24 minute read
The General Store
10th Starting Our year on the parkA Thank You
January is a time for renewal, and our tradition at General Store Paso Robles has been the same since we opened in 2013: look at what worked, what didn’t, how we could do better. We do this not just for the store, a business that turns ten this year. We also look at our own lives, what we are challenged and inspired by, what we hope for, and what fills us. This isn’t some kind of strategic brilliance on our part. Many people, and companies, do the same thing. We acknowledge where we fell short, how we’ve gotten into our own way, or when we were driven by ego. And we name our dreams, whether for the company (“I hope someday to cover health insurance for full-time employees”) or for ourselves (“I want to spend time with my parents because they’re getting older, and I love them so much”). We put it out there with each other.
What feels special after a decade is the privilege of doing this work alongside my partners, Jillian and Erin. Each January, we sit in someone’s living room, and I make everyone do their least favorite, but maybe most important, task: writing down a vision for the year for the store, and then for ourselves. (Jillian especially groans at this, you can ask her.) But by the end, when we read them aloud to each other, our personal vision teaches us so much about how to support and love each other, both in our work, and as friends. And Jillian and Erin are friends — true, ride-or-die friends — in every sense.
I want to take this moment, at the beginning of our tenth year, to express my love and gratitude for the two best partners any person could ask for. There are so many reasons why people, especially women, are dissuaded from starting businesses with their friends. I am so glad we trusted each other, but also listened to good advice and did the legal work and planning to protect our friendship as we launched our dream business. I love our little corner of our downtown, and building that space with you has been a life changing journey.
We would not be here without this community supporting our small business, and not a day goes by that we don’t say a very big thank you in our hearts.
-The Team at General Store Paso Robles
OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
Curbside service available.
Morro Bay 510 Quintana Road 805-772-1265 Paso Robles 1171 Creston Rd. # 109 805-369-2811 San Luis Obispo 1336 Madonna Road 805-544-5400
Home Theater & Observation Systems
Components furnished & installed by Coast Electronics
coastelectronic.com
Need to know who’s knocking? Traveling? FREE quote for observation systems for peace of mind.
ROBLAN of the year Brett Butterfield
Entrepreneur and Community Advocate
by camille devaul
The Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce are proud to announce Brett Butterfield as the 2022 Roblan of the Year.
Brett was awarded Roblan of the Month in January 2022. He is co-owner of The Ravine Waterpark in Paso Robles, where he employs about 265 people each year, and is a local entrepreneur and community advocate.
The Roblan of the Year is chosen from the previous Roblans of the Month. The award is an initiative put together by the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to Paso Robles through community action, donations, and other ongoing community outreaches.
Like most Roblans, Brett did not expect to earn such a title.
With roots deep in agriculture, his family raised hay, grain, and cattle on their ranch off North River Road. When Brett was in second grade, his parents Buck and Ella Mae, moved the family to Paso Robles from Pasadena, where they grew potatoes and grapes and raised horses.
Ella Mae’s father, Floyd Shofner, was a part of the creation and construction of the Shasta dam back in the late 1930s. Paso Robles was the halfway point to Pasadena for Shofner, which is Brett’s theory for how his parents found little Paso Robles.
“They went all in on Paso Robles, and it was a wonderful upbringing,” he says of his parent’s move north and growing up in the “pass of the oaks.”
Brett attended local schools like Winifred-Pifer and Bauer-Speck, eventually graduating from Paso Robles High School in 1976 and with the Cal Poly SLO class of 1983. He fondly looks back on the great times he had growing up in the outdoors. Those memories have become an inspiration for a lot of the work he does today.
But on his college graduation day, Brett did not see himself spending the rest of his life in Paso Robles. In fact, on the day of graduation, he and two friends loaded up a cattle trailer and moved down to Newport Beach. From there, he spent years traveling and living in various parts of the country, including Fort Lauderdale in Florida. Along those travels, Brett learned about the restaurant business.
Eventually, Brett came back to Paso Robles to spend some time with his parents, but he never intended to stay for very long.
“Paso just pulled me right in,” says Brett who quickly went to work with his brother Floyd in custom farming and tractor work.
While Brett originally didn’t see himself going back into agriculture work, his longtime friend Mark Perry says otherwise, “In his heart, he is a farmer.”
Mark, who was named Roblan of the Year in 2019, nominated
Brett for the award in 2022. The two met in fourth grade and grew up together, which accounts for some stories that Mark is ready to tell at the Chamber Gala. “He’s fearless, he’s funny, he’s got a great sense of humor, and he likes to laugh,” Mark says of his friend, “He loves Paso Robles and giving back to the community.” After settling back into Paso Robles, Brett met his business partner while working for AJ Spurs — Jay Walsh, the ‘J’ in AJ Spurs. Brett went on to open Skinny Dippers Yogurt Shop and Caribbean Cafe in Downtown Paso Robles and later the Creeky Tiki in Downtown San Luis Obispo. But his business ventures didn’t stop there: Brett opened the first RV Park in the city, the Paso Robles RV Park. He soon settled down and married his wife Laurie, and had their three children, Lauren, Nathan, and Ella. Brett then started to follow in his mom Ella Mae’s footsteps. He joined the Paso Robles Main Street Association and Chamber of Commerce and “He's fearless, he's has been dedicated to the California Mid-State Fair Heritage Foundation. funny, he's got a Almost 30 years ago, Brett, along with some friends, built the Holiday House that sits in the great sense of humor, Paso Robles City Park, and a few years ago, he built and he likes to laugh. a new one to replace the original, which saw some damage throughout its years being an icon in the He loves Paso Robles park. This time around, the house was modeled after Norma Moye’s victorian Vine Street house, and and giving back to appropriately renamed “Norma’s House.” the community" Ella Mae was named Roblan of the Year and was a steady figure involved with the Chamber and various organizations and nonprofits in Paso Robles. Brett grew up surrounded by past Roblans, who he looked up to and who had a great influence on his life. As a past member of the Paso Robles Rotary Club, he volunteered and helped with the Rotary Pioneer Day Old-Timers and the annual Rotary Golf Tournament. He has hosted many events at The Ravine, such as Chamber membership mixers, weddings, life celebrations, class reunions, and fundraisers for nonprofits. It is probably safe to say that one of Brett’s favorite business adventures to date so far has been the Ravine Waterpark. Now 17 years in, the entire idea stemmed from the old Rest Haven watering hole off Adelaida Road where he used to hang out. In natural Brett Butterfield fashion, he and his partners built the waterpark themselves from the ground up. When it was time to open in 2007, after years of permitting and construction, he and his team expected to accommodate about 400 people each day at the waterpark. To their surprise, the park sees nearly 3,000 people each day of the summer.
Brett wanted a place where the youth could be outside and just have fun like he did when he was growing up. However, he never expected to make an impact on the community through the Ravine the way he has.
“You can make somebody’s day every day very easily,” says Brett, which kind of sums up the way he tries to live out his life.
Brett is someone who roots for the underdog. He lives for creating good times and memories for families. And although he doesn’t see himself in the same caliber as a Roblan, he has definitely raised the bar.
Lastly, Mark has a note for anyone planning to have a meal with Brett, “When you go to dinner with him, always check the salt shaker.”
Alongside Brett, the Chambers are recognizing recipients of the Beautification Award, Business of the Year, and Citizen of the Year.
Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce President/ CEO Gina Fitzpatrick tells us, “We are recognizing people in business and the community for realizing their dreams and selflessly contributing to making our communities whole and economically strong. I admire the dedication of all four awardees and appreciate the acts of kindness and sense of community they embody.”
Roblan of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Beautification Business, and Business of the Year recipients will all be honored at the Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala at Rava Wines on February 11. At the Gala, the new 2023 Board of Directors will be welcomed in, and goodbyes and thank yous will be said to the 2022 outgoing board members.
beautification of the year A-1 GlAss
For All Your Glass Needs
by camille devaul
Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce granted the 2022 Beautification of the Year Award to A-1 Glass for their transformation of the old mechanics building just off the Paso Robles Street exit.
Paso Robles Street — which I have now dubbed "Auto Alley" — is home to various mechanics shops and the A-1 Glass showroom and shop is no different. Bryan Carroll vividly remembers the oil spilled throughout the building. The transformation of A-1 Glass has been a labor of love and dedication between the owners, Bryan and his wife Sophia Stephens, and their team.
Serving the Central Coast, A-1 Glass is your full-service glass shop specializing in residential, commercial, and automotive glass supply and installation including windows, doors, showers, mirrors and window tinting.
The Beautification Award is presented to a business that has enhanced the community by beautifying an area through new construction or redevelopment of a project that preserves Paso Robles' heritage through the renovation of a historic building. "It was pretty magical really," Bryan says of his reaction to being given the award.
Since the completion of their renovation, people have made a point to stop into the A-1 Glass Showroom to thank the owners and compliment them on the beautification of the building. "What is so surprising and so special is throughout the whole community, people get off this off-ramp, and it's changed their lives and their point of view," Bryan says as he is amazed at how many people have noticed his new shop on the corner.
Bryan got his start in the glass business at a young age when his father, Don Carroll, purchased the business in 1992 in Coalinga. Being his father's shadow, Bryan learned the ins and outs of the glass industry.
He explains, "Since I was a little kid, I was my dad's shadow, so I followed him around and fell in love with the trade."
In 2005, Bryan and Sophia took over the company from his dad and began to operate under his own name.
In 2009, Bryan was called to Paso Robles by his friend and owner of Nicora Winery, Nick Elliott. In Coalinga, Bryan was accustomed to agricultural-related jobs, but in Paso Robles, there were new glass opportunities, and he was up for the challenge.
A year later, Bryan met his other half Sophia in downtown Paso Robles. While working at a winery, Sophia had a glass job that no one seemed to take her up on. Except for Bryan, who once again was up for the challenge. And as their relationship grew, so did
A-1 Glass. "I think a big part of what A-1 Glass has become here today here in Paso Robles is essentially a story of love too, between Bryan and I," Sophia says. A-1 Glass really began its start in Paso Robles after Sophia created a logo for Bryan to use — so she also made some business cards and Bryan quickly started to hand them out throughout the community of Paso Robles.Working out of his garage, Bryan started out with car windows and was soon servicing residential and commercial homes. The business was growing, and his neighbors Colette and Mike White noticed. The Whites knew of the building off the Paso Robles Street off-ramp and together with Bryan and Sophia they all went to take a look. Bryan offered the owner of the building, Howard Smith, the first year's rent in one check — Howard accepted and gave them a deal. "Mike and Collette, they believed in us, and “With an amazing they gave us a loan to invest in the first year's rent," Bryan says, thankful for his neighbors team and a lot of good turned friends. help we built this So in 2013, Bryan and Sophia moved the business into the building and are now incredible business celebrating 10 years there. "We kept growing and growing one good job for the people and at a time," Bryan says. "With an amazing team the employees.” and a lot of good help we built this incredible business for the people and the employees." Just a few years after moving into the building, Bryan and Sophia wrote a letter to Howard telling him they were interested in purchasing the building if it was ever available. After his passing, Howard's son found Bryan and Sophia's letter in his desk. Howard's son called Bryan and Sophia and offered the building to them and in 2020 they were the official owners of their showroom and shop. Thinking back to that call Sophia says, "We were so blessed to be in a position to say yes to that ... it was this beautiful story and here we are today." With their new-found ownership of the building, Bryan and Sophia began to dream up what their business could look like. "Bryan is a true visionary, and he has been since day one with this business. He has never lost sight of dreaming so big," Sophia says. The newly renovated building features an updated modern look with glass features. Sophia's mother being a colorist, helped the duo pick their black, red, and white paint to liven up the "Auto Alley" while still fitting in. When asking Bryan about their inspiration for the renovation, he says, "I wanted the team and our customers to be able to walk
BEFORE
into a beautiful place."
Bryan and his team did most of the work on the building themselves, with Paul Viborg assisting with the parking lot repavement. It has been rewarding for Bryan and Sophia to be noticed by the community for something they never thought people would pay much attention to. "It's reassurance that we are on the right path. It was all worth it," says Sophia.
A-1 Glass now employs and supports 25 families who are just as happy to be noticed by the community for their beautification of the building.
Looking back on how far they have come, Bryan explains, "My whole life, I have been dreaming of something along these lines, and every person has kind of said there is no way because I am a big dreamer."
But Sophia knew they could accomplish big things together, "He never lost sight of his vision and always kept his eye on the ball."
citizen of the year Courtney Morrow
Central Coast Native
by christianna marks
Central Coast native Courtney Morrow of Courtney Morrow State Farm Agency was announced as the 2022 Citizen of the Year by the Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce on December 1, 2022. Citizen of the Year is a tradition started by the Templeton Chamber that became part of 2022’s award festivities when they melded with Paso Robles Chamber earlier in the year.
“I had no idea it was coming. This has been a very challenging year and also a very rewarding year, but I took on a lot of stress this year. I tend to do that — I’m very appreciative because I love Templeton so much. For me to hear that people appreciate the things that myself and my team and my family do in the community, it just was really ... I cried,” Courtney said of receiving the news.
Growing up in Los Osos, Courtney and her brother were active kids involved in sports and riding horses. In high school, she played volleyball and water polo at Morro Bay High School, which continued her love of sports. After graduation, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, and it was while taking college classes at Cuesta at the age of 19 that she decided to join the Army as a public affairs broadcaster. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree once she left the military but completed most of her courses while she was still in the armed forces.
“When I joined the military, that’s when I learned how to sit down and actually do my college courses because I didn’t have much choice there,” Courtney laughed.
During her military career, Courtney was sent to the Yokota Air Base in Japan, where she had her own radio show in the evenings and then co-hosted the morning radio show.
“I really had a good time doing that, and then I did television news the second year that I was in Japan, and then had the opportunity to work at the Army’s flagship newscast, which at the time was Soldier’s Radio and Television [in the Military District of Washington, D.C.],” stated Courtney.
Courtney also co-anchored the Army Newswatch for years and had a blast meeting all the top brass in the Army since she was part of the Office of Chief of Public Affairs.
While in the Army, Courtney met her husband Ryan at a karaoke bar called Rocket Grill in Virginia.
“[I met him] the old-fashioned way, at a bar,” she joked.
She added that as soon as she saw him and his friends walk in, she cracked a joke that he would be her new boyfriend, but when she tried to say hi, he walked away. Ryan was in the Marine Corps as a Marine Corps Body Bearer, whose job was to carry caskets to the funerals of fallen Marine soldiers.
“He had a very prestigious, very honorable job. He and I met at that bar and started dating,” Courtney added. After both of their enlistments were up, the couple moved to Ryan’s home state of Florida. That’s when Courtney started working for State Farm with the encouragement of her mother-in-law, who worked as an office manager there. When Courtney decided to open her very own agency, she figured that becoming a State Farm agent in California seemed like the best move for the couple, and they made their move across the country in 2009. Courtney started her State Farm agency career in San Luis Obispo in January 2014. “When I was looking for a State Farm agency, the first opening that was available to me was in San Luis, and another agent was in Templeton. I was living in North County, he was living in South County, so after a year, we switched locations, which came with some unique challenges, but we both got through it and survived somehow. I love, I love Templeton so much,” Courtney said “I love the community; of how she ended up with an office in Templeton. “I love the community; I love the people; I love I love the people; I love the charm of Main Street. Templeton is just where my heart is.”the charm of Main Courtney, Ryan, and their now 8-year-old son Street. Templeton is Brock moved to Templeton three years ago from Paso, and she just opened a second brand new office just where my heart is.” in San Luis Obispo on December 1, 2022. “I’m so excited to be here too because it just really helps us broaden our reach and be able to touch both sides of North and South County. I’ve got an amazing team that I work with, and all my team members give so much to me and to our customers and do such a good job. I’m just very, very lucky,” Courtney said. Courtney has also sponsored multiple youth sports teams and groups in the area. Making sure that children on the Central Coast can participate in the sports she played in her own youth, as well as many others. “I really care about our community. I’m thankful to be a part of it. I love how many people are willing to give their time and their money; it’s just a really nice thing to be a part of, and how many people are appreciative of it as well. For me, it’s just knowing that all these kids have the opportunity to play sports and not have to do it to the financial detriment of their families. Especially kids that families can’t afford it. I always want to make sure that we raise enough funds that these kids can do something constructive with their time and help keep them out of trouble.” As a past president of the Templeton Chamber, Courtney is proud to hold the title of Citizen of the Year and looks forward to continuing to contribute to the community.
by camille devaul
The North County Restaurant Group has been honored as the 2022 Business of the Year by the Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce for its contribution to the economy and community two were ready for more. Another opportunity came knocking for Trevor and Eric to purchase a seasonal resort in Southern Oregon. For 10 years, Eric spent his summer months at the Oregon resort while expanding through their Templeton businesses, Jack's Grill and the Kitchenette.
The annual award is a tradition from the Templeton Chamber of Commerce, which merged with the Paso Robles Chamber in 2022.
What started as a senior project and dream between friends has now turned into a full-fledged business with restaurants spreading from Paso Robles to Atascadero.
Growing up in Atascadero, Eric Peterson, the owner of the North County Restaurant Group, got his start in the restaurant business at an early age, washing dishes and bussing tables at his grandmother Bonnie Peterson's restaurants — Country Touch Cafe, Touch of Paso Cafe, and Touch of Mexico.
But it wasn't until getting a job bussing tables at AJ Spurs in Templeton that Eric found his passion for the industry. "My grandma had a big influence [on me] working for her, and then actually running AJ Spurs is where I really learned," Eric says of his start in the industry.
The AJ Spurs Steakhouse on Main Street in Templeton holds a formidable spot in many people's lives who grew up in North County. It was located for years in the old Mercantile building and closed its door permanently in 2017. Thanks to his experience in his grandmother's restaurants, Eric found himself in a management position at AJ's within six months of working there.
While Eric's grandmother's restaurants were breakfast and lunchfocused, he learned he enjoyed the bar and dinner scene.
The fond steakhouse was where at 18 years old, Eric met his friend and future business partner Trevor LaSalle. While working at AJ Spurs, Eric attended Cuesta College and then Cal Poly. All the while, he and Trevor plotted to open their first restaurant. "They say to do what you know, so when we were ready to graduate college, it was, we may as well do this since we know how to run these restaurants," Eric says of his and Trevor's new plans.
Eric describes the process of opening the first restaurant as the carriage before the horse scenario. While Trevor had already graduated a year before, Eric was in his senior year and in need of his senior project. And opening a restaurant at 23 years old fit the bill.
Guest House Grill finally came into the scene in 2018. At the time, Eric says there wasn't much in Atascadero restaurant wise and the opportunity seemed to be just right for him and Trevor. Eric's aunt was ready to move on from her Mexican restaurant she had open in the Guest House space, leaving Eric and Trevor just needing to take over the space and purchase her leftover equipment.
To their somewhat surprise, Guest House Grill was a success and the their businesses in North County. Next for the partners came Street Side Ale House and Eatery in Atascadero, opening in 2018. Success at the ale house would then lead to a second one opening in downtown Paso Robles in 2018. Then everything started to make a full circle for Eric when he opened Jack's Grill in 2019 in Templeton, right across the street from where it all started, AJ Spurs. Then in 2020, he purchased and reopened his grandmother's restaurants Touch of Paso Cafe and Country Touch Cafe in 2020. And in 2022, Eric added to his fleet by purchasing the Kitchenette on Main Street in Templeton and opening Cielo in Atascadero. And later in 2023, he plans to open a second Jack's Grill in the old Senior Sanchos location on Creston Road in Paso Robles. "That's the secret, I Talking about the Kitchenette addition, Eric says, "We still have the general manager and the head chef, think, is surrounding they are a married couple, and they are Kitchenette. They still run it, and it is pretty much exactly the ourselves with good same." people, and I think While Eric loves and enjoys his restaurants and all of their locations, he can't help but feel something that is why we've been special about the Templeton Main Street fleet. able to be successful." "Templeton is such a small, close-knit community ... it is something special [to be a part of]," he explains. All of Eric's establishments are unique in concept to one another and have all come to him in various ways. Some are offered, and others are entirely from the ground up. Looking back, Eric wonders why anyone would have invested in the two young 23-year-olds to open a restaurant, one of the riskiest businesses out there. "It was Colin Weyrick, actually, who lent us half the money," says Eric. "And now we are partners, so it's been a fun ride." Colin is co-owner with Eric on both of his Templeton eateries. He continues to say of Colin, "He has been a big supporter ... he helped me open my first restaurant as a mentor." Eric is now a proud part-owner of seven restaurants across North County. In one of the most uncertain industries out there, he and his team have survived Covid, one of the toughest eras for hospitality. So how does he do it? "It's the team I have," he explains. "That's the secret, I think, is surrounding ourselves with good people, and I think that is why we've been able to be successful." While there are no plans in the works right now, Eric knows that progress is in the future. But for now, he is happy being close to home with his family and being a part of the deeply rooted community.
