Business Pulse: Sports fan throws TV out window
I continue to be amazed by the places this Business Pulse column travels. If you recall, it was around a year ago I wrote about the Great Fruitcake Festival held annually in Colorado just outside of Denver. Well it took a week or so but someone happened to read the column in that part of the country and e-mailed me pictures from the festival.
Just when I thought something like that would never happen again, I discover last week’s column has drawn interest outside Warren County. Waiting for me on my computer e-mail this week were pictures from last year’s Southern Tree Climbing Championship.
I think the pictures are legitimate, not a joke, because there are several photos of people way up in trees, climbing with helmets and ropes and doing things I wouldn’t want to do in a tree.
Judging by the pictures, my evaluation of the Tree Climbing Championship wasn’t totally correct. I figured the object was to scamper up the tree as quickly as possible, then get back down without breaking your neck. But the way these folks in the pictures are positioned, they are way out on limbs so I figure style points must be awarded somehow.
I’ve included one of the pictures so you can see for yourself and I figure that’s about as much coverage as a bunch of tree climbers deserve. Besides, I’ve got to have room to tell you about the world’s most idiotic sport fan, a 24-year-old who lives in Buffalo, N.Y.
The reason this guy is so foolish is because he was hospitalized recently after falling 20 feet to the ground. You ask why did the guy fall 20 feet? I’m glad you asked.
According to police reports, the man was watching a videotape of a National Hockey League playoff game from the 1980s – a tape he had already viewed several times. Only this time, when watching his team lose once again, the infuriated man picked up his TV set and tried to toss it off his second-floor balcony. The TV went hurling to the ground and so did the man, who failed to let go of it in time.
I say this is a guy who needs to be restrained from attending sporting events. If he gets so worked up about a game that took place over a decade ago, he has obviously lost control of his own behavior.
My thoughts on Kmart leaving
Like a lot of folks, I was hoping there would be an error in the “secret list” which fell into the hands of the media about a month ago and said our Kmart would be one of the stores closing. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
By all indications, our Kmart will be closed by the end of June and Warren countians will be without one more place to shop. I don’t like it, not one bit.
I’m not a Wal-Mart fan and I can say that because I honestly don’t shop much at Wal-Mart. I’ve always tried to support the little guy, the local business owner working to make ends meet, and that’s part of the reason I love writing this column.
This is not to say Kmart is a “little guy” but it has been another option in this town for over 20 years. The way things are going, if we keep having stores go out of business, we’ll only have one place to shop. That’s a day I don’t look forward to seeing.
Go back for more at Gondola
In the words of Gondola owner Jimmy Zavogiannis, “We’ve got to play the game.”
And when it comes to running a successful restaurant in Warren County, playing the game means offering an all-you-can-eat buffet. So Jimmy, smart businessman that he is, has decided to change with the times. That change means Gondola is now offering an all-you-can-eat food bar, seven days a week from the time the restaurant opens till the time it closes.
“This is the way things are going,” said Jimmy, who unveiled his buffet for the first time Wednesday.
Jimmy’s buffet bar seems the perfect fit for McMinnville’s all-you-can-eat mentality. For whatever reason, folks here enjoy eating plateful after plateful, so Gondola is trying to cater to that need.
When I stopped by Friday afternoon for lunch, the restaurant was hopping. People were scurrying around, filling up their plates at the buffet, and generally having a good time. It was a festive atmosphere, sort of like a birthday party without the gifts.
As far as his regular menu is concerned, Jimmy says that remains intact. All your traditional, mouth-watering Gondola favorites are still available.
As for his buffet tables, pizza and a large salad selection will be available every day. The items on the hot bar will rotate daily and include: baked and fried chicken, baked and fried fish, pot roast, ham, turkey, ribs, pepper steak, etc. There will also be such staples as mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and corn.
“This will allow me to serve people faster for lunch,” said Jimmy. “But the bar will be up all day long, not just for lunch.”
I say the buffet will be a success because Warren County is far more than the Nursery Capital of the World. Judging by the way I’ve seen folks eat, I’d say we’re the Appetite Capital of the World.
Chancery Plaza continues to grow
I told you last week I would have the inside scoop about the sudden boom at Chancery Plaza, and I don’t intend to go back on my word. In addition to Planet Pizza and Tee’s Jewelry, Strictly Party is joining the newly built shopping center.
In case you’re wondering what Strictly Party could be, it’s a new business of sorts. Actually, it’s more of a long-standing business which is breaking free and finding its own way.
Anyone who has ever been in Grand Rental Station on Garfield Street likely has noticed their line of party supplies. I’ve always thought the party stuff didn’t really fit with Grand Rental’s overall theme, which is renting heavy equipment and other big items.
To remedy that situation, Kathy Bouldin is taking her party supplies and making a store of her own in Chancery Plaza, which will be called Strictly Party. Kathy said her sign should be up in a week or so, and is hopeful she could be open at the beginning of April but said that was all contingent on how quickly her space is made available.
“I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback from my customers,” said Kathy. “Up there, we’ll have more visibility and be able to service people better. We’ll no longer be connected to Grand Rental.”
If you’re in the market for party supplies, Kathy says she’ll have everything you need. If you want to base a children’s party on a particular theme – Bob the Builder is the hot character now – those supplies will be available too.
“We have anything you need for a party,” said Kathy.
But wait, there’s more
Strictly Party isn’t the only business on its way to Chancery Plaza. Curves for Women will be making the short move from further up the street and fill the spot at the end of the shopping center. Like Strictly Party, Curves for Women owner Jim Minor said he’d like to be moved in April 1, but also indicated that’s not a sure bet.
“We’ve just flat outgrown our current location,” said Jim, who is currently located in the center with Showcase Rental. “We’ve already got over 300 members. McMinnville has really turned out great for us.”
That’s pretty good membership for a workout place which has only been open since Oct. 15. Jim is hoping things will only get better in a location with 1,500 square feet – almost double the space Curves for Women now uses. Jim says he plans to add a few more machines, and yes, he will add three tanning beds too.
“You can get in shape and tan too,” he said.
Jim also stressed the new location will have front and back-door entrances. That way it will be easy for women to slip in the back if their hair is all messy and their makeup isn’t just right.
Yates returns from five-day seminar
To keep in touch with the latest jewelry industry trends, United Diamond Brokers owner Greg Yates recently participated in a five-day seminar in Dallas, Texas. The seminar is conducted by the Independent Jewelers Organization, of which Greg is a member.
“It gives me a chance to talk to jewelers in a similar situation to find out what’s selling well for them and issues they may be dealing with,” said Greg. “One thing I’ve noticed is over the last couple years, we’ve been selling a lot of platinum.”
When Greg opened United Diamond Brokers in Plaza Shopping Center in 1992, he said one of his main interests was one-of-a-kind pieces. That hasn’t changed as Greg takes pride in offering quality jewelry.
“People in Warren County don’t want to spend money on a real nice piece and then see the same thing on someone else,” said Greg, who has traveled as far away as Belgium to purchase diamonds directly from site holders and cutters.
Toby Gilley now a law firm partner
McMinnville native and 1988 Warren County High School graduate Toby Gilley is now a partner in the law firm which used to be Rucker & Rucker. With Gilley as a partner, the law firm is now called Rucker, Rucker & Gilley.
Gilley graduated from MTSU in 1992 and did graduate work there until ’94. He continued his education at University of Tennessee School of Law until ’97 and was admitted to practice law Nov. 10 of that year.
In addition to celebrating his promotion to partner, Toby has other reasons to celebrate. His wife, Laurie, recently gave birth to the couple’s first child Jan. 9. Toby is the son of McMinnville’s Tolbert and Linda Gilley.
That’s all folks
Provided I don’t get angry, toss my computer out the window and fall 20 feet along with it, I’ll be back next week to bring you another business column. If you have information you want me to publicize, the number is 473-2191 and the e-mail is [email protected].