Published: July 17, 2008 11:44 pm            

TIM PRESTON: Opening, closing, moving, planning 072008

New Orleans native Terry Freese recently opened Cajun Connection at 102 Grandview Ave. in South Point, near the Grandview Hotel.

General Manager Suzy Edmonds said the menu features Cajun entrees including gumbo, Jambalaya, Louisiana-style Po’ Boy sandwiches, beignets (French donut pastries, often enjoyed alongside a cup of coffee) and crawfish etouffe, as well as cheeseburgers and “the best roast beef in town.”

Cajun Connection is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday. The restaurant will also deliver orders for $40 or more within five miles. For more information or to place an order, call (740) 377-9797.

Moved

There’s a sign up at longtime downtown Ashland business 13th & Central Service Center pointing customers toward its new location at 2785 Greenup Ave., next to Barbour’s Ashland Auto Parts.

Phil Rice Sr., who opened the shop here in 1992 and co-owns the business with his son Phil Jr. said they will continue to offer repair and towing services just as they did at the former corner location. Although there were fuel pumps at the old location, Rice said, “We’ve been out of the gasoline business over two years.”

Father and son agreed the new location better allows them to serve their customers, with seven service days instead of two. 13th and Central Service Center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (606) 324-2978 or 324-1212.

No decisions, yet

A corporate spokesman for New York-based Steve & Barry’s stores said “no decisions have been made at this time” regarding the status of the Kyova Mall location.

Steve & Barry’s, along with 63 affiliates, recently announced they have initiated cases under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, prompting speculation about the possible closure of stores in this area. Each of Steve & Barry’s 276 retail locations remains open for business following that announcement, which included plans to reduce 172 corporate and field staff positions.

Closing

After a century in business, the owners of Dawahare’s have announced they are declaring bankruptcy and closing all of their stores, including the Morehead location.

The Dawahare’s story is a great example of “The American Dream” as lived by founder Frank Dawahare, who came from Syria and established the business as a peddler and opened his first store in East Jenkins. Pikeville was also home to one of the first big stores opened by Dawahare’s.

The company plans to liquidate inventory at the remaining 22 Dawahare’s and Cat Bird Seat stores between now and the end of September, with sales under way as of last week. Most of the stores are expected to be closed by the end of the month, according to a statement by Dawahare’s officials. More than 500 people will lose jobs as part of the closing process.

Ending tomorrow

“Stay at home moms” Melissa Triplett and Bridget Trent are testing the waters for a new consignment business with their first kid’s consignment sale this weekend at the CK Community Center at 1200 Poplar St., Kenova.

They’ll be on duty from 11 a.m. until 6 today, and wrapping things up with a half-off sale tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The sale event includes toys, clothes, household items and “anything related to kids,” Triplett said. For more information or to get involved as a consignor visit www.hiddentreasuresale.net.

Candidates to talk business

Mayoral candidates in Ashland will be asked to share their thoughts and visions for the city and “specifically the business community” during a Mayoral Summit set for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 29 at the Park Place Auditorium on Central Avenue.

The summit, which is a cooperative effort by the Ashland Alliance Young Professionals Association, Ashland Alliance and The Independent, will address questions submitted by local people with community and business interests.

For more information contact Laura Timberlake at (606) 329-6077 or Travis Sanders at (606) 329-2929.

Finding and keeping

Great employees can make or break a business and there is a seminar titled “Attracting & Retaining Great Employees” set for 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Jesse Stuart Foundation on the corner of 17th Street and Winchester Avenue in Ashland.

The seminar, offered jointly by the Morehead State University/Ashland Small Business Development Center and the Ashland Alliance, will be presented by award winning Action Coach Dave Beam.

The session will teach a four-step hiring process “that will attract, motivate and retain the best employees based on de-selection.”

The workshop is free of charge and open to the public. For more information or to pre-register call (606) 329-8011.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.

        

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