2
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
FACES in BUSINESS
NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Pop Corner a perfect match for mother, daughter Jennie Cabrera scoops popcorn into a bag held by her mother, Teresa Sweley, on Tuesday at the Pop Corner. The duo has owned the business since 1997.
By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
It might not be your mother’s kitchen, but it’s the next best thing. The warm and friendly atmosphere is undeniable at the Pop Corner. Sunshine cascades through the windows, illuminating a sitting area filled with “regulars,” as well as a few newcomers. Customers can’t help but smile when they walk through the door. They are greeted with the same pleasantness at the front counter. The sights and sounds bring satisfaction to two women scrambling behind the scenes to fill and deliver orders. Periodically, a face — that of Teresa Sweley or her daughter, Jennie Cabrera — peek around the back wall to make sure no plate sits empty, no cup is in need of a refill. The women own the Pop Corner. To say that the store is a “family business” is an understatement, as it is much more than just family-operated. The customers Sweley and Cabrera serve have become a family to them over the years, boosting their spirits and providing them with inspiration on a daily basis. “We have awesome customers,” Cabrera said. “They keep the job fun.” Cabrera’s ties to the shop run deep. “I remember riding my bike over here when I was a little kid,” Cabrera said. “I would get some popcorn and pop and ride my bike back home.” At that time, the business was called Vic’s Corn Popper. Located at 1847 West A. St. in the Westfield Shopping Center, the building had previously been home to both a bank and a chocolate factory. In 1997, Sweley spied an opportunity when the
Heather Johnson / The North Platte Telegraph
owners of Vic’s Corn Popper decided to retire and put the business up for sale. Until that point, Sweley had been a stay-at-home mom raising five children. “Part of me wanted that socialization and interaction outside the home,” Sweley said. “Jennie was also getting ready to go to college, and I wanted to help take some of the financial burden off my husband. I loved popcorn and loved the store. It was a perfect match.” Sweley vividly remembers the day she took Jennie, then 16, and Jennie’s sister Robin, who was 14, to the shop for the first time after buying it. “We got the keys and unlocked the door,” Sweley said. “The girls were so excited to have a store. They fought to be the first to the counter to help the customers.” Sweley started with two employees, a number that grew to 13. The shop quickly evolved from only offering popcorn to providing soups, salads and sandwiches. “We began with just a couple kinds of bread and a couple different sandwiches,” Sweley said. “I bought a $35 stove at a garage sale so we could make soups. We were just going to offer salads during the summer but never stopped doing them
because people wanted them all year long.” The business now offers a special every day, a variety of soups and desserts and about a dozen sandwiches. All are made with healthy ingredients — most of which are produced in Nebraska. “I think it’s important to support other small businesses because we’re a small business,” Sweley said. The name was changed to Pop Corner two years ago, at the same time the business expanded into the former T-shirt shop next door. A room is now available to catch overflow on days when the Pop Corner is really busy. The room is also rented out for meetings, classes, parties and bridal and baby showers. Sweley and Cabrera have added catering and delivery services. However, their main focus continues to be the popcorn. “We went through 18 tons of popcorn this year,” Cabrera said. “We mail it to convenience stores throughout the state as well as to Kansas and South Dakota and to a coffee shop in Colorado.” Another generation has joined in the effort. Cabrera’s daughters, ages 9 and 3, are now the ones scrambling to the cash register to help patrons. They have their own name tags and help Sweley deliver popcorn around North Platte. Cabrera hopes her girls gain the same work ethic from the business that she did. “Since I can remember, I’ve been in my mother’s kitchen,” Cabrera said. “I love putting out a sandwich that people enjoy, but the shop also taught me a lot about life. I’ve had other jobs, and my managers always appreciated that I was willing to work hard. We do that here because we take pride in our products.” Sweley said ownership plays a big role in that. “It means more when it’s yours,” Sweley said. “I love everything about this place. I love the public, I love to serve, I even love cleaning the bathrooms. I see us only getting better from here.”
NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
FACES in BUSINESS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
3
Fantasy Gifts: Everything you can’t find elsewhere Heberlys pride themselves on offering the unique
By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com
A medieval castle isn’t a common sight in west-central Nebraska — nor are some of the things inside it. The combination is what makes Fantasy Gifts so popular. The business has filled a niche in North Platte for 22 years. “If people can’t find something anywhere else, they come here,” said owner Ramona Heberly. “So, anymore our slogan is, ‘Come here first.’ ” The collections inside the building are a conglomeration of memorabilia and whimsy. Strobe lights dance off beaded curtains overhanging portraits of Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and Bob Marley. Rows of leis, oversized glasses, tutus, megaphones, fog machines, Budweiser Clydesdale mugs, kites, knives, handcuffs, bumper stickers, key chains and other novelties fill the first floor. Cardboard cutouts of celebrities peek around every corner. “We don’t have any of Justin Bieber right now,” Heberly said. “We’ve tried to keep them in, but they sell out too fast.” She said there has been a resurgence in people wanting clocks that feature the animated characters Felix the Cat and Betty Boop. “They bring back memories for a lot of people,” Heberly said. “Everything old is new again. We sell the heck out of the black light posters. Those things
came out in the 1960s when I was a kid.” Gag gifts are also some of the best sellers, as are items in the adult aisle, which Heberly said is often frequented ahead of bachelorette parties. “No place else around here carries this stuff, and nobody wants to drive to Kearney to get it,” Heberly said. Fantasy Gifts sells merchandise associated with all 32 National Football League teams, including jackets, hoodies and flags. It has recently started offering specialty items in support of the teams at North Platte High School, St. Patrick High School and North Platte Community College. The store offers a year-round costume shop on the second floor, filled with clothes for all ages. The costumes include everything from ladybugs and dancing hamsters to witches, goblins and vampires. “The Morphsuits have been a big hit among the teenagers,” Heberly said. “They buy them and wear them at football games. The suits cover your whole body, but you can see and breathe through the fabric.” Wigs, mustaches, hats, fake blood, masks and liquid latex are also available. The masks range in price from $10$70 depending on the detail. Heberly said those of horror film characters Michael Myers and Chucky are always popular. Despite the wide variety of merchandise,
Heather Johnson / The North Platte Telegraph
Ramona and Dale Heberly stock the counter at Fantasy Gifts. The business has been in the community for more than 20 years. Heberly said business has decreased steadily for the past five years. She attributed the downward trend to economic uncertainty. “People don’t spend like they used to, because they don’t have the discretionary funds for it,” Heberly said. “It hurts small businesses tremendously. I have everything that nobody needs.” As a result, she and her husband, Dale Heberly, have had to find ways to evolve the business. They added a pool table upstairs and host Magic: The Gathering card tournaments on Friday and Saturday evenings. They are also careful what they stock. “We have to be unique,” Dale said. “If someone else has it, we probably don’t. I make five trips a week to the competitors to make sure they don’t have certain things. If they do, we won’t buy them.” The Heberlys
purchase their merchandise at trade shows. The fact that they have the corner on the market for the majority of the products they sell is what prompted a visit by some famous guests several years ago. “These two guys pulled up in a Cadillac,” Dale said. “I said, ‘Boy that’s a fancy car,’ and they told me they were
on the way to do a concert in Denver. I asked who, and they said, ‘ICP.’ They had to tell me it stood for Insane Clown Posse. I had never heard of them before, but they were the nicest guys.” Friendliness is something the Heberlys have become accustomed to in North Platte. They have been in the com-
munity since 1985 when Dale was transferred from Wichita, Kan., to manage the former Osco Drug store. When it closed, the company wanted to transfer Dale to Chicago, Ill. He refused. “We like it here,” Dale said. “North Platte is a pretty crime-free area compared to where we were from. There’s low traffic, pleasant people, the cost of living is relatively good and it’s close to a big city, being halfway between Denver and Omaha.” The Heberlys started Fantasy Gifts in The Platte River Mall, then moved to their current location at 501 Easy St. in 2000. “The business still excites me,” Ramona said. “I’ve always been in retail. As long as I still enjoy it, I consider it to be a great job. It’s been fun to meet so many wonderful people throughout the years. I can’t imagine it any other way.” Fantasy Gifts is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
4
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
FACES in BUSINESS
NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
St. Pat’s grad brings physical therapy skills home By DIANE WETZEL dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
North Platte native Bill Mackley gets people back on their feet. As doctors of physical therapy, Mackley and Jon Wiesler are co-owners of Platte Valley Physical Therapy, 1001 S. Cottonwood. Mackley graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 1979. He received his undergraduate degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and the University of NebraskaOmaha. His master’s degree came from the University of NebraskaLincoln and he earned his doctor of physical therapy degree from Creighton University in Omaha. “I came back to North
Platte because I had the chance to be in private practice,” Mackley said. “A good number of physical therapists don’t have the opportunity to practice privately. They work in hospitals, nursing homes or even in school districts.” Being your own boss means you can set your own hours, he said, but that means taking vacations can be challenging. “If you leave the office, you aren’t making any money,” he said. He joined with Wiesler in 1990. Mackley’s practice is mainly orthopedic and sports-related injuries. “I played sports in high school, but kids today are bigger, stronger and faster than when I
was in school,” he said. “We are seeing more catastrophic knee injuries in high school football players and soccer players. We are also seeing a lot of shoulder injuries.” His time at St. Patrick’s prepared him well for his college education, he said. “When I was in high school, I didn’t think much about going into medicine,” he said. “But when I got to college, I decided it was the path I wanted to take.” Mackley considered being a medical doctor, but enjoys the patient contact he has as a physical therapist. “Our time is spent directly with the patients,” he said. I will spend anywhere from
45 minutes to an hour with a patient.” He sees an average of 12 patients a day. “At the time we moved back to North Platte, my parents were here and my wife is from here and her parents were here,” he said. “I’ve been able to send my kids to St. Pat’s, which is a good thing.” Mackley and his wife, Julie, have three children. “It’s nice to be here,” he said. “North Platte is not a city. It’s a small town but still offers things smaller towns wouldn’t. I like meeting the people here in town. Through my practice, I have the chance to meet a lot of people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.” Mackley is active in the North Platte Catholic School system, having served a term on the endowment board, and is currently a member of the school board. He is also a member of the parish council for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and he is active in Boy Scouts, serving as scoutmaster. “It’s been great a experience, living and practicing in North Platte,” Mackley said. “My family and I like it.”
Diane Wetzel / The North Platte Telegraph
Bill Mackley, North Platte doctor of physical therapy, gets a little exercise on a stair-step machine at his clinic, Platte Valley Physical Therapy.
NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
FACES in BUSINESS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
5
NP ‘gearheads’ like tinkering with motorcycles By ANDREW BOTTRELL abottrell@nptelegraph.com
The Maxwell family of North Platte has turned a love of motocross and motorcycles into a lifelong business. Fascinated by motorcycles since they were both little kids, brothers Richard Maxwell and Thomas Maxwell began racing motocross in the 1970s as teenagers. Their neighbor owned a seldom-used Honda 100, which became the family’s first motorcycle. “We hounded mom and dad to buy it,” Richard said. “We drove the snot out of it.” After racing small circuits in Nebraska and making some connections, the brothers were invited to Baja California in 1973 to watch the annual Baja 500, one of the largest motocross races in the world. The next year, Richard and Thomas fixed up their own Honda 150 and suited up for the Baja 500 themselves. Richard completed the first 250 miles, and Thomas the second leg.
“There’s nothing like taking yourself and your bike to that limit,” Richard said. “It’s a lot of fun.” After spending time in Mexico racing, it was neighbors who first started to notice their motorcycles sitting out in front of their North Platte home. Not thinking it might be a business, the family started “souping up” other bikes around the community. “It started out of the garage, basically,” Richard said. “We thought it was going to be a fad.” Nearly 40 years later, the family-owned off-road business is still going. Officially, Maxwell’s Off-Road and Kawasaki Center opened for business in 1975. Today, customers can still find Richard, Thomas, Thomas’s wife, Georgia, and their father, Raymond, hard at work at the business at 902 E. Seventh St. Recently, Raymond’s wife, Pauline, passed away. “She was the concrete that made it all work,” Richard said of his mother. “[Working with family] has been a
Richard Maxwell poses with a motorcycle at Maxwell’s Off-Road and Kawasaki in North Platte. Maxwell, along with his family, have owned the business since 1975.
Andrew Bottrell / The North Platte Telegraph
great blessing.” Maxwell’s offers off-road equipment and accessories, as well as doing custom work to vehicles and motorcycles, which Richard said is right up the family’s alley. While racing was the “biggest attraction” for the brothers and their
father, all of them were “gearheads” who enjoyed tinkering with motorcycles and other vehicles. “I get to play with all the toys,” Richard said. “It is a lot of fun. The big joy is seeing how excited people are when you deliver their project to them.”
6
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
FACES in BUSINESS
NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
Keeping the faith Christian bookstore/supply center owners share stories and comfort with customers By DIANE WETZEL dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11, The New International Version Diane Wetzel / The North Platte Telegraph
For the Fabiks, it is all about fam-
Keeping the faith is a family affair for the owners of Bible Supplies in North ily, community and faith in God. Platte. Picture are Craig and Nancy Fabik, and their daughter Alyssa. The Bible verse from Jeremiah
serves as the prayer by which they lead their lives. Craig and Nancy Fabik came to North Platte in 1986 to manage what had begun as a small Christian bookstore in 1940 in the basement of the Berean Church on West Eighth Street. The couple purchased the business in 1990 when it was located in downtown North Platte. Under their management, Bible Supplies became a non-denominational Christian bookstore and supply center. After a move to the Westfield Shopping Center in 1994, the Fabik’s have continued to supply North Platte and the surrounding area with Bibles, books, Christian literature, Sunday school materials, church supplies, family videos, Christian greeting cards, music and gifts. “It was a step of faith for us to do this,” Craig said. “Today we are seeing a lot more people looking to find a spiritual life. They are scared and need hope for the future. We are here for them.” The Fabiks will commemorate 20 years at the Westfield location in April 2014. Craig Fabik is president of the Westfield Merchants Association and also the organizer for the Nebraskaland Days family night. “This is a family neighborhood,” he said. “Anything you want, you can find it here at Westfield.” For the past couple of years, Westfield merchants have partnered with Cody Elementary School, organizing clean-up events and fun days with the students. Bible Supplies reaches out to a radius of 90 miles around North Platte and publishes a catalog that goes
into 2,000 homes four times a year. Operating a Christian book store means more than simply ringing up sales for customers. “We are crossing lines and helping with healing,” Craig said. “It’s a joy to be able to share stories with our customers and be able to comfort them.” “Mr. Craig” is seeing the second generation of children come through his classroom at the Berean Church, where he has taught for more than 20 years. Daughter Alyssa was recently nominated as a 2013 Woman of Achievement for her volunteer work with the Platte River Fitness Series and with the track team at North Platte schools. “I end up helping out,” Craig said with a laugh. “I rake the sand pits.” Alyssa is also active in the church, teaching vacation Bible school, leading middle school youth groups and providing nursery care. Recently the Fabik’s brought Bob and Larry, the Veggie Tale characters, to the annual Kids Discover event. “It always amazes me how God works in people’s lives,” Alyssa said. “Seeing them get through the biggest storms of life keeps me going.” Although business was flat for a while, Bible Supplies has seen growth in recent years. The store is filled to the brim with books, music and gifts. In 2011, laser engraving was added so gifts can be personalized. “It’s important for us to be a part of the community and do for others,” Nancy said. “Every day we learn something new,” Craig added. “I still get up every morning and am excited about going to work.” Alyssa will eventually take the reins of the business, but not in the foreseeable future. “We have not lost the passion,” Craig said. “You do have hard days where you get discouraged, but the Lord is going to have to take me out of the business feet first.” “We are a family first,” Alyssa said, “a family that loves, laughs, fights and forgives.”
FACES in BUSINESS
NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
7
Gary knows groceries A lifetime in the business gives store owner insight on customer service By DIANE WETZEL dwetzel@nptelegraph.com
Gary Suhr knows groceries. The owner of the only independent grocery store in North Platte has been in the grocery business his entire life. “My dad worked for Nash Finch, so I grew up in the business,” he said. “I’ve never had another job or been in any other business. I love it. And the local community has been very supportive of us. We have been blessed.” The 1978 graduate of North Platte High School grew up in Hershey. His father, Carl, operated grocery stores in South Dakota and Minnesota, moving the family to Hershey after becoming an area manager for Nash Finch. Suhr went to work for Sixth Street Food Stores in North Platte at age 16, and after high school graduation he worked for John Hellmuth at the Jack and Jill store in Hershey.
Diane Wetzel / The North Platte Telegraph
Gary Suhr has been involved in the grocery business all his life. He said the customer service, meat counter and cleanliness set Gary’s Super Foods apart from the big box stores. “I worked for John for 15 years,” Suhr said. “He taught me how to cut meat.” Suhr and his wife, Chris, purchased the Hershey store in 1994 and renamed it Gary’s Super Foods. The North Platte Gary’s Super Foods opened in February 2009 in the Fourth
Street Plaza on the east side of North Platte. “We felt North Platte needed a local store that carried the Shurfine/Shurfresh brands,” he said. “Our customer service, meat department and cleanliness sets us apart.” Suhr has worked to carve out a niche that separates his operation from the behemoth Walmart and two SunMart stores in town. “It is a challenge to stay competitive with the Walmarts of the world,” he said. “But the money spent at our store doesn’t go to Arkansas or to Minneapolis where Nash Finch is headquartered. It stays right here in this community. My employees are part of this community.” Gary’s currently employees 55 people. In the produce aisle, “produce lady” Sarah Roney keeps busy unpacking and shelving fresh herbs. “We have a really good team here,” she
Diane Wetzel / The North Platte Telegraph
Sarah Roney, known as the “produce lady” at Gary’s Super Foods, unpacks herbs for a display at Gary’s. said. “We support our co-workers.” Carrie Keys has worked for Gary’s since the first of September. “I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else,” she said. “I love working here and Gary is a wonderful boss.” Keys said the level of professionalism shown by employees helps set the store apart. “You won’t see anyone working here wearing ratty jeans and T-shirts,” she said. On a recent Friday morning, most of the employees and the boss were wearing
bright pink T-shirts to show their support for the Running to Cure Breast Cancer campaign to raise money for the Callahan Cancer Center. The fundraising effort is just one of the many ways Suhr helps give back to the community. “I love this business,” Suhr said. “I love the people and I love being here in North Platte. This is a nice, convenient shopping experience, and I hope people like coming here. We work hard to make sure we have the right mix of
products and services and that we understand what North Platte wants for our store.” Gary’s Super Foods features a full-line grocery store, deli, bakery and full-service meat department. “We are always looking at ways to improve our service,” Suhr said. “We are currently working on some new promotions that we hope will be up and going next year.” For recipes, information on weekly specials and other information, go online to garyssuperfoods.com.
Leland Poppe
Judy Leitner
Group President
Branch Manager
Troy Brandt
Skip Marland
Drew Mayer
Business Banker
Agri Business Banker
Business Banker Trainee
Mark Tillman
Sami Rotert
Dale Sones
Juana Abasolo Consumer Lender
Mary Babcock
Jamie Tines
Banking Associate
Banking Associate
Cara Collins Teller Supervisor
Caitlyn Castleberry Becky Brinkopf New Account Officer
New Account Officer
Allie Norquest
Sheri Newton
Teller
Teller
Stephanie Berkheimer Teller