Friday, August 13, 2010

Small Business


I've been taking morning walks. Besides being good exercise, walking gives you a different perspective on every little thing and it's a better way to take pictures than driving.

I walked along Lake Avenue the other day and took these photos before business hours, thus the empty parking lots. 

It's been quite some time since I ate at Orean the Health Express. They've got a nice website, which seems to me a requirement these days for any business, large or small. They've also got a drive-through window. Convenient.

Angel's Tropical fish doesn't have a website, though they have a web presence, as in reviews. Not being in the market for tropical fish, I can't corroborate. Boz the pooch would like to have a pet, but you know the drill--he'd start out with good intentions but I'd end up having to take care of it, and I don't even want a fish.

I wonder how these small businesses are doing. I'm no expert but my friend Karen Klein is. If you have a small business or are thinking of starting one, do yourself a favor and follow her blog.

18 comments:

Dina said...

LOL. I never thought about the possibility of pets wanting to have a pet.

Shell Sherree said...

Good move on the fish, Petrea. I hear they are a nightmare to groom, even if Boz wanted to try. Thanks so much for the info about Karen. I'm about to start working through her archives!

Petrea Burchard said...

Boz would like to have a puppy, Dina. I don't like to think what he'd do with a fish.

Shell, Karen often links to her articles (or those of other experts) in Business Week or the LA Times. I read her stuff even though the business I'm running is micro. She's always interesting. And sometimes she even blogs about her fabulous garden!

pasadenapio said...

I've been seen at the health food drive-through a few times. It's a funky little place that's hiding in plain sight, but they certainly manage to survive in light of the fact that they're on fast-food row!

Petrea, I want to thank you for the "Honcho Hallway" post you did more than a year ago after your City Hall tour. It has served me well on many of my Mystery History reveals, including yesterday's. I love taking photos of individual mayors' portraits and then linking back to your post!

Jean Spitzer said...

We had cats that adopted a kitten. So the idea of a dog with a pet doesn't sound that strange. But I think you're right about the nature of the dog/fish relationship. Probably wouldn't have to worry about taking care of the fish for long.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ann, it's nice to be linked to. Link anytime.

Hee hee, Jean, you're right. I'd be better off giving Boz a bug.

Kat said...

Orean express rocks! My favorite vegan/veggie place in town. As for Boz having a pet... start him off with something easy. One of my dogs seems to love to make friends with skunks... Has Boz tried that?

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks for the Orean review, Kat. I may stop there for lunch today.

Boz saw a skunk one evening and the two of them shocked each other. I think we'll keep them apart for now. He's working on cats.

Greg Sweet said...

I think that tropical fish store has been there at least 20 years.

TheChieftess said...

I'm sure Daisy would like to have a pet, but unfortunately, in our house, I think she's the kittie's pet!

John Sandel said...

Boz has pets. They live in the corners. They look like bunnies.

Petrea Burchard said...

And Boz is totally responsible for those bunnies. A good pet owner.

Unknown said...

For some odd reason, stores that sell tropical fish or model trains always do well, regardless of the economy. So…a store than sold model trains FOR trop… No, never mind.

Susan Campisi said...

I like the thought of Boz asking you with his big brown eyes if he can have a pet goldfish. Please?

Does Boz have brown eyes? I've never met him so I can't be sure.

I found out about Karen Klein's blog at your blogging presentation in March. Thanks for the reminder to visit. Great stuff.

Petrea Burchard said...

Paula, you remind me we have that interesting model train store in town. Photo op.

Susan, Boz does have brown eyes, of course.

Yeah, I've bookmarked Karen's blog. I always learn something useful there.

Steve R. said...

Trivia: Did you know Orean's place was previously a Pup N' Taco ? This was a chain that competed with Der Weinerschitzel.

This was the first Pup N' Taco in Southern California.

More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pup_'N'_Taco

- Steve

Dina said...

You have skunks? eeuw

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Steve, thanks! Pup 'n Taco is new to me.

Dina, we've got 'em right in our back yard. As close to LA as we are, we're backed up against the mountains. Coyotes, raccoons, etc hang out in our neighborhoods. It's city/rural.