Business Pulse: Chinese millionaire sues for 12 cents
Last week, I poked fun at my wife because she had just turned 30 and officially entered the “old age” portion of her life. This week, after yet another graduation night, I’m the one who is left feeling old.
That’s because my graduation counter continues to climb. For some people, this may be the Class of 2003. But for me, it’s the Class of 15. I have given it that name because it has now been 15 years since I graduated high school in 1988. Next year’s graduating seniors, as you can probably guess, will be my Class of 16.
The thing that annoys me most about this Class of 15 is all the pesky kids who called me “sir.” Taking pictures during Project Graduation on Friday night, I got called “sir” way too many times. And to these kids I have one thing to say – learn some manners.
I’m not sir and I’m not Mr. Clark. Just call me James. And if that doesn’t suit your fancy, such phrases as “cool breeze” and “hey good looking” are also acceptable (although I would prefer if men did not use the second of the two phrases).
As for the wacky news taking place around the world, I bring you the story of Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, a 7-foot giant who is currently making millions playing for the NBA’s Houston Rockets. If you recall all those crazy lawsuits I’ve told you about over the years, where a person asks for a ridiculous amount of money for something like a bad haircut, here’s one more to add to the list.
Only this time, it’s a new twist. The ridiculous amount of money isn’t in the millions – it’s in the cents. That’s because Yao Ming is suing Coca-Cola for the grand total of 12 cents.
Ming says Coke is illegally using his name to market its soft drinks and has “demanded an open apology on nationwide media” along with asking for the 12 cents. Coke, not about to agree to those terms, says it is perfectly within its right to use Ming because a clause allows Coca-Cola to use the likeness of any member of the Chinese National Basketball Team as long as three or more players appear together wearing the national team’s uniform.
Wouldn’t it save everyone a great deal of trouble if Coke – the world’s largest soft drink manufacturer – just forked over the 12 cents and tossed Ming an apology?
But I suppose that makes too much sense. Instead, the two sides will probably tie up the court system for years and spend thousands and thousands on a drawn-out legal battle.
While I can’t do anything about that foolishness, I can bring you this week’s Business Pulse.
Let’s first address the good stuff
I could ramble on and on about some new business in Warren County, but that only brings so much enjoyment. What really brings a smile to the ol’ face is cold, hard cash. That’s why I’m pleased to report over a half million Tennessee taxpayers will soon be much happier and their wallets much fatter.
According to information provided to me by the IRS (yes, even the IRS cares about being mentioned in Business Pulse), there will be right at 527,000 Tennessee taxpayers who will receive up to a $400 check in about two months.
“Taxpayers only need to do one thing – cash the check when it gets there,” said IRS spokesman Dan Boone. “There’s no need to call, no need to apply, no need to fill out another form.”
Now those are words I like to hear. I don’t usually get excited about news coming from the IRS, but when $400 is involved, I get downright silly.
The checks of up to $400 will be awarded to taxpayers who claimed a child tax credit on their 2002 tax returns. Since I am one of those people, “Show me the money!”
The checks will be mailed to most taxpayers during three main mailings on July 25, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. Depending on which group you’re in, you will be notified on either July 23, July 30 or Aug. 6 with information telling you exactly how big a check you’re going to get.
Former Shoney’s Inn has a new owner
Most of us know the hotel which used to be Shoney’s Inn has gone out of business. I realize the hotel wasn’t called Shoney’s Inn at the time, but it was hard for even me to keep up with all the name changes.
It was Shoney’s Inn, then it was Comfort Inn, then if was something like The Suites of McMinnville, and then it was called Best Value Inn, which is the name the hotel was using when it went bankrupt.
As Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story. Local contractor Jewell Hale bought the hotel about three months ago after Union Planters foreclosed on the property. Jewell said he got several offers on the building right after he bought it, but he has decided to sell it to the same people who own the hotel on Sparta Highway which used to be Best Western.
Now I know all these name changes are a bit confusing, but you’ll have to bear with me. The Best Western on Sparta Highway is no longer Best Western. It’s currently operating under the name of McMinnville Inn and it will likely hook up with a major national change within the next month.
To cut to the chase, the folks who own Best Western, or McMinnville Inn, now own the Shoney’s Inn, or what is now called Best Value Inn. And since her parents own both properties, Aanel Evans is the new general manager of both hotels.
Aanal has been in McMinnville a little over a month. She formerly worked in management in the fashion industry in Raleigh, N.C., and says she knows what it takes to have a successful working relationship with customers.
“It’s all about the clients and your employees and keeping it fun,” said Aanal. “For people who stay here, I want to provide a delightful client experience. I want to greet them and thank them and target what their needs might be.”
Aanal seems very geared toward providing sparkling customer service and that’s what it takes to stand out in any business, whether it’s a hotel, restaurant or retail store.
The old Best Western is currently being renovated from top to bottom. All the rooms have a new, 27-inch TV, an iron and ironing board, and a mini refrigerator. The hotel is getting a new roof and will have a new parking lot too. There has already been painting and scrubbing and there is much more to come.
“We have actually owned the hotel for the last two years, but haven’t been here to run it the way it needs to be run,” said Aanal, who said as general manager she wants to be the “hostess of the party.”
With the 49-room Best Western under renovation, Aanal’s family just worked out an agreement with Jewell Hale last week to purchase the former Shoney’s Inn. That hotel received a full-scale renovation about two years ago so not much needs to be done for that property.
“We’ll change all the sheets and do general clean up because it’s gotten a little stuffy in there,” said Aanal. “Other than that, we’ve just been cutting grass, doing some mulching and getting the outside ready to go.”
Aanal said she wants to open the 61-room facility within two weeks. She says it will operate under the name Best Value Inn for at least a year and then they might pursue a partnership with a nation-wide chain.
The Pet Shop to move one door down
Since Horner Rausch left Plaza Shopping Center to move to the old Dimitri’s building, I’ve been curious about what was going to move into Horner Rausch’s old spot. Well now I know.
The Pet Shop is moving one door down in a move that will double the size of the store.
“I wanted to stay in this shopping center,” said The Pet Shop owner Stan Hillis, who many people probably know as a sheriff’s department deputy. “It’s hard to get people to follow you across town, so this is about perfect. I get to move next door and the new store will be twice the size.”
Hillis has owned The Pet Shop for the last 19 years and has experienced a couple moves. He started out at Three Star Mall before moving downtown near The Black House. But he’s stayed in Plaza Shopping Center for a while and has developed a solid business over the last 13 years.
Stan has targeted the beginning of July as the opening date for the new store. Probably the most difficult part of the whole move will be getting all those fish tanks from one spot to the next. Stan says he won’t empty the tanks completely. Instead, he will leave a little water at the bottom for the fish to survive and then he will roll them next door on some sort of cart.
Johnnie Prater moves antique store next to her home
Some folks may be familiar with Johnnie Prater’s antique store called Second Chance Antiques after it operated in the old Fraley’s building for about a year. Johnnie says she was forced out of that building, however, so she is now running Second Chance Antiques from a spacious building next to her log cabin home on Peach Avenue in Smartt Station.
“I always say what comes around goes around,” said Johnnie, who didn’t care to get into specific detail about the controversy which led to her leaving Main Street. “But now I’m out here and I want my customers to know about my new shop.”
Johnnie hasn’t been blessed with the best of luck in recent years. She had a blood clot in her head which ruptured and nearly claimed her life. The incident happened during a normal day at work.
“It felt like someone hit me on the head with a hammer,” said Johnnie. “They rushed me to the hospital and I had to be airlifted out. They didn’t give me much chance to live but here I am. I always said as soon as I could sit up again, I’m going back to antiques so here I am.”
Johnnie’s store is loaded with a variety of items including: lamps, quilts, pictures, trunks, books, furniture and depression glass items. That’s just to name a few things.
If you’re not familiar with the Smartt Station community, Peach Avenue isn’t difficult to find. You can call Johnnie for directions or for more information at 815-3658.
That’s all folks
Call me with your business tips at 473-2191.