Chris Stromberg opened Manneken Frites, a Belgian fries shop, in Olde Town Arvada on July 30. It was something he and his wife, Kimberly, had talked about for 15 years. At first, Chris says, “it was kind of a joke, like, oh, the frite shop.” Fresh, hand-cut, salted fries in paper cones, the yellow-brick road to their retirement.
But, still in his 40s, he was twice laid off from accounting jobs. With no other frite shops around, he and his wife decided that while now is not a good time, it would be their time. “Just don’t lose the house,” Kimberly told him.
“Don’t put that in the paper,” Chris says.
“I have to,” I say. “It shows the risk you and your wife have taken.”
I find Chris though Hazel Hartbarger, whom I call because I’m weary of the onslaught of grim economic news. I am, as you know by now, ever in search of a silver lining. Hazel — the very name is a comfort — is director of the Arvada Economic Development Association. You want to know the comings and goings of businesses in Arvada, Hazel is your woman. Who is opening businesses in this economy, I ask. What’s it take?
“A whole lot of courage,” Hazel says. Since Jan. 1, roughly 160 businesses have opened and 142 have closed in town. That includes home-based businesses, which churn more than brick-and-mortar companies. “The key is you have to have a good product, but, as well, you have to have really exceptional customer service,” Hazel says, rattling off names of new businesses. “I could go on,” she says.
Please do.
Bigtime Trampoline Fun Center opened Sept. 9 at the east end of the shopping center at West 52nd Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. It’s an enormous, sparkling clean play center with an arcade, children’s playground, obstacle course, party room and eight trampolines set at ground level. Had I not been working, I immediately would have started jumping.
The owners are two couples in their first business venture. Kelle and Nancy Hickam, and Roger and Misha Bradley. Kelle does the finances, Roger the marketing, Misha, the parties, Nancy, payroll. Nancy and Roger both kept their other full-time jobs — she’s a paralegal, he’s in sales. The two couples have three children each, and they need the health insurance.
“It takes a lot of determination and nerves of steel,” Misha says. “It’s a massive amount of hard work, but a never-ending focus on the big picture kept us going.”
“I don’t have moments of doubt,” Kelle says. “There are times when I’m scared when it’s not crowded, but you have to believe in your plan.”
The Bradleys’ two youngest girls, Tayler, 16, and McKenna, 12, have their own thoughts on the matter. “We have so much emotionally invested,” Tayler says. “Lots of blood, sweat and tears,” McKenna adds. Tayler shoots her little sister a look. “Not so much blood.”
The two couples put their houses up as collateral for their Small Business Administration loan.
The Strombergs tapped their savings, their home-equity line of credit and gave thanks to the Colorado Enterprise Fund, a nonprofit lender to small businesses. They all work long hours, keeping their outside hiring lean for now. A few full-time employees here. A handful of part-timers there.
I am in the company of fellow optimists.
“Pragmatic optimists,” Chris says. “I look at this economy as an opportunity. More rental space is available. Landlords are more willing to negotiate. There’s a supply of workers. Plus light rail is coming in. I really think Olde Town is about to pop.”
He points across the street to a clothing boutique called Damie’s. “That just opened a month ago,” he says. It’s owned by DeeDee Lombardi, who is also owner of From Shabby to Chic Salon & Boutique on West 69th Avenue and Wadsworth. She opened the salon in 2008 because she saw it as her only way out of financial straits. “I don’t know how many more years on my feet I can take. So, I’m hoping the new business is something I can have for the future.”
As for what it takes, “brain damage,” she jokes.
“You have to believe you either are going to win or make a difference or be successful . . . I don’t want to be 95 and look back one day and say, ‘I wonder what would have happened if I had . . .’ “
Her salon clients are excited and offering to work in the new store in exchange for cuts and color. “Times like these, you have to figure out ways to win together,” DeeDee says.
True enough. I order some frites from Chris. He has about 20 dipping sauces, but talks me into the Ghent, a tartar recipe from a woman he and Kimberly met while doing research in Belgium. It has shallots and chives.
Perfect fries. Delicious sauce. Here’s to the entrepreneur!
Tina Griego writes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach her at 303-954-2699 or tgriego@denverpost.com.
