Business Pulse: Don’t confuse pills with buffet food
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My goal is to generate just 10 percent of what the president raised which amounts to some $4 million. For that $4 million, there will be a brief swearing in ceremony outside the courthouse followed by one heckuva party at New York Grill.
Cupcake (like Laura Bush) will have four different dresses for the event — one for morning church services, a perky pre-inauguration dress, a very formal outfit for the actual swearing in, and a comfortable evening gown for the all-night party. Any leftover funds I’ll put toward tearing up the few portions of downtown that haven’t already been destroyed.
But that’s enough about politics because Business Pulse maintains no political affiliation. It’s my thinking that politicians are generally so foolish, why limit yourself to just making fun of half of them?
As for this week’s message, it comes from the town of Putney, Kentucky where a man named Mike Braithwaite was operating a successful adult bookstore and novelty shop.
The good news is Braithwaite found religion, which I think is a positive step. Being a man of the church, Braithwaite couldn’t very well operate an adult bookstore so he turned his business into a Christian bookstore. It sounded like an easy enough transition.
Now here’s the bad news. What was once a highly profitable adult business has taken a nosedive as a Christian business and Braithwaite now has the store up for sale. He says he doesn’t have enough customers to keep the doors open.
Braithwaite said he’s glad he changed, even if he loses the store.
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Braithwaite asked, paraphrasing a verse from the Bible. “It might be God’s will to go ahead and sell the store. If it’s not his will, he’ll make a way for us to keep it open.”
An adult bookstore thrives, a Christian bookstore flounders. I say it’s a sad commentary.
And for one final thought, I bring you a combination of Business Pulse favorites – dumb criminals and ridiculous lawsuits. The story comes from Wood River, Illinois where a 20-year-old woman had the bright idea of breaking into a pharmacy to steal prescription drugs.
According to police reports, the woman successfully burglarized The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy then gave the OxyContin and Xanax she stole to her boyfriend, Justin Stalcup. For Stalcup, it was like a trip to the buffet table and he promptly proceeded to do an all-you-can-eat routine on the pills. I regret to inform you he died of an overdose the next day.
The Stalcup family, continuing what’s quickly becoming an American tradition, doesn’t believe their son is responsible for his own death. Forget the fact he had his girlfriend break into a pharmacy and steal massive amounts of pills. It’s the pharmacy’s fault.
At least that’s the logic behind a lawsuit filed last month against The Medicine Shoppe. The family wants financial compensation for their son’s death because, they say, the pharmacy didn’t do enough to prevent people from breaking into the store and stealing drugs.
Carrier layoffs no longer distant
The business story with the most impact in 2005 is sadly one of the worst stories of 2004 — Carrier’s departure from Warren County. Now the layoffs that were once a year away are upon us and the county will begin to feel the sting of losing its largest employer.
The job losses begin next weekend when 17 people accept voluntary layoffs. By the end of February, a total of 210 employees (which includes the 17 voluntary layoffs) are scheduled to be out of work.
From there, the numbers only get worse. By April 8, an additional 350 employees will be without a job. The big layoff will hit July 1 when 500 more people are scheduled to be let go.
After the July 1 layoff, there will be an estimated 100 to 150 employees left to work through October.
When October arrives, the once-powerful facility which employed close to 1,500 people at its prime, is scheduled to shut down.
One main thing to keep in mind when reading these dates is the schedule is subject to change. The other eye-opening figure is some 850 people are set to lose their jobs in less than two months from April to July.
Folks, January is almost gone. April will be here before we know it. Carrier’s closure is about to make an enormous impact and that impact won’t be positive. I hate to be the bearer of bad news.
Big plans in store for Cornerstone Baptist
One of the hot questions I’ve been asked is what’s happening to Cornerstone Baptist Church? Apparently word has spread about the church buying land and preparing to construct a new facility, but as is usually the case, several different stories are out there.
I talked with Cornerstone preacher Braxton Hunter on Friday and he was nice enough to fill me in on all the details. Cornerstone will eventually have a new church on Myers Lane, but ground isn’t likely to be broken for about a year. When the new church is complete, Cornerstone will have a 1,000-seat auditorium located on about 20 acres.
“We have about 600 coming on a regular basis on Sunday, but we have to break that up into two services,” said Braxton indicating Cornerstone’s current facility is supposed to seat about 250 but 300 squeeze in. “We hope to all meet together again and have baseball fields and all that good stuff along with it.”
Myers Lane is a street which has made its way into Business Pulse in recent weeks. It’s the street which could very well see a new shopping center built at its intersection with Old Shelbyville Road. The addition of a major church will sure increase the traffic on what is a seldom-used residential road.
“That’s one thing I’ve noticed is that it’s a narrow road,” said Braxton. “And that’s one thing that’s a concern because church statistics show when a church relocates, 75 percent of the time it doubles in size in two years. Relocation generates a lot of excitement, especially when it’s a new building.”
The exact church location as you’re traveling from Old Shelbyville Road is on the right-hand side of Myers Lane. The church will be visible from the bypass. The church has bought property that’s already zoned R-2 which means it’s OK for apartments or churches.
On a personal note, I’m glad to see Cornerstone prospering. I’d rather see churches thrive than adult bookstores.
Bouldin’s Country Market has new emphasis on food
It was three years ago when David Bouldin and his wife, Barbara, bought Joyce’s Market at the three-way stop on Yager and Short Mountain roads. My what a difference three years has made.
What was once a run-down store has become a pretty neat country market that features the one thing needed to make a country store really special – good cookin’.
David has been emphasizing his breakfast biscuits for some time and sells about 75 of them a day. It’s just been last weekend he added a breakfast bar to compliment a full menu that includes one of the best ribeye steaks you’ll wrap your lips around.
“We bought it as a store,” said David. “But I’ve gotten into my cooking and this is where it’s gone. We start cooking at 5 in the morning and cook all day long. The big things are Friday night catfish and steak night. And we have just started a breakfast and food bar on Sundays that will rival Shoney’s.”
David has also started catering and he’s gradually expanded the seating at his store to where it will now hold around 50 customers at a time. He says this Tuesday marks his first major catering job when he cooks for 42 people with the local cattle association.
The customers I talked to Friday afternoon had nothing but good things to say about David’s food, especially his ribeye.
“He’ll bring you steak sauce but you don’t need it,” said Carl Bouldin. “To me that’s the sign of a good steak.”
Added Shawn Stinson, “My whole family eats here about every Friday night and there’s about 10 or 12 of us.”
The great thing about Bouldin’s is it’s one of the few places to grab a bite to eat in that neck of the woods. Delores’ and Whitlock’s are the other choices.
“This corner stays pretty busy,” said David. “I’m not ready to trade for a Cadillac just yet, but our food is doing pretty good.”
Pearl Bess Fultz almost makes it 50 years downtown
When you think of Main Street, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? OK, what’s the first thing that pops into your head besides massive construction, empty buildings and struggling businesses?
The answer is obvious – Your Tot to Teen Shop which was owned by Pearl Bess Fultz for 49 years. Pearl sold the store in November, just shy of making it an even 50 years.
“My nephews said I should have held out for another year, but 49 was enough,” said Pearl, who is enjoying her retirement. “I didn’t realize how much strain and stress I was under. When you own a business, it’s up to you to open the doors every day. You have to do it even on the days you don’t want to. It’s different from other jobs because when it’s your business, you can’t quit.”
Pearl said selling the store came at a good time because her husband, Willie, was involved in a tragic car accident in Morrison and he still hasn’t fully recovered.
“I’m here taking care of him,” said Pearl. “So it’s good I left when I did.”
Pearl sold the store to Deitra and Joe Dunlap and Pearl says they plan to continue the Tot to Teen name. I’ll track down the new owners and give you their plans when the store reopens.
That’s all folks
I already know of one major story I’m going to tell you about next Sunday so you’ll have to be sure to grab a copy of the paper and flip to Business Pulse.