Table of Contents

• COMMITTEE REPORTS
  • MEMBERSHIP REPORT
  • SOCIAL REPORT
  • SPEAKER COORDINATOR REPORT
  • TREASURER REPORT
• LEADS
• BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
• NOTABLE MENTIONS
• MAIN SPEAKER

Committee Reports

Membership Report
(Click here to go to the Membership page)

No new proposals to report. 

Social Report
(Click here to go to the Social Event page)

No new events to report. 

Speaker Coordinator Report
(Click here to go to the Speaker Schedule)

Main Speaker

• 06/10/05     Round Table - Commercial Leases
• 06/17/05     Dave Spiess
• 06/24/05     Steve Chilton

Spotlight Speaker

• 06/10/05     TBA
• 06/17/05     Althea Bussert
• 06/24/05     Carol Weishaar

Treasurer Report

Quarterly dues were mailed out last week.  Please get yours paid before the end of the month.

Leads Report

16-32, 20-04, 20-31, 17-21, 24-23, 24-37, 21-16, 21-33, 34-05, 22-41, 22-32, 04-45, 04-26, 04-41, 04-32, 31-41, 43-11, 40-14, 40-06, 40-41, 25-28, 25-23, 48-04, 48-40.

This week's leads focus...

• Amy Ahrensdorf
• James Bache
• Reg & Jean Batt

Business Spotlight

Guy Sawyer was today's Business Spotlight.  Guy owns Tile Plus.  He is also the tile setter - He does the work.  He has only one other guy helping him.  He only does small residential jobs.  He is not licensed to do commercial work.  The downfall of being small is that he books up fast.  He used to be booked out 2-3 weeks at a time.  Since joining MABE he is booked out 2-3 months at a time.  But don't hold back on referrals!  He loves to talk to people and educate them.  If they are patient and willing to wait 3 months, he'll put them on the schedule too.  If anyone is not willing to wait, Guy highly recommends they check references of the companies they are going to use and also references of the employees that will be doing the actual work.  Make sure they follow the set guidelines and don't rush it.  Often times people will jump at the lowest bid or the company that can get them scheduled the soonest and says they can complete the work the fastest.  Be careful!  You could become one of the many horror stories of poor workmanship.  Then you end paying extra for someone like Guy to cleanup the mess. 

Notable Mentions

Chris Curran needs a nanny.  The pay is good.  Send any leads his way.  Sorry Brian, you're not qualified.

Roger Carpenter is have Belgium Beer night on June 16th.  Come out and try some brew!

Don Ellis was curious to know if those GM ads that advertise cars available at employee discounted rates are a good deal.  Probably not according to Dave Lathrop.  Most likely they will get you on the backend.  They will make their money one way or the other.  Dave would be curious to see what they did if you walked in with your financing already established and offer them the cash for the GMS price plus tax, license and doc fee.  Give it at try...

Sandro Menasci updated the group on his never-ending court battle with the City of Mesa.  The good news - The Court of Appeals found in his favor.  The bad news - The City may take their case to the Supreme Court.

Carole Weishaar was not happy with the security problems she faced with Internet Explorer so she is switching to Mozilla for her browser and using their email program, Thunderbird.  She wanted to know if anyone had experience with them.  Ralph Cunningham uses them both.  And he offered a tip.  Make sure in your browser's advanced settings that you uncheck the boxes that allow programs to automatically install.  You are just asking for bugs if you leave this option on.  While on the topic of computers, Ralph mentioned that he installed a program call Net Stumbler and and checked for wireless internet connections between here and Power.  Just from the main road he picked up 60 signals and at least half were unprotected!

Don Ellis
The Landmark Restaurant

Don, in keeping with the current trend, did a quick show-n-tell to kick start his speech.  Don is not one to hold on to things unless they are near and dear to his heart.  Things like the infamous MABE toilet seat!

Don was born in 1942 on Long Island, New York.  He grew up in Connecticut and went to college on Long Island.  He also went into the Marine Corps for a couple of years.

In the early 1970's he opened his first restaurant in New Hampshire with a couple of friends.  Their original intent was to open a bar but in New Hampshire they had a 60-40 rule that required them to serve food too. 

Don and Candy had an opportunity to move to Maine to open a restaurant but they were tired of the cold weather.  His family had moved to Arizona so he decided to join them.

During Don's first 2 years in the Valley he worked for Sizzler Steakhouse while he looked for opportunities to buy his own place.  He found a restaurant in an old, run down building.  The owner want to lease out the building but Don insisted on owning the building and the land.  They seller carried them on a 30-year loan but Don was able to pay it off in 10.   This former church, school and unsuccessful restaurant was eventually transformed into the Landmark Restaurant.

In the early days Don was in back cooking while Candy ran the front.  Luckily, they got busy enough to where Don didn't have to cook anymore.  They have there good months and bad months.  It is always a race.  But they have been very successful.  2001 was probably the worst year, as was the case for most businesses.  But they have been steadily climbing back up. 

They started a loyalty program for clients.  They now have a database of over 10,000 names.  They still have their incredible salad bar room.  It can be difficult to maintain but they can't change it because it is one of the things they are known for.  They have changed some menu items to keep things fresh but they still serve great home-style food.

Competition is their biggest threat.  When they first opened there was nothing else out in this area.  Now people have unlimited choices.  Another problem he faces is the changing consumer behavior.  People don't dine out anymore.  They go out to eat. 

If Don opened another restaurant he said he would go more casual and offer easy, convenient foods.  The place would have an upbeat tempo with some TV's but not like the sports bars where people come and just have a beer and watch the game on the big screen.  But opening a restaurant is not easy.  They have a bad track record of opening and closing right away.  Banks don't want to lend money when most of what you are buying is goodwill.

Don almost sold his restaurant last year to his manager.  But his manager couldn't come up with the money.  It turned out to be a good thing.  His son decided that he was interested in the family business.  So Don has taken a step back and let his son run things.  Don now spends a lot of his time traveling, spraying weeds and mooning people from elevators.

Don Ellis 20+ year member Member since November 1990

RESTAURANT The Landmark Restaurant 809 West Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201-7105 Phone: (480) 962-4652 • FAX: (480) 962-1124 E-mail: landmark@lmrk.com • Website: www.landmarkrestaurant.com Ample selection of meats, steaks, chicken and seafood. Serving lunch and dinner. Banquet rooms for private weddings and receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, baby showers, corporate luncheons or dinners from small to large (14-125). We can cater your next function on or off premise.