Woodland restaurateur Rebecca Reichardt is thinking big – really big – after recently being named one of 10 national winners in a business contest sponsored by American Express.
The owner of Tazzina Bistro on Woodland's Main Street soon will open a second eatery in town, this one a "steak and potatoes" place in contrast to the "upscale comfort food" style of Tazzina.
She plans to expand both concepts into Sacramento, then franchise them nationally.
"They taught me to think bigger – to open multiple units," the 29-year-old Reichardt says of her experience competing in the "Make Mine a Million $ Business" competition for female entrepreneurs.
She pitched her business plan to a panel of experts and an audience of 600 people at Hollywood's Globe Theater on Jan. 23 – and walked away a winner with computer equipment, free vouchers for airlines and hotels and up to $50,000 in financing from Amex's small-business lending division.
But she says the most valuable prize is the promise of coaching from business experts as she moves ahead with her expansion efforts.
"They'll give me a push," she says of the coaches, adding that "as a boss, you don't always have people pushing you to excel."
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Seeking higher ground: Looming limits on new construction in Natomas have prompted one major home builder to cease some production there.
Shea Homes says it is immediately stopping new work at its Artisan Square condo community, on East Commerce Way and just east of Interstate 5, after completing 59 of 321 planned units.
Adam Watkins, VP of sales and marketing for Shea's Sacramento division, says the move is a result of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's recent move to downgrade the area's flood safety level and impose limits on future construction.
The downturn in the housing market is cited as another factor.
Watkins says the company will continue building at its Capistrano single-home community west of I-5, at El Centro Road and Arena Boulevard, where 205 houses are planned.
Dennis Rogers, senior vice president with the North State Building Industry Association, says Shea is the only member firm to cite FEMA's announcement in a decision to halt construction.
Under the agency's new regs, builders can continue to obtain permits for construction in Natomas until the end of the year and start those projects. But those applying for permits next year will have to elevate buildings above flood level – a requirement that likely would end new construction.
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Bean there, done that: Sacramento-based Java City isn't getting out of the retail business. Just in case you thought the pending sale of its midtown Weatherstone Coffee outlet signaled such a change.
It's giving a uniform look to each of its 12 California outlets, says marketing manager Krista Young. Last year's makeover of its flagship location at 18th and Capitol Avenue fit with that strategy, she says.
But Weatherstone, which is being sold to the owners of Old Soul Co., was just too different.
"It always operated as an independent cafe with its own look and feel," Young says. "It's a one-off."
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Walling off blight: That proposal to surround one of downtown's worst eyesores with a colorful wall of graphics is drawing support from landowner Moe Mohanna.
Last week we reported plans for the "urban camouflage" at the southeast corner of Eighth and K streets and said it might require support from Mohanna, who owns three of the ugly corner's six muddy parcels.
We didn't hear from Mohanna in time to get his comments in our account. But he tells us now he has no objections to the wall.
"It will make the appearance of K Street better," he says. As for the nasty dispute between Mohanna and the city over a proposed parcel swap on K Street Mall, he adds: "Hopefully we can reconcile, and soon there will be some sort of project there."
That would be great. Even better, include one of Rebecca Reichardt's new eateries on the block.
Reach Bob Shallit at (916) 321-1049. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/shallit.
