A popular trend among Maricopa businesses is to be owned and operated by family members. Several local companies are extending their family operation beyond the many husband-wife teams, which are chronicled in the July issue of 85293 The Magazine.
Among them is Peñascos, a Mexican restaurant co-owned by Rosalinda O’Hare and her brother-in-law, Rich Vitiello, which scheduled to open in August. O’Hare has always had a passion to open a restaurant, so much so she went to college and earned an accounting degree to help further the business-end of her dream. Meanwhile, Vitiello worked in the bicycle industry which required him to travel six months out of the year.
When O’Hare was ready to proceed with her dream, she called Vitiello who was ready to give up the corporate life to spend more time with family. “We share responsibilities equally,” Vitiello said. “What one of us doesn’t know, the other might.”
“This restaurant is about what we are – family,” agreed O’Hare. “It’s a family-owned, family-oriented restaurant.”
When Byron Fanning decided to open his business, On the Go Bistro, he could think of no one better to do it with than his family. “My parents, wife, three brothers and two sisters all own shares in this restaurant,” said Fanning. “And my brother Ed is the general manager and brother Tim is the kitchen manager.”
Ed & Byron Fanning
Fanning, who has worked for Denny’s since 1991, likes the idea of no one having creative control. “If one of us has a good idea or wants to add something to the menu, we do it,” said Fanning. “We’re able to listen and respond to what customers tell us they want in a restaurant. For example, customers told us they would like breakfast, so we’re now open seven days a week for breakfast.”
The mother-daughter team of Sonja Templeton and Dareece Rosales make up Poco Loco, a new store that will feature ceramic items hand-made by Templeton and Rosales as well as custom tile murals, fence and yard art. “My husband I used to drive through Maricopa on our way to Rocky Point,” Rosales recanted. “We used to joke about moving here. Once we made the decision to move here everything fell into place.”
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Poco Loco owners Dareece Rosales and Sonja Templeton
The UPS Store is owned by Carlton and Kathy Werner and operated by their son Taylor and his wife, Ann. Carlton Werner, who has been in the food business for many years, decided to open The UPS Store because it seemed an easier venture. “The food business is a hard business and changes so often,” Werner said. “UPS was a different opportunity that was easier. There will always be shipping and receiving.”
Kathy, daughter Carlee and Carlton Werner
The Werners plan to open three more UPS stores, one for each of their children. “We’re very blessed with our children,” explained Werner. “They’re very good about asking for assistance and caught on quickly that neither side has all answers, but collectively we do.”
Peñascos Mexican Restaurant, On the Go Bistro, Poco Loco and The UPS Store all expressed the joy of opening businesses with their family members and that they would do it all again because whether they succeed or fail, they do it together, as a family.
Maricopa is the home to many other family-owned businesses, including:
In addition, the city is host to several businesses operated by husband-wife teams. A few of those teams were featured in the July issue of 85239 The Magazine, others include:
For more information about these or other small business owners in Maricopa, see the July issue of 85239 The Magazine at www.85239TheMagazine.com or in your mailbox later this week.
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