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BUSINESS
TheMesaTribune.com | @EVTNow /EVTNow
Mesa nonprofit rides wave in sustainable remodeling
BY DANA TRUMBULL
Tribune Staff Writer
This 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 homeStardust 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 environmentally 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 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. seeSTARDUST page 17
Dessert shop serves tasty and authentic Asian teas
BY MELODY BIRKETT
Tribune Contributor
Miss 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.
“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.”
seeDESSERTpage 17
Miss Dessert owners Zhengquan Yu, left, and Harry Yu are serving up unusual and tasty treats. (Special to the Tribune)
“There’s always something interesting here,” said Stardust CEO Karen Jayne. “We have lots of great light fixtures, tile flooring... That’s one thing that makes a lot of people come back often; the product changes every day, and there’s not likely to be two of any one thing.”
Stardust is also a haven for DIYers who can bring their imaginations along to browse for inspiration. Reclaimed granite countertops might not be large enough for a complete kitchen redo, but would make unique and beautiful coffee tables.
“We hope that creative folks want to come in and use our products,” added Jayne. “YouTube, Etsy and Google searches offer a lot of great ideas.”
Stardust can also be a resource for homeowners who are looking for one floor tile or cabinet door to replace a damaged fixture.
“If you’re searching for something that matches a cabinet door front that got broken, we probably have it,” said Jayne.
Stardust is the only business that has earned a Green Business Certification from the City of Mesa and Local First Ari-
DESSERT from page 16
Yu started his first dessert shop in Texas in 2013 shortly after he graduated from college.
“When I was in Houston, I was still an international student,” he said. “I came from China…I asked my parents to come here to start the business because at that time there weren’t that many Asian dessert shops.
“We have a huge Chinatown but I couldn’t find something like this. That’s where the name came from – Miss Dessert,” he said, adding that he replicated a lot of recipes from where he grew up in China. In 2017, the family moved to Arizona for the nicer weather. They opened the first Miss Dessert in the valley near Dobson and Broadway zona. Founded in 1997, it has been green since long before sustainability was cool. Serving more than 3,000 people every month, they have been able to divert more than 80 million pounds of usable material from piling up in landfills. Profits from the business support the store’s Gift in Kind program, which provides material resources to roughly 400 other non-profit agencies in Maricopa County. Annually, Stardust distributes about $20 million in reusable material, helping 200,000 individuals and their families.
“So, when people shop with us, they’re helping that program,” said Jayne. “It runs the gamut from folks like UMOM New Day Centers and Native American Connections to pet rescues. All different agencies are in that program.”
Stardust does not refurbish or install products but does have have a deconstruction team that will remove usable material from donors’ homes.
The organization also has an outlet at 5150 W. Northern Ave., Glendale.
For more information, visit stardust-
building.org, or call 480-428-4684. ■
roads in 2018. The Gilbert location near Williams Field and Greenfield opened in May 2021.
Yu appreciates the support of the local community for keeping his business going the last couple of years, adding that prices didn’t increase. He said 70-80% of his business are repeat customers.
“When the pandemic hit us, some customers drove 40 minutes to support us,” said Yu. “They leave a very good amount of tips and good wishes. We even grew a little bit during the pandemic. We also kept using fresh ingredients. Customers like our product.”
For more information: missdessertus. com: 1832 W. Broadway Road #105, Mesa, 480-912-3585; 2484 S. San Tan Village
Pkwy., #107, Gilbert, 480-687-2595. ■
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AZ residents scramble to get last Walking Liberty Rolls
ARIZONA - Once Arizona residents got wind that Arizona State Restricted Bank Rolls filled with Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s were being handed over, there was a mad dash to get them. That’s because some of these U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins are already worth hundreds in collector value. “It’s like a run on the banks. The phones are ringing off the hook. That’s because everyone is trying to get them before they’re all gone,” according to officials at the National Mint and Treasury who say they can barely keep up with all the orders. In fact, they had to impose a strict limit of 4 Arizona State Restricted Bank Rolls. So, if you get the chance to get your hands on these State Restricted Bank Rolls you better hurry because hundreds of Arizona residents already have and you don’t want to miss out. You see, the U.S. Gov’t stopped minting these Silver Walking Liberties in 1947 and there can never be any more which makes them extremely collectible. And here’s the best part. The rolls are unsearched so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value. That’s why at just the $39 state minimum set by National Mint and Treasury it’s a deal too good to pass up. But you better hurry because these Arizona State Restricted Bank Rolls are the only ones known to exist and Arizona residents are grabbing them up as fast as they can. That’s because they make amazing gifts for children, grandchildren and loved ones. Just imagine the look on their face when you hand them one of the State Restricted Rolls — they’ll tell everyone they know what you did for them.
■ GOT ‘EM: Residents all across Arizona who get their hands on these State Restricted Silver Walking Liberty Bank Rolls are definitely showing them off. That’s because they are the only ones known to exist. And here’s the best part, these Bank Rolls are loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty coins some dating back to the early 1900’s and worth up to 100 times their face value so everyone wants them. Last State Restricted Silver Walking Liberty Bank Rolls go to Arizona residents
Arizona residents get first dibs on last remaining Bank Rolls loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for the next 2 days STATE DISTRIBUTION: A strict limit of 4 State Restricted Bank Rolls per AZ resident has been imposed
ARIZONA - “It’s a miracle these State Restricted Bank Rolls even exist. That’s why Hotline Operators are bracing for the flood of calls,” said Laura Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Director for the National Mint and Treasury.
For the next 2 days the last remaining State of Arizona Restricted Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties are actually being handed over to Arizona residents who call the State Toll-Free Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication.
“National Mint and Treasury recently spoke with its Chief Professional Numismatist who said ‘Very few people have ever actually seen one of these rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties issued by the U.S. Gov’t back in the early 1900’s. But to actually find them sealed away in State Restricted Bank Rolls is like finding buried treasure. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Bank Rolls had better hold on to them,’” Lynne said.
SILVER: one of the last silver coins minted for circulation LAST REMAINING: minted in philadelphia, denver & san francisco
(Continued from previous page) won’t be surprised if thousands of Arizona residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 4 Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne.
“That’s because after the Bank Rolls were loaded with 15 rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties, each verified to meet a minimum collector grade of very good or above, the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of Arizona Restricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that some of these coins date clear back to the early 1900’s and are worth up to 100 times their face value, so there is no telling what Arizona residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say.
And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of Arizona you cover only the $39 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s fifteen rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties worth up to 100 times their face value for just $585 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $118 per coin which totals $1,770 if any coins remain after the 2-day deadline.
The only thing Arizona residents need to do is call the State Toll-Free Hotlines printed in today’s newspaper publication before the 2-day order deadline ends.
“Rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins like these are highly sought after, but we’ve never seen anything like this before. According to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins many Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars are now worth $40 - $825 each in collector value,” Lynne said. “We’re guessing thousands of Arizona residents will be taking the maximum limit of 4 Bank Rolls because they make such amazing gifts for any occasion for children, parents, grandparents, friends and loved ones,” Lynne continued.
“We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of Hotline Operators are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30 am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 2 days to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all.” Lynne said.
The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they are a resident of the state of Arizona
HOW TO CLAIM THE LAST STATE RESTRICTED BANK ROLLS
FACTS: If you are a Arizona State Resident read the important information below about claiming the State Silver Bank Rolls, then call the State Toll-Free Hotline at 8:30 am: 1-800-979-3771 EXT:
RWB3645
Are these Silver Walking Liberties worth more than other half dollars:
How do I get the State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls:
Yes. These U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties were minted in the early 1900’s and will never be minted again. That makes them extremely collectible. The vast majority of half dollars minted after 1970 have no silver content at all and these Walking Liberties were one of the last silver coins minted for circulation. That’s why many of them now command hundreds in collector value so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.
How much are State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls worth:
It’s impossible to say, but some of these U.S Gov’t issued Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s are worth up to 100 times the face value and there are 15 in each Bank Roll so you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only Arizona State Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and Walking Liberties are highly collectible so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.
Why are so many Arizona residents claiming them:
Because they are the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. Each Bank Roll contains a whopping 15 Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value. Best of all Arizona residents are guaranteed to get them for the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty for the next two days.
Arizona residents are authorized to claim up to the limit of 4 State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls by calling the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-979-3771 Ext. RWB3645 starting at precisely 8:30 am this morning. Everyone who does is getting the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll containing 15 Silver Walking Liberties from the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for just the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty, which is just $585 for the full Bank Rolls and that’s a real steal because non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,770 for each Arizona State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Roll if any remain.
