By Marilyn Bromberg
Some babies are born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouth. For Dave Emick, it was more likely the smell of gasoline and the sweat from an honest day’s work in his nostrils as he bounced in his crib at the business he would one day buy from his dad, Russ. When very few kids really understood what dad did when he left for work each morning, lunch pail in hand, Dave had the rare opportunity to learn first-hand while his dad spent the day fixing whatever was wrong under the hood of Ford Fairlanes and Rambler Americans. His dad was a problem solver, matching mettle with metal, and it soon became clear to the son that people were always in need of, and willing to pay, someone to fix the car on which they depended for work, vacation, and even romance.
The history of Emick’s Auto Service dates back to 1958 when Russ started working for what was then Z&S on West 13th. In 1965, his dad bought the business from the owners, and in 1981, Dave started working at the shop full-time and learning from his dad who knew what it took to keep the cars that Americans were driving trouble-free and purring like kittens under the hood. This was a time, too, when horsepower and speed were part of a respected vocabulary of the trade, and Russ pursed his passion for fast cars through his active involvement in the Sports Car Club of America.
No wonder that when you walk into Emick’s shop today you see an impeccable vintage Triumph TR3 (and a vintage Buick Riviera). “My dad worked on cars like this,” says Dave who, like his father, loves fixing things, including working on older cars and making parts when replacements are no longer available. When Russ retired in 1994, Dave bought the business in 2004, and has continued the tradition of high-touch service with high-tech capability (four service bays have all the latest technology), servicing all American and most popular foreign cars. “I take a personal interest in every car that comes in, and my commitment to my customer is to fix the car right the first time,” says Dave, a fact borne out by a less than 0.5% return rate. “Customers know that if there’s a problem, we’ll be here.” So confident are customers of that fact, that Dave is taking care of cars from the third generation of some families, and has one customer who has been bringing cars in for service since 1965.
With long-term customers like that, it’s clear that the real fine-tuning happens in the relationships and trust built through the years. Whether it’s a major re-build, scheduled maintenance, or advice on what car to buy, Dave Emick won’t steer you wrong. He’s got too much riding on a hard-earned reputation.
Emick’s Auto Service, Specializing in Complete Auto Repair. 1475 Jasmine St. 303.322.3777. Open Mon. to Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By Marilyn Bromberg
At a time when corporate competitors threaten the viability of more and more small, family-run operations, one Mayfair businessman is successfully bucking the trend and focusing on what keeps his business in the survivor column of locally-owned enterprises.
Step into the small storefront occupied by Nicholson Cleaners and you’re immediately met by the warm, smiling countenance of Dwight Nicholson, owner of the cleaners that has carried his name for the past 16 years. You’re also met by a business owner that understands that customers who enter want to leave with more than the assurance of clean clothes. They want to know that patronizing a neighborhood business buys something they can’t get in quite the same way somewhere else. On that, Dwight Nicholson delivers.
That special touch is in Dwight’s DNA, and before opening Nicholson Cleaners, he owned a liquor store near the old Stapleton Airport. When plans to relocate his business at the new airport were delayed by the airport’s construction timeline, he started to look elsewhere. Coincidentally, his brother worked for a cleaner at the time that was looking to expand. When this location became available, and the company his brother worked for declined, the opportunity, Dwight said “yes.”
The former liquor store owner may seem an unlikely candidate to open up a dry cleaning business, but when your focus is on personalized service, learning the specifics of a new industry are the easy part. “I like the interaction with customers,” says Dwight, who characterizes the personal relationship with his clients as akin to a barber shop. “We talk about everything, and they know that if something isn’t the way they want it, they can come to me first and I’ll make it right.” He and his nephew Mark who works with him, check the quality daily of the clothes that come back from the plant to make sure they meet his—and his customers’—high expectations.
What’s no surprise is that his friendship with his customers extends years, and beyond the doors and hours of the dry cleaning business. He often socializes with customers-now-friends, and those who move away stop in to say “hi” when they’re in town. The first dollar he earned as Nicholson Cleaners is posted proudly on a bulletin board, and on the same wall, countless pictures of happy, repeat customers who wouldn’t think of taking their clothes—or friendship—anywhere else.
Nicholson Cleaners. 916 Jersey St.303.320.3425. Open Mon., Wed., Fri. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tue. and Thu. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sun. Mayfair residents enjoy 5% off when paying advance.
By Marilyn Bromberg
Tucked away in the Jersey Shoppette is a gem of a new business geared to the needs of fashion and value-conscious shoppers of children’s clothing. The brightly-painted walls, and carefully selected clothing are clearly a reflection of the owner, Christina Pappas, who has big plans and dreams for her business, Lil’ Bear Clothing. (The name was suggested by her dad, Alex Pappas, who owns Jersey Street Liquors in the same shoppette.)
Open since just before Thanksgiving 2009, Christina sells mostly new, and some gently-worn clothing for both girls and boys, newborn to teens. Her focus is providing her customers with name brand, good quality, reasonably-priced clothing while providing a personal shopper level of service.
As a former medical assistant, selling kid’s clothing may seem like an unlikely career move, but a few minutes with Christina convinces you that this is not a passing fancy. “I was looking for something fun and different, and to carry clothing you wouldn’t typically see at the department store,” says Christina. To exemplify that point, she shows me a basket of cute-as-can-be fur booties, and a basket of little bears that are a gift with a purchase of $20 or more. She can also place specialty orders for customers who don’t see what they want in this well-stocked boutique, and offers customized gift baskets for special events such as baby showers and baptisms.
While getting the new business established is top of mind, Christina admits that what she aspires to bring European designs within the reach of her clientele, and dramatically improve the fashion choices for boys’ clothing. “People always say boys’ clothes aren’t that cute,” says Christina, and she sees that as a challenge she has every intention of overcoming. One day, she has dreams of designing her own line of clothing.
Lil’ Bear Clothing. 932 Jersey St.303.377.303. www.lilbearclothing.com. Open Mon., Fri., Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wed. and Thu. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tue. and Sun. Visit the site for a coupon worth 10% off for new customers.
By Mike Nelson
Every time I write this column, I become even more amazed at the variety of cuisine that Mayfair residents have easy access to. After an enthusiastic recommendation from a neighbor, and remembering our pleasant experience at last year’s Feast on The FAX, we decided to give Phoenician Kabob a try. Fans of Finster’s Bagels, the location’s previous inhabitants, will be blown away by what has blossomed in its place.
Our “research” started with dinner on Friday evening. I can honestly say that we enjoyed one of the best meals that we’ve had in quite some time. We sampled a trio of appetizers: hummus – which was excellent, very smooth and creamy, and served with a nice basket of pita and a variety of garnishes; a falafel that was better than many that I’ve had; and the Fatayer Bi Lahme, which is a Lebanese pastry stuffed with ground lamb, onions and pine nuts. Freshly made, and delicious!
Our entrees were equally as tasty, if not more. My daughter loved her gyros sandwich, filled with very tender pieces of lamb and a coating of their excellent hummus inside the pita, served with what we all agreed were the best-tasting French fries we had ever had. (Unfortunately, on subsequent visits, they weren’t as well cooked, and were just slightly better than average.) My wife’s lamb kabob dinner was excellent. The lamb was also very tender, the basmati rice was delicious, and the plate was topped off with a nice roasted pepper salad. I had a lamb special that was also very good. Each entree was $12.95 and the sandwich was under $8 with the fries, which was very reasonable considering the quality of the food. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and easily answered all of our questions about the menu, of which there were plenty, considering our lack of experience with some of the Lebanese dishes. The dessert menu has several Lebanese and American dishes, but you would be foolish not to try the baklava, which is made in-house, and is truly to die for. We were fortunate to meet the owners, who were both happy to speak with us about their restaurant. Their well-deserved pride was impossible to overlook.
We made two more trips back for lunch during the following week. Our food was still good, but the time it took to receive our meals was a bit too long for our allotted lunchtime, so we weren’t able to enjoy ourselves as much as we did during the evening. Our servers were both friendly, but not quite as attentive as I would have liked. Keep your mid-day choices simple, and you’ll still be able to have a great meal, though not if you’re pressed for time. Come back on Saturday evenings after 8 pm for belly dancing, or try the happy hour drink specials from the bar every day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Whichever you decide, you’ll be richly rewarded if you indulge yourself at this true neighborhood gem.
Phoenician Kabob. 5709 E. Colfax Avenue. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturdays until 10 p.m., and Sundays until 9 p.m. 303.355.7213. Accepts American Express, VISA, MasterCard, and Discover.
By Patrick Vigil
The Cluttered Corner is pleased to announce we’ve located in Mayfair! You may remember us as the Cluttered Closet, a second-hand home furnishings and accessories store that originated in 1989 in Congress Park at 12th and Elizabeth Streets. At that location, we prospered and enjoyed many happy years of consignments and liquidating estates. Treasures came through the door on a daily basis which kept customers always looking—and finding—bargains. It was here that I met Dorothy Bowie, my partner in business today. She was one of my best customers, and we became friends through the years, as she eventually came to work with me in the Clutter. During those years, we received many wonderful awards from 5280 Magazine, Best of Westword, Out Front Reader’s Choice, as well as being featured on Channel 4 news.
In late 2006, the Cluttered Closet came to a close, but after a few months, we decided to take our passion for clutter to Broadway!
Broadway St. is where we officially became the Cluttered Corner. Our venture lasted two years, but due to a rough economy, we decided to let it go and pursue other avenues. However, once a junkie, always a junkie: we didn’t stop shopping and our homes became overstuffed with clutter. It was time to start anew.
We’ve re-opened the Cluttered Corner in Mayfair and are looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Stop by our new location where you will find fabulous home furnishings and bargains galore—from clowns to priceless antiques—or just come by and get to know us. You won’t be disappointed!
Cluttered Corner. 1407 Krameria Street. 303.331.9305 or clutteredcorner@comcast.net. Open Tues. – Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sun. and Mon.
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