Category Archives: Business

Find a smile and a pizza at Cordello’s Pizza

Writer Gail is ordering some fine Italian food from Fabiola at Cordello’s Pizza.

by Gail Field

If you’re looking for a smiling face, a warm greeting and something good to eat, a good bet is to find Fabiola at the counter of Cordello’s Pizza on Thompson Blvd.

Fabiola has a long history in the food service industry, but she didn’t start there. As a girl growing up in Acapulco, she studied hard, wanting to make something of her life. Her father left the family when Fabiola was young, and she made up her mind to be self-reliant. No more depending on others. “After my father left I saved my earnings and helped my mother and sister.” From that time on, she paid her way for everything–school books, clothes, food–so that her mother and sister would have a better life.

Across the street from her high school in Mexico was a gas station, and in the days before self-service, she pumped gas for extra change after school and on weekends. It was her first job, and she carefully saved her earnings. Another employer saw her good attitude and hired her away to collect tolls on the highway near Acapulco. She loved the work, and saw her savings grow.

When she was 18 years old Fabiola decided to set off for California and start her career here.

“Cordello’s is a family business,” she says. “We all work together with Hugo and Julio Molina as the founders, but we didn’t always see eye to eye. I left to make it on my own and worked in other restaurants. After a few years, I came back to Cordello’s. I invested in the business, and now I’m happy to see my investment paying off.”

“I’ve always loved learning and enjoyed working. You have to work hard to be successful, and saving money is important.” She is raising her son with the same values that have made her content with her life: self-reliance, determination, and showing kindness to others. “I believe that when you act from good intention, it all comes back to you. The success of this restaurant comes because we provide service the best way we know how.”

Some of Cordello’s Pizza favorites are the vegetarian Margarita pizza and the Squashed Grapes Pizza named for the winery/jazz club on Main Street. If that’s not enough, the restaurant serves salads, sandwiches, calzones, pasta and appetizers. All the sauces are homemade, and the sandwiches are all hot.

You’ll find Cordello’s Pizza at 1700 E. Thompson Blvd. For delivery call 648-1070. Say hello to Fabiola. She’ll give you a warm welcome.

Greg’s Thai massage sessions combine yoga therapy stretches to promote the flow of energy throughout the body

Greg Glass formed a deep interest in the connection between the mind and the body.

by Jenny Guy

After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Greg Ryan Glass decided to explore the world. He spent months backpacking through Australia, New Zealand and Eastern Asia. Observing the practices and traditions of different cultures, a 20-something Glass discovered his true calling. It came in the form of holistic healing practices, integrating Asian and Western modalities. Holistic medicine and healing practices are beginning to merge with other disciplines such as dentistry, like at Holistic Dentist Round Rock, due to a surge in demand for holism.

Glass, originally a New Jersey native, had a “typical suburban” upbringing –– completely unexposed to alternative medicines. While in Amherst, Massachusetts, pursuing a degree in psychology, Glass formed a deep interest in the connection between the mind and the body. Through his education, he developed an appreciation for spiritual teachings, Eastern medicine, yoga, tai chi and the practice of Somatics, movements based on internal awareness.

At the university, Glass completed a rigorous certification course, the Five College Program in Culture, Health and Science (CHS), which provided him with a theoretical framework of human health, disease and healing. Simultaneously, Glass apprenticed with a local herbalist, where he gained an understanding of extracts, herbal remedies as well as the landscape of the natural products industry.

A strong thirst for education pushed Glass to study at 15 different schools of natural medicine. He performed apprenticeships in Ayurveda, an Indian system of medicine and one of the world’s oldest holistic healing practices, as well as Chinese healing arts and Thai massage. Glass also spent several months in Thailand receiving one-on-one training under several world-renowned teachers of Thai massage.

Today, a licensed massage therapist with nearly two decades of experience in naturopathic health care, Glass has achieved more than 3,000 hours of practical and clinical education in holistic healing. His Thai massage sessions are conducted fully clothed, combining yoga therapy stretches with slow, deep, rhythmic compressions to promote the flow of energy throughout the body. His clients have experienced benefits including improvements in muscular pain and tightness as well as increased range of motion. His massages seek to reduce stress and address poor circulation, respiratory problems, sleep issues, anxiety and adrenal fatigue.

As an Ayurvedic naturopath, Glass focuses on comprehensive wellness, working to heal the mind, body and spirit. He personalizes programs to fit each individual’s needs.

“Through all of my years of research and experience, I’ve found that every individual’s journey to health is unique,” said Glass. “Regardless of who they are –– their age, body type or flexibility –– my goal is to have them leave here feeling better than they came.”

After traveling the world, Glass found the City of Ventura –– with its the beaches, mountains and a growing communal interest in natural healing arts –– to itself be an environment of healing. He recently opened Thai Massage Ventura, located at 2021 Sperry Avenue in A Place of Peace Sanctuary & Wellness Center. Glass is currently one of the few clinically trained practitioners of therapeutic Thai massage in the Ventura County region.

He is available by appointment only for 90-minute to two-hour sessions in Thai massage, therapeutic bodywork or Ayurvedic wellness consultations. For more information on Thai Massage Ventura, visit www.thaimassageventura.com.

Jenny Guy is the director of communications for Mustang Marketing and a resident of the City of Ventura.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV)

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) recently celebrated the accomplishments of 11 women and men who successfully completed WEV’s Ventura County-based Advanced Spanish Self-Employment Training (SSET) course with a graduation ceremony held at National University in Oxnard.

After 14 weeks of training on topics including finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan, these graduates completed the course with the necessary tools and support needed to start or expand their businesses.

Consortium Media expands its foster care recruitment campaign

Consortium Media, an award-winning brand development agency for local, regional and nationally-recognized businesses, non-profits and government agencies, has expanded its innovative foster care recruitment campaign to Santa Barbara County with the launch of Our County, Our Kids, a program of Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services.

The campaign includes a refreshed communication strategy, new logo, website, and inspiring visual components such as commercials, video, and print advertisements. Each element of the campaign aims to recruit families who can meet the needs of the more than 425 children, youth, and teens in Santa Barbara County who need the support of stable households while separated from their families of origin.

‘We’re excited to use our nine years of national and regional experience in the foster care and adoption industries to develop the Our County, Our Kids brand and see it come to life in Santa Barbara County,” said Consortium President and CEO, Denise Bean White. “This campaign is exactly what the county needs to raise awareness and recruit more supportive homes for its foster youth.”

Ribbon-cutting of NOW Ventura held June 23

Co-owner Executive Chef Dean Angelo (holding the scissors) is joined by co-owner Rani John (on his left) at the official ribbon-cutting of the restaurant NOW Ventura held on June 23. Not shown is co-owner Michael Anthony. Joining them was Ventura City Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann, many friends and well-wishers and Ventura Chamber members and staff. This brand new venue, which actually opened Dec 2, is the brainchild of the trio of entrepreneurs

When asked why Ventura Rani John stated “This city was listed as the number one place to live in the U.S. and the three of us liked what we saw here—ocean, beautiful weather and friendly people. We’re all settling here with our families. We love this place and want to provide something special for the city.”

The goal of the new managers in designing the setting is to create a place that is cool, upscale and sophisticated, punctuated with music of many genres.

NOW Ventura has two outdoor dining areas (dog friendly) and a large room for holding special events and is available for catering as well.

The restaurant is located at 185 E. Santa Clara St., 667-2200, http://www.nowventura.com.

Women’s Economic Ventures’ (WEV) annual Empowerment is Priceless event

Nearly 300 women and men attended non-profit Women’s Economic Ventures’ (WEV) annual Empowerment is Priceless event held on May 12th at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel. The breakfast fundraiser recognized WEV’s 2016 Trailblazer, Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year award winners. WEV clients also shared their personal experiences as entrepreneurs and how their businesses have evolved as a result of their involvement with WEV.

WEV’s Trailblazer Award is presented each year to a woman who is a pioneer in her industry, exemplifying courage, vision and the tenacity to overcome barriers. This year, WEV honored Kate McLean, former president of the Ventura County Community Foundation and a leading advocate for social good in the Ventura community.

The 2016 WEV Business of the Year award went to Reyna Chavez, owner of Scrubs on the Run Uniforms and Accessories, Inc., one of the region’s only providers of high-quality scrub uniforms and accessories for medical professionals.

Spring Business Expo 2016

On May 26 Spring Business Expo 2016 was held at the Four Points Sheraton presented by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce. The event was free and open to the public.

Over 70 exhibitor booths of local businesses and restaurants filled the ballroom including the Ventura Breeze booth which was beautifully designed and staffed by Ana and Jaime Baker and an unknown lady who had little to say.

A stress-free mattress shopping experience opening in Ventura

The Sleep Shoppe, a locally-owned and operated retailer that focuses on creating a “stress-free mattress shopping experience”, will be opening its fifth Ventura County area store after leasing a 10,000 square foot facility on Main St. in Ventura.

The Sleep Shoppe has scheduled a soft opening at 4051 E. Main St., July 4th weekend. The space was formerly occupied by West Marine. Consideration of the lease with options is valued in excess of $3,000,000. Haworth, broker/principal in the Ventura office of SVN, represented both The Sleep Shoppe and the property owner in the transaction.

The Sleep Shoppe already has stores in Simi Valley, Newbury Park, Oxnard and Agoura Hills. The company’s products include mattresses, accessories, toppers, pillows, bedding, mattress pads, furniture, and adjustable bases.

The Sleep Shoppe’s locations offer complimentary coffee and tea in their “recharge stations” to create a relaxing atmosphere in which to shop.

Palermo Pizzeria has gained a following of local supporters

Yoshi’s career path into the restaurant business was “almost like an accident.” Photo by Zach Frankart

by Jenny Guy

Yoshi Namiki, owner of Palermo Pizzeria in Ventura, says his career path into the restaurant business was “almost like an accident.” Namiki came to California when he was 14, moving from Japan after his father, a mechanical engineer, took a position in Northridge –– and decided to call Simi Valley home. Fluent in both English and Japanese, Namiki held a career in computer sciences with an international company until he was 40.

After losing his job, he found himself headed toward bankruptcy. With a family of his own and no prospects, Namiki stumbled upon an opportunity to go into business for himself. He purchased a small deli in Simi Valley called Simi Sam’s Sandwich Factory –– one of the oldest delis in the region. Solely self-taught without any prior restaurant experience, Namiki chose to maintain the authenticity of the sandwich shop and kept many of the previous owner’s original recipes. This on-the-job training allowed him to develop his own culinary skills, and the gamble eventually paid off. The restaurant business has never been an easy sector of work to get into, which is why many aspiring restaurants never quite make it. While efforts can be made simpler by using a service such as QSR accounting to ensure that the books are properly managed, it is genuinely difficult to create a restaurant business that is both successful and sustainable.

Namiki sold Simi Sam’s to his brother and became the sole proprietor of the Italian Simi Valley staple Palermo Pizzeria. Seeing this new enterprise as an opportunity to make the restaurant his own, Namiki did a complete overhaul of the inherited menu. He spent months testing ingredients to find the perfect combinations –– placing special significance on perfecting his sauces.

On August 23, 2010, Namiki reopened the restaurant. He introduced new dishes under the Palermo Pizzeria name as a tribute to the original owners, the Cascio family, who established the restaurant in 1972. After two years of managing Palermo Pizzeria in Simi Valley, Namiki, a surfer, felt drawn to Ventura to be closer to the water. Two years to the day that Namiki had purchased the first Simi Valley location, August 23, 2012, Palermo Pizzeria was founded in Ventura.

The Ventura Palermo Pizzeria has since gained a following of local supporters for its fresh ingredients and meals made from scratch. The pizza dough is made onsite daily, all pasta sauces and salad dressings are homemade, and Namiki personally visits the market each morning (seven days a week) to handpick produce for Palermo Pizzeria’s salads and toppings. The results of these efforts are delicious dishes ranging from vibrant salads and flavorful soups to Italian classics like spaghetti and meatballs.

Located in Midtown Ventura at 1751 East Main Street, Palermo Pizzeria has a customer base estimated at 90 percent locals, and Namiki has come to know most by name. Palermo Pizzeria caters to its following, providing local favorites such as Surf Brewery beer and Panaro Brothers wine. The 1,500-square-foot establishment also houses a wide selection of art from Ventura native Scott O’Connor, who gifted Namiki with the restaurant’s one-of-kind signboard.

“When people come here, I want them to laugh and have fun. If I am, they will. And if I like it, chances are my guests will too,” said Namiki, a husband and father of two who now lives just across the street from Palermo Pizzeria in Ventura.

Both Palermo Pizzeria’s Simi Valley and the Ventura locations are open for business Monday through Sunday, more information can be found at www.palermos.biz.

Jenny Guy is the director of communications for Mustang Marketing and a resident of the City of Ventura.

Happy seventh anniversary Ladies Luncheon!

At a recent Ladies Luncheon lucky Breeze publisher Sheldon was the first man invited to one of their luncheons.

by Carol Leish

The Ladies Luncheon is having its 7th Anniversary luncheon on June 2 at the Pierpont Inn Pavilion Room in beautiful Ventura.

The Ladies Luncheon was started by local Ventura Realtor, Laurie Ann Meyer-Ehrhardt, in June, 2009.

“A few of us met at the My Florist and Bakery in downtown Ventura. The next month, when we met at the Pierpont Inn, we had 15 women for lunch. By the third month, we had 35 women attending, I knew that it was important to continue these monthly lunches.”

Laurie started Ladies Luncheon because she saw a need for women to come together on a regular basis with a ‘no join’ obligation. “With both no limit on the number of categories represented, and no need to attend every month women are able to attend when it’s convenient for them. And, there is no limit on the number of categories represented. Thus, we are representing many local businesses and various nonprofits within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. We continue to be able to provide women with both support and encouragement.”

Ladies Luncheon is the place, “To eat, meet, greet and shop,” according to Laurie. “Our luncheons are not just for business. It is also the place to relax, shop, and, to have fun! What goes on at Ladies Luncheon stays at Ladies Luncheon! We average 45 women each month. By allowing multiple categories, we are able to support the philosophy of the importance of building relationships in order to do business. There is always enough business for everyone.”

Laurie’s mom, Pat Morris, who relocated to Ventura in 2012, started coming to Ladies Luncheon when she moved here. “Mom has always been an inspiration to me and I am so blessed and fortunate for her to be able to participate here and to be supportive of all of us. Elaine O’Malia, of Laine Designs (www.lainedesigns.com) is the web wizard and acts as my right hand helper.”

To join our wonderful group please come on June 2 at our anniversary luncheon. Go to our website www.TheLadiesLuncheon.com to pre-register or pay at the door. Like me, you’ll see the immense value of the supportive and lively group of women who do make a difference!

Our regular Ladies Luncheon’s May mixer, on May 26, from 5:30–7:30pm, will be co-ed so you men can join in the fun. It will be at Grapes & Hops at 454 E. Main St. in Downtown There will be wine tasting and a no host bar. All are welcome (Guys too!). $15 for wine tasting.

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