2015 February PASO Magazine

Business
What’s happening
on Main Street?
By Millie Drum
Remembering Gigi Cohoon
It’s been a year to the month
that Chris Weygandt Alba wrote a
heartfelt tribute to Gigi. She battled
cancer; sadly passing away last year.
She touched many in her 25 years
in downtown always with her optimism
and determination to do well
with her business. Recently, family
and friends gathered in the City
Park to honor a little lady that will
always be remembered for her big
smile and courageous spirit.
SHOP SMALL Every Day!
In 2010, American Express
founded Small Business Saturday®…the
Saturday after Thanksgiving;
after the media frenzy of
Black Friday. The national campaign
works. SHOP SMALL encourages
people to shop at small businesses
that “write the story of America.” It
is an effective marketing campaign
that ties a purchase with an American
Express card on that day with a
bounce back discount. It worked. But
why not SHOP SMALL every day?
Executive Director Norma Moye
tells me, “I did all of my Christmas
shopping downtown.”
The owners of small businesses
make their living by bringing goods
and services to us. They are not
only our friends, neighbors and fellow
citizens; they are the heart and
“center” of Paso Robles within the
Downtown Main Street Association.
From family businesses to
start-ups and independents, these
businesses give our town character
while adding to the feeling of
prosperity.
But really, do all of our small
business owners feel prosperous? I
believe that most people think our
small businesses are charming and
unique…and prosperous since many
have endured hard times and are still
in business. But honestly, many will
also reluctantly admit to not helping
small business thrive by spending
their money elsewhere...online and
at the one-stop mega retailers; for
convenience.
Thankfully, we have waves of
seasonal and event related tourism
that brings people into the businesses.
When is the last time you
played tourist in your own hometown?
New Biz Downtown
I check with Norma every month
for the latest news about changes
downtown. She always says, “Things
are moving so fast, we can hardly
keep up!” Expansions, re-locations,
and new businesses are just part of
the dynamics of a successful downtown.
The latest expansion is tucked
away on Railroad Street, next door
to Bless Your Heart Baking. Owner
Rose Hawthorne has expanded next
door with Follow Your Heart Café
now offering breakfast, lunch and
catering! The menu offers gluten
free and low glycemic choices, some
of which are vegan and vegetarian.
Visit 1335 Railroad Ave., Monday
through Saturday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call 227-4969.
Making the Holidays Bright
These businesses received a special
thank you for bringing the holiday
spirit to the community: All Around
Sweepstakes - Hotel Cheval; Special
Award - Derby Wine; Best Holiday
theme - The Cottage; Best Decorated
Business (interior/exterior)
- Pan Jewelers; Best Holiday window
- Berkshire Hathaway Home
Services; Best Holiday Lighting (inside)
- Park Cinemas; Best Holiday
Lighting (outside) - Paso Robles
The Wedding & Special Event
EXPO is Sunday, March 1 from
11 am to 3 pm at the Paso Robles
Inn Ballroom. Plan your next special
occasion with local resources for
venues, catering, music,
photography, transportation and
accommodations! Call Main Street
at 238-4103 for more information.
Inn; Mrs. Claus Award - Firefly;
Judge’s Award - Vic’s Café; Creative
Award - Ambiance; Santa’s Award
- San Luis Sports Therapy; Traditional
Award - Birch Fabrics; Outstanding
Award - We Olive; Spirit
Award - Bodegas Paso Robles; Elf
Award - Little Wash; Artistic Award
- Sole Tree; Angel Award - AndBe
Boutique; Reindeer Award - Village
Thrift; and Candy Cane Award -
Powell’s Sweet Shoppe.
Stay in touch with me at mildrum@sbcglobal.net.
I’d love to hear
your stories about Downtown Paso
Robles!
‘ ’
THIS THAT
NA collection of stuff
Crab Feed
SLO Co. Foundation for
Agriculture Awareness and The
Heritage Foundation present the
15th annual Crab Feed on Saturday,
Feb. 7, 4 p.m. at PR Event /
Center, Estrella Hall, 2198 Riverside
Ave. All you can eat dungeness
crab, clam pasta, bread and salad,
hot fudge sundaes…beer and wine
included…$55 per person. Tickets:
Hugh Pitts 591-5226 or hugh
@hughpitts.com
Mardi Gras Carnival
Cinco de Mayo Scholarship
Committee and Hispanice Business
Association present the Mardi Gras
Carnival on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 6 - 9
p.m. Paso Robles Inn Ballroom, food,
cocktails, entertainment, costume
contest and silent auction. Meet at
5:30 p.m. in Downtown Park for
parade to the Inn. Honoring Henry
Elisarraraz, Linda Quesenberry and
Dr. Warren Frankel. Tickets $40,
call Richard Benitez 238-2735 or
Marcia Garcia 835-7900.
Fish Fries
The San Miguel Lions Club
presents their Fish Fries every Friday
night, beginning February 20
through April 3, 4 to 7 p.m. at the
San Miguel Community Center,
253 13th Street, in San Miguel.
You can dine in and catch up
with old friends or take it home to
enjoy. Dinners are $12 which includes
fish, french fries, cole slaw,
a drink and an ice cream cup.
For more information, call Lion
Pug at 459-4722 or Lion Terry at
459-4722
Ladies Conference
The Annual Ladies’ Conference
will be held March 6 and 7
at the Colony Park Community
Center in Atascadero, with speaker
Liz Hammer and music by
Lisa Reiff Band. Registration
is $60 and includes dessert on
Friday, coffee break and lunch
on Saturday. Register at, www.
LadiesConference.com, or call
466-0992.
48 Paso Robles Magazine, February 2015