Hello and welcome back to Business Briefcase! To kick off the month of March, we are highlighting two small businesses owned and operated by West Valley residents. Additionally, we’ll take a look at the new CEO and chairman at Duncan Family Farms in Goodyear. As always, be sure to check out and continue to support our local businesses.
Zydeco’s Louisiana Kitchen
Owner and head chef: Lynn Thomas
This food truck and catering business came to life when Lynn Thomas and Aimee Thomas-Parker moved to Arizona and quickly realized the lack of authentic Creole and Cajun staples in food. Zydeco’s Louisiana Kitchen focuses on dishes that come from the Creole and Cajun culture, including gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish and po boy sandwiches. The food truck is constantly on the move, typically making its way out to the West Valley four times a week. One of the spots it frequents is off Waddell Road in Goodyear. Thomas-Parker, the company’s chief marketing officer, said since coming from Louisiana and spending most of her life there, the business is big on educating customers about the culture beyond the food. “I want people to understand and be able to identify ‘this’ is a Cajun dish and ‘this’ is a Creole dish. Two very different cultures, but they do have similarities in they’re both born out of Louisiana. We just want people to be able to identify the differences
March 10, 2021
Business Briefcase west valley
through our food,” she said. To check out the menu, follow its Facebook account at @zydecoslakitchen.
Antojitos By Bri
Owned and operated by Briana Chavez
Looking to satisfy that sweet tooth? Look no further than Antojitos By Bri, a small business based in Goodyear. Briana Chavez started her candy shop in June 2020 with the goal of “not building a business, but building people that will build the business.” Chavez sells candy, but with a twist. A customizable order can include Gushers, Starbursts, Skittles and more, all covered with chili powder and chamoy. Chavez said she’s excited to see her business grow as she continues to take more orders. “When people support an independent business, you’re supporting a true reflection and dream of the person behind it. Supporting Antojitos By Bri not only helps me but makes a huge difference in my family’s life. Your purchase makes me the happiest person, and knowing I get to do something I love as well as achieving your smile is what makes my day a success,” she said. To view the menu or to place an order, visit her Instagram page @antojitosbybri.
Executive changes at Duncan Family Farms
Duncan Family Farms announced the family-owned business has made executive changes, effective immediately. Will Feliz has been appointed CEO and co-founder Arnott Duncan has assumed the position of chairman.
Steven Strickbine, publisher
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Executive Editor
Feliz has been with Duncan Family Farms since 2009, making his way up the ranks from COO to president and now serving as CEO. Duncan, a fourth-generation Arizona farmer who founded the company with his wife, Kathleen, in 1985, takes on the role as chairman, with a focus on agronomics as the company continues to provide produce in Arizona, California, Oregon, New York and potential new locations.
“Our greatest assets are our people, and I’m excited and honored to lead the Duncan Family Farms team as we continue to achieve our mission to produce clean, healthy, life-giving food while making a strong contribution to an improved environment and to giving back to our community,” Duncan said.
Antojitos By Bri offers 8-ounce, 16-ounce or platters on all candy items. Chavez also sells fruit options, including apples and mangos. (Photo courtesy of Briana Chavez)
Lennar’s NextGen homes put amenities first
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
Homes in the Valley for baby boomers and beyond are taking on a new feel. Lennar is offering innovative choices in its communities. Lennar recently broke ground in Surprise at Heritage Encore and Buckeye’s Arroyo Seco, both of which are multigenerational NextGen home developments, complete with RV garages.
“We are unaware of anywhere else in the country where this home style is being built,” said Alan Jones, Lennar division president.
NextGen models are, essentially, homes within a home, giving residents the balance of family privacy and togetherness under one roof. NextGen units can serve as fully functioning home offices, a state-of-the-art gym, a home for aging relatives, or even a classroom that keeps kids engaged and learning.
“With the realities of homeschooling, working from home and having grandparents living in the family residence now, coupled with the explosion in popularity of RVs, this project was definitely accelerated due to what’s happening in the world today,” said Jones, whose company created the first NextGen home in the Phoenix market
in 2012.
Jones explained he and his team discussed how to combine the next generation of homes with an RV “home.”
“We thought we would have something that’s really unique,” he added. “Our new home consultants are excited about it. We have one under construction as a model in Buckeye. It’s right by Verrado. It’s kind of fun and exciting for us.
“We look at it and realize it’s a combination of two really unique, new products. It took us a little bit to figure out how to make it all work without having the home be extremely large. It came out really well.”
Jones said NextGen models have been popular in the last two years. Lennar sold more NextGen homes in 2020 than in any other year since the model was conceived. Nearly 500 NextGen homes were sold this year in the Phoenix market, accounting for more than 25% of all Lennar home sales.
The RV garage homes are expected to follow suit, Jones added. Those on his sales team say they could “sell one every day.”
“That’s quite a vote of confidence,” he added. “It’s exciting when you find something that’s innovative, and it’s coming about as a result of the pan-
demic, frankly.
“That’s what expedited the whole situation.”
Initially, officials in a variety of cities questioned Lennar’s plans of having a separate living space with a full kitchen.
“When we first started, the cities were resistant to it,” Jones said. “It was new and different. Now the cities look at it and say, ‘Oh, my gosh. We love this. You’re building homes for the way people are living.”
Jones is equally as excited about the Surprise active adult community that has RV garages as well.
“The people who live in Sun City, Sun City West or Sun City Grand are going to be interested in them,” Jones said. “We’re seeing a lot of people in Sun City Grand and Sun City West coming over and going, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m going to buy this and help my son or daughter so that I can live in the NextGen suite and they can live in the home.”
Lennar Homes
Visit lennar.com for information on Surprise at Asante Heritage - Encore and Buckeye’s Arroyo Seco. Houses start at $352,990.
Alan Jones, Lennar division president, said new homes with RV garages are in demand. (Photo by Pablo Robles)
Fix the broken
JOHN SAFIN, President/CEO Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
To be completely candid, my original topic for this article was a welcome to our winter visitors and all the wonderful activities and events that happen this time of year in the Southwest Valley. We do live and work in a wonderful community with nice people, plenty to do, and a great quality of life, which is the reason we like being here. My topic changed when I heard two national news reports that will or has already reached Arizona.
The first news was the announcement by the states of Mississippi and Texas will lift the statewide mask and other virus-related mandates. Counties in both states have the authority to continue enforcing restrictions as required, which has been missing from most national reports.
Obviously, debates are ongoing as to whether this action is correct or not. Governors in both states are doing what they believe is best for their residents. I continue to hope our Arizona elected officials are doing the same for all of us. Texas and Mississippi join other states in loosening the restrictions with regard to the virus. Breaking News: This was bound to happen. The question for us: When will Arizona be on this list?
The virus and government’s reaction to it impacted our economic, social and mental health. The second news story focused on mental health, and that bothered me the most. I don’t have any
kids, so now you know my situation, but my concern is genuine. Suicide for teens and younger children doubled during the pandemic. That’s appalling. It was also reported there were triple the cases of self-harm, such as cutting, and 1 of every 5 teens or young adults considered suicide. Reasons for this included isolation, feeling neglected, strain on family life and more. Alcoholism and drug and other addictions increased in all age groups. All this was brought up as a concern a year ago but never really given any serious attention or consideration. The numbers are bad. We most definitely don’t want them to get worse.
Anthony Fauci and other doctors have said this virus will be with us for a
long time. There’s no cure for the common cold, as many a wise person has said. For centuries, we have individually and collectively done our parts to avoid getting sick. The medical experts have said COVID-19 will have a “tipping point” where the virus spread will be very much reduced or a rare occurrence. Maybe Texas and Mississippi are the first signs this point has been reached. It’s also a signal we need to urge our elected officials to focus on the economic, social and mental health issues with as much vigor as they did with “slowing the spread.”
John Safin is the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. For more information and events, visit southwestvalleychamber.org.
Bernadette Tonascia and Robert W. Gould SR 15021 W. Indianola
