May 2023 Chamber Newsletter

Business Showcase & Ribbon Cutting

Bruno’s Bar & Grill — May 18

Be sure to put May 18 on your calendar for a great joint event at Bruno’s Bar & Grill in Scotts Valley.

The event, which starts at 5:30, is co-hosted by the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley Chambers of Commerce and Think Local First Santa Cruz County. It will combine a ribbon cutting celebrating the renovations at Bruno’s with a business showcase, especially for businesses who don’t have a traditional brick and mortar location.

Appetizers will be served and there will be a no-host bar.

Bruno’s Bar and Grill co-owner, Joanne Guzman, notes, “Our team has worked so hard on all the improvements downstairs and up. It’s great to be able to share our vision with the people who have been our cheerleaders day after day.”

Improvements have included revamping the award-winning main restaurant and bar downstairs. More recently, Joanne and her partner/husband, Rogelio,

have guided a serious make-over upstairs including the Jim lounge (voted best place to watch sports by Santa Cruz Sentinel), leading out to the ever-sopopular Cloud 9 Deck. Bruno’s is both a great place to eat but to also bring family and friends for pool, foosball, and shuffleboard.

Tam Communications’ co-owner Susan O’Connor Fraser commented “I’ve always been envious of businesses that can host ribbon cutting events because it gives them a way to showcase their presence and commitment to the community. An event like this gives companies like ours, who don’t have a physical

location, a way to do the same and in an awesome venue like Bruno’s. Win-win!”

Scotts Valley Chamber Executive Director Danny Reber adds, “We have so

many awesome virtual businesses in our collective communities, and this is a great way to honor their work and involvement in the vibrancy of our community.”

New Member Spotlight: Spierings Communications

Spierings Communications was born in 2017 when Martin Spierings left the position of Director of Marketing for Smith Micro Software an animation software company which was based in downtown Santa Cruz.

He applies his generalist digital marketing skills to helping small to medium companies with their online presence. He fulfills a need among local businesses in particular, who don’t have the budget for full-time marketing personnel, to strategize, set-up and execute their digital marketing needs.

Spierings Communications provides a varied suite of digital marketing services including website set-up and training, copywriting, social media management, e-commerce, and email marketing.

“Martin’s creative insight, humor and professionalism helped us launch our business profile on all of the relevant social media platforms. I would highly recommend him to other business owners,” said Mandy Draper of Community Real Estate Scotts Valley, a Chamber member.

He also helped Steve Simonovich, a Scotts Valley resident and owner of Santa Cruz Pasta Factory, launch an ecommerce website during the pandemic and continues to manage the online side of the business. Spierings lives in Scotts Valley with his wife and two children.

From his Erba Lane office, he enjoys meeting with other Scotts Valley businesses to help them grow and thrive.

Photo Credit: Paul Regen

Celebrating 42 Years of Managing & Selling Homes throughout Santa Cruz County — 1981 - 2023

$6500/mo 4BR/3BA 2-story home plus ofc on Spiker Lane in Santa Cruz. Spa. Garage. Solar. Pet ok ....................................................................................................... Available early June

$6500/mo 4BR/3BA light & airy 2-story home on N. Main Street in Soquel. Patio. Garage. Available early June

$3900/mo 3BR/2BA Duplex unit on Old Orchard in Santa Cruz Mtns./Los Gatos. Incredible views. Wrap-around deck. Utilities included. Pets ok Available Now

$1600/mo Newly Renovated Studio Cottage on Redwood Avenue in Boulder Creek. Close to town. No pets. Available Now

$1450/mo Private room in a house on Glenwood Drive in Scotts Valley. Private bathroom. Laundry. Full kitchen. Deck. Views. PG&E & Water incl. Available Now

2022 Community

Sign up for Leak Alerts

Utilize WaterSmart to learn about your water use — register to ensure you are getting alerts! If you do have a leak, take care of it quickly so you don’t have to pay for wasted water.

For more information or to sign up for WaterSmart: www.svwd.org/WaterSmart

Photo Credit: Arwen

Erik’s DeliCafé Celebrates 50 Years Surprise Award Presented at Chamber Gala

At last month’s Community Awards Gala, the Scotts Valley Chamber surprised Erik Johnson with a special award, honoring him and Erik’s DeliCafé for their 50 years of serving Scotts Valley.

In September 1973, Erik Johnson started his first Erik’s DeliCafé in Scotts Valley. Prior to this, Johnson ventured into real estate after having worked as a security officer, an accountant, a cook, and food server. As it became clear that he was not suited to be a realtor, Johnson began to have ambitions of opening his own business.

After making unsuccessful bids on a health food store, ice cream shop and doughnut shop, Johnson purchased a 600 square foot location in Scotts Valley for $429. Borrowing the amount from his father, Johnson signed a note to cover equipment costs and took over the lease of the former Tartan Bakery. In the following year the neighboring TV store closed, and Johnson was able to expand Erik’s DeliCafé to 1800 square feet.

With the success of the first Erik’s in Scotts Valley, Johnson was then ready to take the next step in expanding Erik’s first in Santa Cruz County, then continuing outside the County. Erik’s DeliCafé now has locations throughout the Bay Area as well as locations in Roseville and a newly opened location in Folsom.

Although there have been some changes since Erik’s first opened in Scott’s Valley in 1973, what hasn’t changed and never will is their commitment to their customers. The pledge of a warm and inviting atmosphere, quality food served fast with friendly service is practiced in the stores every day.

Sandwiches are made with highquality meats, savory cheeses, and fresh produce. Slow-simmered and handcrafted soups, made to order fresh salads, and wonderful bakery goods are made from scratch with Johnson’s family’s recipes.

They invite you to bring friends and family to share in the hospitality and goodness of Erik’s DeliCafé.