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| Franchise opportunity finds entrepreneur at the right time
<United States>
Interviewer: Will Buss
Interviewees: Joyce Pecina (Reporter)
Beginning her own business was the last thing on Joyce Pecina's mind when she went to visit her son a few years ago. But soon after getting a taste of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, the Wichita, Kansas native wondered if she could open one of her own. By next month, Pecina will have two Cold Stone Creamerys to her name. She recently talked to reporter Will Buss about her beginning an entrepreneurial venture later in life.
How did this all begin?
We were on a trip to North Carolina, my son was coming back from Iraq, and he said 'Mom, you've got to go to this awesome ice cream store.' And that's what we did, and it was great. On the way back, I wondered if I could do that.
Did you have experience in restaurants?
I was working at (Scott Air Force Base) at the time, and I took early retirement after 23 years. I operated a pizza operation. I was a manager at the Scott Air Force Base pizzeria.
How did that all start?
I was a stay-at-home mom up until the kids were teen-agers, and they got older and no longer needed a room mother, or a Girl Scout leader, and that's when I decided I wanted to try my hand at working. Where did you look to open your own business?
After I got off work, I would count all of the cars (at Green Mount Crossing). I thought it was a growing area with Shiloh and the new subdivisions. I thought it would be a great place.
And you were immediately attracted to Green Mount Crossing?
Right. I contacted the land developer and he gave me plans, and we communicated back and forth with that. And then, actually someone came from the creamery from Scottsdale (in Arizona) and approved that site. It has been a great location, great people and I have an awesome team. More importantly, I have a wonderful manger, Karen Becker. I can't say enough good things about it. She will be district manager. She'll manage the one in Edwardsville and I will take care of the one in Shiloh. We are really looking forward to the new one in Edwardsville. It's really going to be a beautiful store."
Tell me more about the new ice cream shop.
We'll have a fireplace, furniture, two leather chairs, a sofa, it will be a cozy atmosphere. There will be a bar, and tables for eating, and we'll also have a patio for seating and we'll have a drive-through. What does Cold Stone Creamery's menu include?
All we have is ice cream. We make it fresh everyday and ice cream cake and smoothies. We have no French fries, burgers or hot dogs. Nothing like that. |