BUSINESS

BY KEN SAIN

Arizonan Managing Editor

Some of the regular customers at The Local in downtown Chandler were unhappy to learn its owners were shutting down and selling to someone else.

“Well where the heck am I going to watch football now?” one regular wrote on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “Sure going to miss your awesome breakfast tacos!”

Matt Gorman hopes to build that kind of loyalty as his Matty G’s Steakburgers & Lobster Rolls opens in the space that once was home to The Local at 55 W. Chicago Ave.

“The Local was going to sell to somebody, and we hope they really like us,” Gorman said. “I think our quality of food is going to be something that they’ll enjoy. We were voted best burger place in all of Phoenix in March of this year, so we got some good things going.”

Chandler will be the sixth Matty G’s to open in Arizona, joining locations in Mesa, Gilbert, Flagstaff, Scottsdale and Phoenix.

“My wife and I love coming to downtown Chandler,” Gorman said. “And when this spot popped up, or when we found it, we jumped on it.”

Gorman said customers will enjoy the variety of offerings at Matty G’s. In addition to the steakburgers, they obviously offer lobster rolls, chicken, hot dogs, salads and wraps. Gorman said they have 67 items on their menu.

But the food is only part of the Matty G’s experience.

“A lot of places today, you’re going to come in and be just a number,” Gorman said. “‘Hey, thanks. Nobody cares.’ We’re going to joke with you. We try to know you. We can’t know everybody, but

Matt Gorman has opened his sixth Matty G’s Steakburgers and Lobster Rolls at 55 W.

Chicago Ave. in downtown Chandler. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) see MATTY G page 37

BY KEN SAIN

Arizonan Managing Editor

Lynsey and Drew Breivogel said they had no intention of opening their own business when they moved to Chandler during the pandemic.

It was a case of been there, done that.

However, those plans changed for the former Seattle residents when the chapter director for TGA Premier, a nationwide franchise offering tennis and golf lessons, notified all his parent-clients that he intended to sell his business and asked if any of them were interested in buying it.

“Not at all,” Lynsey said when asked if starting their own business was the plan.

“We were never set in stone on our career paths. As we’ve had kids and moved houses and moved states and stuff, we didn’t really have any one specific thing that we were tied down to, or that we said all we have to do is this. So just having an open mind and seeing the opportunity and taking it has been just a huge blessing.”

The Breivogels had built from scratch a home improvement business in the Seattle area that was thriving. Then, the pandemic arrived and the price of lumber soared.

After relocating to Chandler, Drew took a job to be a golf pro at Sunbird Golf Club and the couple enrolled their 8-year-old son in TGA for tennis lessons.

That’s when they got the email about a business opportunity.

“We talked about it, and we had a price in mind,” Lynsey said. “And if it was, at this price, or lower, then we’ll consider

we try to meet you and talk to you. We might not remember everybody’s name, but pretty much remember a lot about what their family is or their kids and what happened. We want to be a local spot where you feel comfortable.” And there is a definite sports vibe, with TVs on the walls to watch games and a number of jerseys as decorations. Gorman said they are carrying something over from The Local.

“We’ll still continue the bar aspect with both inside and outside,” he said. “We have six beers that we actually brew ourselves and that we hope everybody takes part in. But we are going to be a family restaurant that has really good food, with the ability to have an alcohol beverage as well.”

Brandon Marvin is one of the managers who will be running the Chandler location.

“Yeah, I used to live here. I used to live across the street,” Marvin said. “Actually, I was going to The Perch when this buildFootball and baseball memorabilia adorn the walls inside Matty G’s. Matty G’s Steakburgers and Lobster Rolls’ newest location in downtown Chandler. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

ing was just six pillars in the woods. So it is kind of crazy to think you know, 10 years later actually, I’m helping run this building.” Before opening the first Matty G’s in 2016, Gorman ran a sushi restaurant. He said he got the idea to combine burgers and lobster rolls from TV. “I was watching The Profit (TV show on CNBC) one day and they had a lobster roll guy on their food truck and he’s making a killing,” Gorman said.

The idea has been a success. Gorman said despite the slowdown the entire industry experienced during the pandemic, they’ve been able to grow. And he plans to keep expanding, both in the Valley and outside of Arizona, mentioning Tennessee, Utah and Texas as possibilities.

Another state may depend on where his son wants to go to college.

“My kid is about to go to college in two years,” Gorman said. “So I told him wherever he wants to go to college, I will open a restaurant and he can work there for a year so he can get in-state tuition. Then he can go to four-year school a lot cheaper.”

Opening the Chandler location took longer than Gorman thought it would. But he hopes both fans of The Local and new customers will come to appreciate what Matty G’s has to offer.

During the interview, a man walked in and looked around the empty restaurant that wasn’t open at the time and said, “I just came for some tacos.”

SWING from page 36

it, and if it was above then it just wasn’t meant to be. So it was lower than what we thought and we went and asked about it, and a month later, it was closed.”

Drew said children can learn a lot from sports that they can take with them for the rest of their lives.

“We get to teach them the sport and most of them have never touched a racket or a club, but we also get to teach them the etiquette and the rules of the game,” Drew said. “Golf especially is very similar to life, right? Because there’s multiple holes, you’re going to make mistakes, right? It’s what happens when you make that mistake, don’t compound that error, right? Don’t make another mistake.”

So far business has been booming, so much that the couple is looking to hire more coaches.

Most of the business is teaching tennis and golf at schools in the East Valley. They work with the Higley, Gilbert and Kyrene school districts as well as charter and private schools. They also run a number of camps for students looking for more instruction.

Lynsey said they intend to expand, especially in offering private lessons. Drew said they’ve had some parents who have enrolled their children for multiple camps. As a thank you, he’s offered them a free private lesson.

“We hope to continue to do that no matter how big we get,” Drew said.

The big challenge now to growing their business is finding coaches. Lynsey said they will train anyone willing. Since they would be working with children, all coaches must undergo a background check.

Lynsey said working with TGA, which has chapters around the nation, has been great.

“[We’ve had] amazing support,” Lynsey said. “The CEO, or the CFO, I can text them. They’re an open book, they are there if there are any issues.”

Drew said now that he’s both started a business from scratch, and bought an existing business, the latter is a lot easier. However, there are still pros and cons.

“It’s like buying a house, right?” he said. “You know, and then being forced to live in that house for like three months. You can’t paint the walls, you can’t paint the trim, you can’t change the doors. You have to live in it like that for a little bit, which is fine.”

But they will slowly make the business theirs, Lynsey said. Information: playtga.com/EastPhoenix

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BY HAROLD WONG

AFN Contributor

During the last 18 months, the US inflation rate has steadily increased and is at a 40-year high. The Federal Reserve Bank has two missions: fight inflation and promote full employment. These two missions are now in conflict. The Fed’s main tool to fight inflation is raising interest rates. North Chandler Place Senior Living is hosting a Chipping & Putting Contest! In a recent Washington Post article, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell November 3rd from 10am-2pm said. “We have to get inflation behind us. I wish there were a painless way to do

Sign-in begins at 10:00 am that. There isn’t.”

Event starts at 11:00 am. The message came after the central bank $5 to enter! (Cash only) raised rates by 0.75% for the third time

All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association *Please bring your favorite clubs this year and released new economic projections showing a significant slowdown in the economy later in 2022 and 2023. We are technically now in a recession, because the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has been negative for the first two quarters of 2022. A number of large companies, such as Bank of America, FedEx, and GE predict a recession in 2023 with rising unemployment due to the Fed increasing interest rates substantially. Here are some financial implications. Action step: An increased recession means higher unemployment, less economic activity, and a declining real estate and stock market. Consider increasing your savings to cover at least 12 months living expenses and decreasing your exposure to bond and stock market holdings. Mortgage rates have doubled from 3% to 6%+ on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. There has been a sharp increase in existing home purchase contracts that have been canceled. For a $500,000 mortgage at 3% amortized over 30 years, the monthly payment is $2,102 vs. $2,983 at a 6% interest rate. The $880 monthly increase equates to a 42% increase in one’s mortgage payment. If you want to sell your vacation or rental house, do it now and be prepared to lower your price and pay some of the buyer’s closing costs. The Phoenix Metro

• Free food • Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

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Entry fee collected at the event! North Chandler Place Senior Living is hosting a Chipping & Putting Contest!

in begins at 10:00 am

Event starts at 11:00 am. $5 to enter! (Cash only)

All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association *Please bring your favorite clubs

North Chandler Place Senior Living is hosting a Chipping & Putting Contest!North Chandler Place Senior Living is hosting a Chipping & Putting Contest!

• Free food Sign-in begins at 10:00 am • Prizes awarded for 1st, 2ndEvent starts at 11:00 am. , & 3rd place Top Prize is Big Screen TV! $5 to enter! (Cash only) • Raffle prizes All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association • Free food *Please bring your favorite clubs *Please bring your favorite clubs

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RSVP to 480-345-7171 Entry fee collected at the event! Entry fee collected at the event!

Entry fee collected at the event! All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association *Please bring your favorite clubs

• Free food • Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place - Top Prize is a Big Screen TV! • • Free food Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd • Raffle prizes , & 3rd place

• Raffle prizes

Entry fee collected at the event!

North Chandler Place Senior Living is hosting a Chipping & Putting Contest!

Sign-in begins at 10:00 am

Event starts at 11:00 am. $5 to enter! (Cash only)

All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association *Please bring your favorite clubs • Free food • Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place

• Raffle prizes

Entry fee collected at the event! market is normally ranked one of the five most over-priced markets in America, based on high appreciation over the last 3-10 years. Many forecast a 10-20% decline in house prices over the next one to two years.

Stock market declines. On Sept. 26, the S&P 500 Index reached a new low for 2022 and the Dow-Jones Index dropped 329.60 points, or 1.11% to 29,260.81. This is down about 20.4% from its Jan. 4 closing high and so is officially in “bear market” territory. Many financial institutions and managers of multi-billion dollar stock funds predict that the stock market could drop another 20-30% if the Fed keeps increasing interest rates to fight inflation.

Consider lowering the percentage of your financial portfolio that is in bonds or stocks, because higher interest rates historically cause both asset classes to drop.

What can you do to deal with a deeper recession, higher interest rates, and a declining real estate and stock market? Consider finding investment opportunities in the alternative energy field. The Inflation Reduction Act will allocate $370 billion in green energy projects.

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Free seminar and lunch: A seminar and free lunch will be held starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 22 at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler. The seminar is 10 a.m.-noon with a free catered lunch afterward. The topic is “Beat inflation by saving taxes and increasing income”.

To RSVP for the seminar or schedule a free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@ hotmail.com. His website is drharoldwong. com.Dr. Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/Berkeley.