|
Health-minded Gig Harbor residents looking for organic produce or gourmet groceries will have a one-stop place to shop as of this month. Harbor Greens, a 9,000-square-foot, upscale grocery store was set for a grand opening on June 29. Its owners, two energetic, young men who are longtime friends, believe they have found a niche — and are counting on the fact that their new store fills a need.
Chad Roy and Scott Teodoro have been tossing around the idea for a sort of Local Boys meets Metropolitan Market concept for more than three years. Two years ago, they found their perfect location, and planning went into high gear. The store is the anchor tenant — and first business to open — in a new multiuse development, Olympic Square Center, being developed by Rush Construction in west Gig Harbor.
“We think Gig Harbor has the clientele that will support this kind of business,” Roy said. “And there is nothing like it here.”
The concept is to offer competitively priced, high-end products that range from all-natural meat, wild-caught fish, Washington produce and more than 1,000 wine labels, to gourmet sauces, cheeses and dry goods, with some conventional grocery choices in between. Seasonal items such as wreaths, Christmas trees and pumpkins will be brought in, much like the Local Boys does in Tacoma.
Roy, in fact, worked at Local Boys for 12 years, so that store was used a lot for inspiration. But the two friends and business partners went far beyond that model and added their own flavor. This is the first business venture for either one, but each grew up in entrepreneur families.
Teodoro, 28, was born and raised in Gig Harbor. A 1997 Gig Harbor High School graduate, he pursued a business management degree, knowing some day he wanted to work for himself. Roy, 31, a Tacoma resident and father of four, also had the dream to own a business. The two not only have similar dreams, they say they have much of the same personalities — which helps in keeping their business relationship strong. Both their families have been attending the same church in Gig Harbor for many years, and their wives are best friends. (Teodoro also has one child.)
Opening the business has definitely been a family affair. The two couples practically breathed and lived their future enterprise for the last two years, doing wine and product samplings together and having a good time while making plans. Family members pitched in to help with the concept and physical labor. A week before opening, at least a couple of family members were among the crew working in a bit of a chaotic atmosphere to get the store ready, as vendors, contractors and delivery truck drivers came and went.
Teodoro and Roy literally built the business from scratch, building included. After sharing their concept with Gordon Rush of Rush Construction, both parties felt the planned Olympic Square Center would be a good match. “When we saw the plans for the property, we were pretty sold on it and as we moved forward... it all came together,” Roy said. “The building was custom-built for us.”
Asked about the most challenging part, they say it was realizing the new responsibility that rests on their shoulders. “We have some really good employees who quit good jobs and they’re relying on us, and their families are relying on us for income,” Teodoro said. “When the rubber hits the road, it’s going to come down to, ‘Does Gig Harbor want this?’”
The enthusiastic response so far may be some indication. The entrepreneurs said they didn’t have that difficult a time finding investors “who believed in the concept.” And once their story was published in Tacoma and Gig Harbor papers, with Roy’s phone number for those seeking employment, they had an overwhelming response.
“His (Roy’s) phone just blew up,” Teodoro said. “There were so many (young people) excited to come work in this environment.”
As a result, they said they found top-notch employees who believe in the concept and the product. Harbor Greens will employ 21 people initially, most of them full time.
Roy and Teodoro said their fully compatible personalities have made their friendship stronger through the startup experience, and they use their strong faith to guide them. “We both share a faith in God and we know whatever the other person is doing will be 100 percent upright, ethical and moral; we’re not going to cut corners,” Teodoro said.
The two friends say they have been amazed by the number of people who have told them Gig Harbor needed a place like Harbor Greens, and they hope their competitive prices, relaxed atmosphere and high-quality selections will prove they made the right move.
“We think we have found the perfect niche, the perfect place — a store tailored to the community,” Teodoro said. |
