Morrisville, NC – You could win $10,000 in the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce Reverse Raffle. And, you’ll be supporting one of the area’s finest business organizations.

Win $10,000

Proceeds from the raffle support the fine work of the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, a burgeoning force for business in the Triangle. Tickets cost $100.

The Reverse Raffle will be held on Thursday, June 21, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Four Points by Sheraton located at 1200 Claren Circle, in Morrisville.

It is a fun opportunity to network, win fabulous raffle prizes and support the Morrisville Chamber’s programs.

The Odds Are Good

Only 300 tickets will be sold for the grand prize. That makes your odds 1:300.

By comparison, the the odds of winning the Mega Millions lottery are 1:175,000,000 according to mathematician Aaron Abrams.

Get together with a couple of friends and pool your money. You do not have to attend the raffle drawing to win. Buy a ticket.

Buy a Ticket

To purchase tickets:

Morrisville Chamber Reverse Raffle
Call – (919) 463-7150
Email - chamber@morrisvillechamber.org
Online - Buy a ticket
Ticket Cost: $100

Event Details:

Raffle Drawing
Thursday June 21, 2012
5:30 – 8:00 PM

Four Points by Sheraton
1200 Claren Circle
Morrisville, NC

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Community coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Thai Spices and Sushi of Cary.

Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – “How was it?” Lindsey asked. I had just gotten home from the Cary Chamber 50th Anniversary Celebration. ”Lots of fun” I answered. “Unexpectedly moving.” 

The Tonight Show with Steve and Howard

Tuesday May 22, 2012 was the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Cary Chamber of Commerce.

After some stellar appetizers and a couple of glasses of Merlot at Cary Arts Center, the crowd filed into the theater.

The Moonlighters Orchestra played big band classics on the stage. Angela Hampton from ABC-11 warmed-up the crowd for co-hosts Howard Johnson and Steve Zaytoun.

The production was modeled (loosely) after the old Tonight Show. Howard played Ed McMahon while Steve held down Johnny Carson’s job.

Steve brought his madcap style to the top banana role. And Howard did a fine job as the sideman.

All-Star Line Up of Guests

Of course, any talk show is about the guests. Johnny and Ed Howard and Steve got some great guests for their retrospective of the Cary Chamber.

Jerry Miller and Dick Ladd talked about the early days of the Chamber and Jerry explained a little about starting the first Lazy Daze festival. The sequence ended with a rapid-fire montage of dozens and dozens of Jerry Miller’s drawings around and about Cary.

The band played and former Mayor Koka Booth came out and waved to the crowd.

Then Howard recognized former chairmen (and chairwomen) of the Chamber – almost two dozen people stood up in the audience. It was a pretty impressive display of Cary’s tradition of leadership.

John Sall

The next guest was John Sall, a co-founder of SAS.

Dr. Sall talked about the early days at SAS and how they picked Cary based on a statistical analysis of where all the employees lived. The center point was Cary. “But we got it all wrong,” Sall quipped. “Cary was a place to live, not a place where people worked.”

The bedroom community was turning into a boardroom community.

Cary’s Most Decorated Veteran

After John Sall, Colonel Hal Shook came out to chat with Steve and Howard.

Steve asked Colonel Shook to describe flying over Normandy Beach as a fighter pilot on June 6, 1945. “Low clouds,” Shook said, “but then they parted. I could see about 7,000 ships, all near the beach. The guns from the battleships were all firing at once, it looked like a line of fire on the water.”

A Proclamation

The Steve and Howard show resumed with a humorous video in which Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht tries to beg off the event in favor of a little tennis.

Then the Mayor came out (tennis racket in hand) and read a proclamation from the Town Council congratulating the Chamber on 50 years of success.

The Ashworths

The last guests of the evening were the Ashworths – Ralph, Gary and Paul.

Steve started by talking to Ralph. “My first job was behind the counter at Ashworth’s,” Steve said. “You paid me two bucks an hour.”

“I think I paid too much,” Ralph said.

Gary talked about playing in the Town band, and Steve picked on him for his cluttered office. Paul talked about his love of bow ties and how grateful he is to work in the business started by his mother and father. Ralph, Gary and Paul all did their time as chairmen of the Chamber.

“Looking back on fifty years of Chamber history,” Steve asked Ralph, ”what’s your advice for the future?”

“It’s about attitude,” Ralph said. “Be positive.”

The Ashworths left the stage to a huge round of applause. Howard and Steve traded banter for a moment, but were interrupted when Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore burst into the theater. Without so much as a howdy-do, she cuffed Zaytoun and led him off stage. Howard smoothly slid into Steve’s chair. He looked good as top banana.

The Second 50 Years

The house lights came up and we wandered out into the night. The next 50 years in the history of the Chamber had begun.

The show made me proud of my Chamber membership, brief though it has been. I found out it’s more than just an organization. It’s an idea.

Cary, NC – Green Kangaroo is an e-commerce custom stationer with a store front in a new Downtown Cary location. Unlike other businesses in our local market, they don’t rely on foot traffic to do business. When they opened in March, I was curious to learn what resided behind the frosted windows down the street from our CaryCitizen office.

Green Kangaroo – Everyday Magic for Weddings

What I found behind the sign was a quietly intense work space of graphic designers who create magic every day for brides all over the country.

Owner Kristen Klett started the Green Kangaroo in 2002 inside her home where she designed custom ideas for weddings and other events. Her stationery goes way beyond pretty invitations, to include  placecards, signage, logos, menus and wedding program designs.

The Green Kangaroo moved to the new location after several years in offices within Ashworth Village’s second floor shops. The new space has given her greater visibility and the opportunity to grow in the future with a second floor. Design, production, order fulfillment, customer service and shipping take place in the Cary office. Printing is handled locally in a separate location.

Real People Behind the Website

What makes her business different from other invitation shops is the ability to accommodate special request items. Many times a customer may see a design they like, but it might be square or a shape that will require additional postage when mailed. Her shop can redesign the invitation to a rectangular shape at no extra charge. Another plus for the online customer is that there are REAL people that can be called to discuss any questions.

Kristen notes that “Brides pay special attention to all the details of their weddings, and don’t want to feel as if they have settled. ” The Green Kangaroo lets them have the detail of design that they can carry through the entire wedding. Many designs are even translated onto the wedding cakes.

Every Color in the Rainbow

Designs range from custom monograms to floral designs and type.  She keeps a large supply of  colored papers and special folded envelopes for use as samples. The office is lined with shelves bursting with samples of every shade in the rainbow.

Orders take about 2 days to receive a proof and after approval, production can be as fast as 5-7 business days. Complex custom orders may take as long as 15-20 days.

More than 90% of the Green Kangaroo’s business is done outside of this area. But local folks should know that Kristen is only a phone call away for personal appointments and consultations. There are no walk-ins.

Weddings and More

Although weddings make up the bulk of the business, Kristen also designs holiday cards, birth announcements, thank you notes and more. A good portion of her customers are satisfied repeat clients.

Why Green Kangaroo?

Kristen explained that as a child she and a friend were middle children in their families. The Judy Blume book “And the One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo” stuck with her. She liked that imagery and decided to use it in her business. She also uses the initials TGK Designs as an abbreviation.

So there you have it, another Cary Business revealed.

Story and photo by Lindsey Chester.

Cary, NC – The Luihn Family has been a force in the Cary business landscape for years, operating all of the Taco Bell and KFC restaurants in the area. Their latest venture, Hurricane Grill & Wings in Cary, breaks the mold with a sit-down family friendly atmosphere located in a long vacant spot on Kildaire Farm Road near Trader Joe’s.

Hurricane Grill Brings Beachy Style to Cary

This is the first Hurricane Grill in North Carolina and owner Cindy Luihn Toma hopes after the Cary location gets established they will roll out to more locations. The franchise is based out of Florida and has a decidedly laid back beachy style. The emphasis is on the grilling more than the wings, although those are hugely popular and offered in a jumbo size.

Why did she choose to open this particular franchise in Cary? Cindy told me that the family has strong ties to Florida. One year, they ate at a Hurricane restaurant during a Florida vacation and the family was hooked. When they wanted to expand their business, they thought the Hurricane concept would be a good fit for Cary. Cindy’s oldest brother, Jody, looked into the franchise and decided to get the exclusive rights to Wake, Durham and Wilmington areas.

Best Burger

The Luihn  family liked the variety and the unique atmosphere that Hurricane offers its customers. There are surf boards on the walls and mahi mahi on the menu. One of the most popular menu items is the 100% angus beef burger which manager Susan Miller recalls a customer calling “the best burger he’s ever eaten!” The restaurant offers a full bar with 20 beers on tap.

With her degree in restaurant and hotel management, Cindy always wanted to open a full service restaurant. With Hurricane Grill she got her wish. The space had sat empty for over 3 years as first a bank and later a mattress store tried to make the location work, but ultimately walked away. As the former Applebee’s was already zoned for a restaurant and this franchise had no need for a drive thru, the location was a perfect fit. In December they started renovations and opened in March. It’s handy that Dad also runs a contracting business as part of the Luihn empire.

Luihn Foods – Cary Restaurant Powerhouse

Luihn Foods is a family business: Cindy’s Mom and Dad, Donna Mae and Al Luihn,began opening Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bells back in 1965. Now brothers, Jody and Jamie, and sisters Cindy and Sandy, are all involved with managing over 85 restaurants in North Carolina, Florida and Virginia.  Jody is the current president of the Franchise Association for Taco Bell Nationally. Cindy’s twin daughters work as hostesses at Hurricane.

With over 2500 people employed by Luihn Foods, they are one of the biggest employers in North Carolina! Next time you pass a KFC in Cary, you’ll know its owned by Cary natives.

Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – It’s been a great run – 44 years. But Circus Restaurant on East Chatham Street has announced that it will be closing it’s doors for good this Friday.

Farewell Circus

We waxed eloquent about Circus in a Go Local column back in May of 2010. “We’re talking hand-dipped cones in chocolate, cherry or butterscotch. Milk shakes and malteds – yes, malteds – it’s like waking up in 1962. Fabulous flavors, fresh ingredients and seasonal items including a pumpkin milkshake in the autumn.”

But, sadly, the management has announced that their last day will be Friday, May 18, 2012.

We might have to swing by one more time for a burger with freshly chopped onions and a tall Orange Creamsicle milkshake.

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree. Above: NC Representative Tom Murry and Cary Chamber President Howard Johnson.

Cary, NC- Business is picking up steam in Cary and the surrounding Triangle. Here are a few news items and business events of interest to both entrepreneurs and titans of industry.

CIC – Grand Opening Thursday

The Cary Innovation Center (CIC) is holding their Official Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting ceremony this Thursday at 10 AM.

The special guest will be Keith Crisco, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. CIC welcomes the community to the ribbon cutting and invites the community to come in and take a tour of the facility. The aim of the center is to create successful entrepreneurs and small businesses and to become an economic engine for downtown Cary.

10,000 Computers Awarded

Kramden Institute, who we reported on recently (story), awarded their ten thousandth refurbished computer on Saturday, April 28 to a deserving student and his/her family at Carrboro Elementary School. The 10,000th computer is a historic milestone for Kramden, an organization founded in 2003 by Mark Dibner and his son Ned Dibner in the basement of their Durham home. They were honored at a ceremony in Carrboro over the weekend.

This non-profit organization is based in the southern part of RTP and accepts donated PCs which they refurbish and then give to kids around the state whose home lack access to computers and the internet.

“Our computers are the first step in providing students and their families with the digital tools they need to succeed in their academic and personal lives. Many of us take easy access to modern technology for granted, yet the fact remains that many North Carolinians, especially students, still face a struggle to obtain a personal computer,” said Kramden’s Executive Director, Michael Abensour.

Cary Chamber Small Business Awards

On Thursday, May 10, the Cary Chamber of Commerce will host their annual small business awards at Embassy Suites.

The Chamber estimates we have about 3,000 small businesses in Cary, so winning one of the Chamber Excellence Awards is a big deal.

No word on the list of nominees, but we can tell you the name of one business that is in the running: CaryCitizen.

Tickets are still available for this lunchtime event.

Story by Doc Thorne. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – The next meeting of the Heart of Cary Association will be this Thursday, May 3rd, 8-9AM at the Chamber of Commerce. The topic: using social media for business.

How to Use Socia Media Effectively

This month’s Downtown Dialogue will be provided by Elizabeth Parham, Director, Urban Development Division, NC Department of Commerce.

Joining Liz will be Ben Murphrey, Main Street Solutions Grant Administrator. Their presentation will focus on “How to Use Social Media Effectively as a Tool for Downtown Business Development”.

This promises to be a highly informative and interesting presentation for anyone who has found the use of the new social media to build their business befuddling.

Afterward, Liz and Ben have agreed to remain to answer your individual questions.

Mingle. Nosh.

Additionally, there will be brief reports from sustainability expert Sarah Justice as well as updates from other Town managers and member Downtown nonprofits.

Arrive early to mingle with Downtown stake holders and decision-makers while enjoying breakfast refreshments provided by Shelten Media, a new social media company located in the Cary Innovation Center.

Open to All

HoCA meetings are open to everyone. So, why not invite a friend, neighbor, associate or potential member to attend with you?

Event Details

Social Media as a Tool for Business Development
Heart of Cary Association – Monthly Meeting
Thursday, May 3, 2012
8:00 – 9:00 AM

Cary Chamber of Commerce
307 N. Academy Street
Cary, NC
Cost: Free

Cary, NC – CaryCitizen is pleased to announce the debut of our latest web development project, a new website for Waverly Place in Cary.

Waverly Place – Smart Marketing

We’re always surprised when large development or infrastructure projects neglect the marketing. But Waverly Place has been spot-on since RPRP took over and began redevelopment a year and a half ago.

This is our second web site for the new Waverly Place, turning them into a true portal of community information.

The new site has lots of pictures (we always take pictures for our web dev projects), a Latest News feature, a full directory of stores, an events column and a clean, classy feel. It’s hooked up to major social media channels including Facebook and Twitter.

Citizen Websites

The CaryCitizen team has been building websites for business since 2007. Some of our iconic projects include North Hills, Raleigh Civic Symphony, Downtown Cary Children’s Museum and Garden Supply Company.

We call our web development business Citizen Websites. See our portfolio or get in touch if we could be of assistance.

Story and photoshopped picture above by Hal Goodtree. Walmart Neighborhood Market in Louisville, KY down below – photo by Alex Leung.

Cary, NC – Walmart confirmed last week that it is planning to open a Walmart Neighborhood Market at the old Kroger site at the corner of NC 55 and High House Road. That same site was briefly in the news as a potential location for and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

Walmart Neighborhood Market

The good news: a site that’s been vacant for a while has found a new tenant. The better news: it’s not ICE.

But what’s a Walmart Neighborhood Market? From Walmart:

Walmart Neighborhood Markets offer a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers who need groceries, pharmaceuticals, and general merchandise all at our famous Every Day Low Prices.

First opened in 1998, there are now 168 Walmart Neighborhood Markets, each employing about 95 associates. A typical store is about 42,000 square feet.

Walmart Neighborhood Markets feature a wide variety of products, including:

To put it in perspective, a Walmart Supercenter averages 185,000 square feet. The Kroger site is 57,000.

The Trend: Smaller is Better

Walmart’s expansion in Cary is part of a trend to smaller, less expensive supermarkets. The last few years have seen the success of Trader Joe’s and Aldi in Cary.

Americans are adaptable. It will be interesting to see the new concept Walmart is rolling out. Heck, I live in a nearby neighborhood – you bet I’ll be checking it out.

No opening date has been set, but stay tuned.

Story and photo of Cary Amtrak depot by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – On Monday, April 16, Wake Up Wake and the Capital Area Friends of Transit (CAFT) will host a panel discussion in Cary about Wake County’s new transit proposal.

Cary Transit Forum

Wake Up Wake and CAFT are sponsoring panel discussions in towns across the county to dig into the details of the transit plan and gauge local sentiment.

What can we expect in Cary? What will it cost? What will it achieve? These and other questions will be answered at the Cary Transit Forum.

A Panel of Experts. And Me.

Each town has its own panel for the discussions.

In Cary, the panel of experts include Karen Rindge (WakeUP), Greg Sandreuter (developer) and Jennifer Robinson (Cary Town Council, District A).

I will also be on the panel along with a representative from Triangle Transit.

Event Details

Wake Count Transit Plan – Panel Discussion
Monday, April 16, 2012
7:00 – 8:30 PM

Page Walker Center
119 Ambassador Loop
Cary, NC
Cost: Free