Opie Johnson has helped reinvent a Grand Junction restaurant, turning what was a franchise diner into a unique operation that serves fare with a thoroughly local flavor. “We’re the absolute epitome of a local eatery,” says Johnson, general manager of Cinnamon Grill. Formerly a Black Bear Diner, the restaurant has dropped the franchise and its […]
The dollar volume of loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration continues to decline in Mesa County even as lending levels elsewhere in Colorado and the United States climb to record heights. While SBA officials and lenders were unable to pinpoint a specific reason or reasons for the diverging trends, they say many small […]
Tinker Barnett foresees problems for businesses unwilling to bridge generational gaps in the workplace. Aging baby boomers, many of them in management and ownership positions, must not only understand their differences with younger employees, but also adapt business practices to those differences to avoid costly turnover and lost productivity. While the issue isn’t as pressing […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has retreated to its lowest level in nearly two years even as labor demand continues to increase, particularly for energy and transportation jobs. “We definitely have seen more activity in the job market,” said Suzie Miller, an employment specialist with the Mesa County Workforce […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: A Colorado-based company expects to soon open a revamped mining and processing facility that will help meet growing demand for the rare earth elements required to manufacture a profusion of high-tech products. The timing couldn’t be more important because China is expected to limit or even halt exports from what’s been […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Pete First enjoys a good vantage point from which to observe trends in the resale market. First works as director of franchise development for Winmark Corp., a Minneapolis-based corporation with a total of 900 resale stores in operation across the country. And trends in the resale market, he says, have been […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A new promotion will reward shoppers for patronizing Grand Valley businesses by awarding them prizes. At the same time, though, the promotion is part of an ongoing effort by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce to bolster the economy by encouraging people to shop locally. “We want to get people […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Debra Eichhorst knows from personal experience that purchasing used clothing and toys can save money in raising children. Eichhorst now offers what she calls the same “resource” to other parents in opening a Once Upon a Child resale store in Grand Junction. What’s more, Eichhorst believes the timing couldn’t be better […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Individual real estate trends for Mesa County constitute something of a mixed bag. Sales remain ahead of last year, but the dollar volume of those sales lags behind. Meanwhile, property foreclosure activity slows. Considered together, Annette Miller sees a market that’s holding its own compared to several down years, but still […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: A Palisade information destruction company was the first in the nation to purchase a new type of insurance that extends coverage for data breaches to its clients. While the release of confidential financial or medical information remains rare, the effects of such breaches have become increasingly costly, said Scott Fasken, vice […]