.

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  At Burgess Hearing Aids, owners Charlie and Barb Burgess have welcomed a new partner, Shawn Cogswell, to their practice.

  Cogswell previously worked for a company representing 12 different hearing aid manufacturers. After traveling around the United States for the past three years, he and his daughter have decided to settle in Yuma and make their permanent home here.

  People are invited to stop by Burgess Hearing Aids, 1355 W. 16th St., Suite 7, and welcome Cogswell to Yuma. The store is now open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed for lunch at noon) Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays are reserved for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and shut-ins.

  For more information, call 314-4644.

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