Don Olsen to operate Coyote Wash grocery store

Longtime area grocer Don Olsen has purchased the grocery store and the shopping center at Coyote Wash in Wellton with plans to reopen the grocery store as Olsen's IGA.

Olsen told Comings and Goings last week that he is in the process of clearing out inventory of the store that closed about three weeks ago in preparation for cleaning up and restocking the store for a planned October reopening.

Among the items he plans to bring to the store are Kammann sausage, Olsen's homemade ice cream and quality meats for which the grocer is well known.

Olsen said he's been getting calls from Wellton residents who are eager to welcome him back to the community. He had purchased an existing grocery store there in 1975, but later sold it.

***

Blimpie's is now open at the Big Curve (in the former Quiznos store), confirmed Irene Crites, property manager for the center.

In fact, Crites said, she's already had lunch there “and it's excellent.”

***

Plans are underway to open a second Brown Bag Burger Yuma. The new restaurant is going into the former Quiznos location at Yuma Palms Regional Center and is expected to be open by mid-September.

Meanwhile, the original Brown Bag Burger, 5800 E. 32nd St., is expected to reopen by Oct. 1. It has been closed since being damaged by a fire in June.

In addition, owner Kayla Mattern is making plans to open a third store in the Foothills and possibly a fourth in Yuma Valley.

***

After 14 years of grooming people's pets, Sherri Phillips has opened her own pet grooming business. While she's still working on some final touches for A Smoochable Pooch, she's open for business and offering full grooming services, including tooth brushing medicated shampoos and nail filing.

A Smoochable Pooch is in The Palm Plaza shopping center, 2241 S. Avenue A, Suite 21 — that's between Yummy Yummy Chinese Food and Broadway Barber Shop. The shop can be reached at 782-2066.

First-time customers will receive a free tooth brushing or a free nail file.

***

Unzueta Auto Repair has a new home. The shop, formerly located at 2098 S. 4th Ave., has moved and now is at 1711 S. Arizona Ave., said owner Tony Unzueta. In business for 10 years, the shop provides automotive repairs and service.

It's open Monday through Friday and Saturday by appointment. It can be reached at 539-7073.

***

Douglas Seemann, a board-certified entomologist with more than 25 years experience in the pest control business, has joined Team Yuma Pest.

Currently, Seemann is an advisor for the Arizona Office of Pest Management that licenses and oversees pest control companies around the state. He will continue in that capacity while also working part time for Team Yuma Pest, offering his technical expertise for pest identification, public information seminars, employee training and other public presentations.

A renowned author and lecturer on pests and health concerns, Seemann has hosted radio and TV programs “Everybody's Home” and “Ask the Expert,” and was honored with an award from Purdue University at the Urban Pest Control Conference.

Matthew Reyelts is the CEO for Team Yuma Pest, which does business as Yuma Pest and Termite Systems.

***

Yuma Valley Jazzercise has moved and is now meeting at Oasis Church, 1545 S. Avenue C, announced owner Jenae Bailey. In celebration, new customers will receive the week of Aug. 16 free.

Along with the move, Bailey announced a new class schedule of 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Child care is available at both times.

Jazzercise is a 60-minute total body workout, combining kick-boxing, hip-hop, yoga, Pilates, cardio, strength training and stretching.

For more information or to register, call 919-2820 or e-mail yvjazzercise@aol.com.

***

Lisa Rammelt has become an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay. She can be reached at www.marykay.com/Lisa.Rammelt or call 246-1105.

***

Edward O'Malley has been named president and chief executive officer of Datepac LLC of Yuma, a processor and shipper of fresh Medjool dates.

O'Malley has more than 30 years of global experience in marketing, operations and supply chain management with fresh produce and packaged foods. In 2009, he served Chemonics International as director of the Mazar Food Initiative in Afghanistan, part of a $110 million project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development to improve livelihoods for Afghan farmers and businesses.

He has held executive positions in marketing with Fresh Express, Dole Fresh Vegetables and Paramount Farms.

Datepac is owned by date growers in Bard Valley. The company has two state-of-the art date processing facilities in Yuma and markets fresh Medjool dates throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.

***

Clayton Homes, a nationwide modular and manufactured home builder, will be shipping classrooms to Haiti as part of an agreement with the Clinton Foundation, a humanitarian effort spearheaded by former President Bill Clinton.

Clayton, a Berkshire Hathaway company, has significantly reduced the cost of the classrooms in support of the effort. The company also plans to supply discounted homes, specially designed for international shipping.

The company has 12,000 employees at more than 500 locations nationally, including Yuma.

“It's good to see American corporations such as ours that are willing to help out,” said Chris Connor, manager of the Yuma store.

Report Comings and Goings to jlobeck@yumasun.com or call Joyce Lobeck at 539-6853.