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BUSINESS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | JANUARY 9, 2022
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Mesa nonprofit rides wave in sustainable remodeling BY DANA TRUMBULL Tribune Staff Writer
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his is the year for sustainable renovations, according to Zillow, and a Mesa nonprofit is catching the wave. Stardust Building Supplies, 1720 W. Broadway Road, stocks its warehouse with a wide variety of used building fixtures and furnishings. Zillow, the online real estate platform, recently released a report on home trends for 2022 and said nearly three-quarters of the homeowners it surveyed are considering at least one remodeling project – adding a home office space, another room, or a guest house. “In the new year, homeowners will be turning to secondhand furniture and décor stores now more than ever,” it said, adding: “Stardust – the only nonprofit building material reuse organization in Metro Phoenix – is the one-stop shop for home-
Stardust Building Supplies in Mesa is spot-on for a trend in home remodeling that aims for sustainability and a way to end-run supply-chain disruptions. (Special to the Tribune) owners to avoid steep costs and delivery delays by shopping affordable, repurposed furniture and materials.” Besides a desire to be more environ-
Dessert shop serves tasty and authentic Asian teas BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Contributor
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iss Dessert is not your average dessert shop. The eatery serves treats that are different from traditional American desserts, such as cupcakes. “We serve authentic Hong Kongstyle dessert,” said Harry Yu, who owns the Mesa and Gilbert shops with his father, Zhengquan Yu. “We serve fruit over drinks. Compared with the traditional boba drinks, we use real fruit. For example, in our Mega Fruit Tea, there’s a lot of fruit in there like watermelon, orange and those
kinds of things. That’s one thing different from other boba shops.” Hong Kong-style desserts are also drinkable, he noted. “For example, our signature item, Yoji Nectar, is mango-based on the bottom,” explained Yu. “It feels like a mango smoothie but it’s made with an authentic Hong Kong-style recipe. On the top, we have sago, which is tiny tapioca, the mango and the pomelo (citrus fruit).” On many of the desserts, a scoop of vanilla or green tea ice cream can be added. Some drinks are made with yogurt. All are cold, although Yu is thinking of adding hot drinks during the winter months.
mentally responsible, Zillow added, homeowners it surveyed also were aware of continuing supply-chain disruptions and that it’s not only cheaper but faster to turn
“The best seller is our milk teas,” said Yu, adding they come in several flavors. “The most popular is s classic milk tea but we also have milk tea with purple sticky rice and brown sugar latte. All are popular. The second most popular seller is Mega Fruit Tea. We have lots of fruit in it so after you finish the drink, you can eat the fruit inside.”
see DESSERTpage 17
Miss Dessert owners Zhengquan Yu, left, and Harry Yu are serving up unusual and tasty treats. (Special to the Tribune)
to used furnishings and other supplies rather than wait months for new ones. “The pandemic forced a lot of people to reevaluate what’s most important in their lives and in their homes,” explained Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. “For many, 2022 is the moment to start living those values.” The bountiful shelves at Stardust overflow with treasures, from jetted soaker tubs and white oak cabinets (also on trend, according to the Zillow survey), to office furniture, doors, windows and more. Many items still bear the remnants of deconstruction – a little rust or plaster from the walls that used to abut the fixtures. But for those willing to spend a bit of time and effort to clean and fit their finds, the savings are significant: 50-80% off retail prices. And everything is cash and carry, so there is no long wait for delivery of material.
see STARDUST page 17
