- November 23, 2024
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Food for thought: Richard’s Foodporium
If there is one expert’s opinion to consider when buying groceries, the obvious choice is, of course, Poor Richard.
Richard, one of Benjamin Franklin’s pseudonyms, is quoted above the Richard’s Foodporium freezer as saying: “He’s a fool that makes his doctor his heir.”
Ken Nichols, along with his wife, Kathy, opened the natural health-food store Nov. 6 in Palm Harbor Shopping Center (100 yards behind Starbucks).
“Those of us in the baby-boom era are looking to stay out of the doctor’s office and take care of ourselves,” said Nichols, a businessman for the last 30 years.
So far, he said, about 75% of the customers who have come through the doors have actually thanked him for opening the store. It’s the second Richard’s Foodporium franchise, and the first on the East Coast of Florida. There are 11 corporate stores in the Sarasota/Venice area.
“It’s an industry that has still shown double-digit growth, even in these economic times,” Nichols said.
After a market study of the area as far south as New Smyrna Beach, Nichols decided to open the store in Palm Coast. He said customers used to have to drive to Ormond Beach or Jacksonville for gourmet health food.
But just because you’re buying health food, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Alongside Poor Richard is another obvious health guru: Voltaire. The 18th-century satirist once said, “Ice cream is exquisite. What a pity it’s not illegal.”
The grand opening, complete with legal samples and vendors, is scheduled for Jan. 22 and 23.
Intracoastal Bank net income: $1 million
Intracoastal Bank is once again the county’s fastest-growing bank. The bank announced a net income of $1,021,232 during the nine-month period ending Sept. 30. During the first nine months, total assets increased by $21,492,556 to $106,982,994. Deposits finished the third quarter at $92,521,262, an increase of $20,590,541 from Dec. 31, 2009.
During the same time, total loans increased to $57,852,853, an increase of $13,486,941. Commenting on the company’s results, Intracoastal Banks President and CEO Bruce E. Page stated: “The company’s results exceeded management and board expectations.”
According to data published by the Federal Deposits Insurance Corporation, the bank had the fastest growth of any bank in Flagler County during the year ending June 30, 2010.
Parkside Realty agent earns CCIM
Margaret Sheehan-Jones, head of the Parkside Realty Group Commercial Division, has been awarded a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation. As a member of this professional organization, Sheehan-Jones joins just 6% of commercial agents nationwide. The designation involves a curriculum to develop expertise in financial, market, userdecision and investment analysis for commercial investment real estate.
Contact Sheehan-Jones at margaret@ margaretsheehan.com or 693-4804.
Affordable Treasures to close doors after sale
The Family Life Center’s thrift store, Affordable Treasures, is having a going-outof- business sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 Florida Park Drive. All merchandise must sell: clothing, furniture, bookcases, toys, housewares, dishes, linens and appliances. All proceeds from the sale benefit the Family Life Center.
JT’s Seafood soaks servers
JT’s Seafood Shack raised $3,000 for Florida Hospital HospiceCare at their fourth-annual Soak A Server fundraiser.
As part of the event, the restaurant collected donations for a chance to dunk a JT’s server in a dunk booth. Most of the dunkees were JT’s employees, although some restaurant regulars also got involved.
