Freedom Fitness Center in Kuna cuts ribbon on new location

Freedom Fitness Center in Kuna officially moved into its new digs on Wednesday, with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony, booths, food, jumphouses and a live music concert in the parking lot in front of their new space at 693 E. Wythe Creek Court.

Movie Gallery in Kuna appears to be closing

It would appear that the city of Kuna will soon be without a movie rental store in town.
A handwritten sign posted on the front door of the Movie Gallery in Deer Flat Crossing reads, “We will no longer be receiving new release movies. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please do not ask employees why we are closing.”
If the Kuna Movie Gallery closes, it would leave Kuna without a movie rental store, as Kuna Video closed its doors two years ago. Kuna does have a Redbox DVD rental kiosk at Jacksons on Main Street. A similar DVD vending machine operation set up shop in Super C but moved out last year.
The Movie Gallery note refers customers to a 503 area code phone number. The voicemail message from the phone number refers callers to a website information page.
The website explains that Wilsonville, Ore.-based Movie Gallery is going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is not going out of business but is hoping to “restructure” and emerge as a stronger company after Chapter 11.
Nothing more is said on Movie Gallery’s website regarding store closures.
But a story in the Wall Street Journal last week said the chain was closing all 2,415 of its U.S. stores.

Find out why I think we could see a competing chain move into Kuna in my Editor's Notebook in this week's Kuna Melba News.

The Farmstead corn maze is moving from Kuna to Meridian

The Farmstead, Idaho’s Original Corn MAiZE, is returning to its roots. The corn maze and agritourism business, located on Meridian Road just south of Columbia Road since 2006, will be returning to its original location at Eagle and Overland roads this year. “We’re feeling sentimental about leaving Kuna,” said Hillary Lowe, a Kuna resident who owns and operates The Farmstead with her husband, Jim. “We’re a little excited, a little sad. But we’re pretty excited about the location and having about double the size. We were geting a little overcrowded.”

Another new feature in the Kuna Melba News: Kuna business of the month

This week, we’re launching yet another new feature in the Kuna Melba News. It’s called “Business of the Month,” written by Kuna resident Corinna Stiles.
A couple of months ago, the Kuna Melba News ran an online poll asking readers how much of their holiday shopping they were planning on doing in Kuna. The number one response was, “None. There’s nothing good to buy in Kuna.”
Of course, the result was disheartening, as I’m sure it was for many of our local business owners who are doing their best to run a good business with excellent products and excellent service. It was also disheartening as the owner of the local newspaper, as we’re the ones trying our best to get the word out to our local residents. Some days it feels like beating your head against a brick wall.
It got me to thinking, though, that we simply need to do a better job of informing our residents of what we have to offer right here in Kuna. Why drive 20 minutes to a chain steakhouse when we have Peregrine Steakhouse right here in Kuna? Why drive up the road to Home Depot or Lowe’s when you can get everything you need at either True Value or Kuna Lumber right here in Kuna — and get way better service? Why go to Wal-Mart to get a birthday present when The Wild Ivy has some great kids gifts right here in Kuna? The list of amenities in Kuna goes on and on, it’s just that so many people are unaware that they really can get just about everything here in Kuna. And not just retail, but services, as well. Financial advisors, dentists, orthodontist, insurance, copying and printing, computer repair, etc.
In February, we are asking every single person reading this column, reading the story or seeing the house ad to go to the Peregrine Steakhouse just once. Go for lunch. Go for dinner. Go for the Sunday brunch. If you were planning on going to Outback Steakhouse or Red Robin or some other chain restaurant up in Meridian this month, change your plans and go to Peregrine instead.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor and you’ll also be boosting the local economy at the same time.

What's the next step for the Kuna Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee?

Work on the Kuna Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee continues full throttle.
A couple of weeks ago, the Kuna Melba News asked its online readers in our weekly poll what you felt the committee’s top priority should be.
We offered the choices of improving downtown Main Street, attracting new commercial development, attracting industrial manufacturers, marketing existing businesses and planning and organizing special community events.
With 56 percent of the vote, attracting new commercial development was the top vote-getter, followed by improving Main Street (14.6 percent), marketing existing businesses (12.2 percent) and attracting industrial manufacturers (9.8 percent). That message is pretty clear. But that doesn’t mean we’re only going to do one thing at the exclusion of all else.
When I think of the types of commercial ventures to attract to Kuna, I have some ideas of businesses that I think would do well here and that local residents want, such as a dry cleaner, a bowling alley, a movie theater and a skateboard/bike shop.
As always, I’d love to hear what you think. What businesses would you like to see in Kuna? What have I left out? What do you think would be successful? What business would you patronize? What kind of a manufacturer would you like to see in Kuna? Send me a letter: PO Box 373, Kuna ID 83634, or send me an email: kunamelbanews@aol.com. Or simply post an opinion to this blog.

There is more of this column in my Editor's Notebook in this week's Kuna Melba News.

City of Kuna grants Cowgirls liquor license

Before a standing-room-only crowd, Kuna City Council members Tuesday night approved the city alcohol beverage license for Cowgirls, bringing an end to the popular bar’s weekend prohibition of liquor sales.
After nearly two hours of discussion, City Council members Lisa Bachman and Rich Cardoza voted in favor of approving the license, while council president Jeff Lang voted against it. With council member Trina Stroebel recusing because of a professional relationship with Cowgirls, the motion passed, spurring thunderous applause from the 70 to 80 people in attendance.
The entity drawing the most consternation Tuesday night turned out to the state Alcohol Beverage Control, which city officials complained proved to be uncooperative, unresponsive and disorganized in their handling of the Cowgirls license.
“I am flabbergasted by the lack of coordination that ABC has had with us,” Cardoza complained. “We are trying to make a decision on a local business that brings people into this city, the brings money into this city, that employs people in this city, and we have this lackadaisical attitude from ABC. … It’s difficult to sit up here and make a decision and judge someone based on hearsay.”
In the end, Bachman and Cardoza seemed to base their decision on the state liquor license. In essence, as goes the state liquor license, so goes the city liquor license.

Now is the time to be aggressive, not timid

What do you do when you’re a small business in a recession?
Is the answer to cut back, hide and adopt a bunker mentality until the storm is over?
I don’t think so. When the storm is over and you come out of your bunker, you may find out that no one remembers who you are.
Of course, this is a good opportunity to cut out any unnecessary expenses and focus your spending so that your business is as efficient as it can possibly be.
But now is not the time to hide. If anything, in an environment of shrinking spending dollars, it’s even more important to get out there and fight for those dollars.
According to a McGraw-Hill Research study looking at 600 companies from 1980 to 1985, businesses that chose to maintain or raise their level of advertising expenditures during the 1981 and 1982 recession had significantly higher sales after the economy recovered. Companies that advertised aggressively during the recession had sales 256 percent higher than those that did not continue to advertise.
Yeah, yeah, we’re just saying that because advertising is our business. But here’s a shocker: We actually believe it. Of course, we wouldn’t have gotten into the business if we didn’t believe in it. Anyone who’s talked to us about the newspaper business and the value of advertising in your local hometown newspaper knows how passionately we believe in it. But we’re not just talking the talk. We’re walking the walk. We’re putting our money where our mouth is.
Starting today, the Kuna Melba News will have billboards along Meridian Road, next to City Hall and at Fairview and Cloverdale roads. In addition, we're launching a radio ad campaign on Mix 106, and this month, we're mailing copies of the Kuna Melba News to every household in the Kuna school district in an effort to boost our circulation. In conjunction with that, we're giving our advertisers deep discounts for the entire month, helping them reach out to every household in Kuna for a very low price. Then in March, we're launching the Kuna Melba News Roundup, a free newspaper that will go to every household in the Kuna and Melba zip codes.
We're being aggressive now because after the storm is over, we're looking forward to sunny skies.

First annual Kuna Christmas Festival is noon to 3 p.m. Saturday

The First Annual Kuna Christmas Festival will be at the Sandstone Plaza on 4th Street from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20. We will have a number of activities for both kids and adults, including: pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus, “Reindeer” pony sleigh rides, holiday crafts, bounce house, free pizza from Domino’s Pizza, free hot chocolate and coffee, and a “Holiday Boot Camp” by Freedom Fitness Center. There will be free drawings for gifts, and services that include: a Nintendo Wii, a dual LCD car DVD system, professional family portrait sitting and digital picture frame, 4 Tickets to Thunder Mountain Line, 2 Tickets to “Walking With Dinosaurs,” $150 Holiday Party Basket, an electric race car (that kids can sit in and drive), a full suspension mountain bike, dinner for two at Tannins, free dental whitening, a spa package and several others.

Shop local this weekend in Kuna

By Nicola McIntosh, Kuna Melba News Publisher
The Kuna Melba News is pleased to bring you the third annual Kuna Holiday Shopping Guide, loaded with great gift ideas from Kuna businesses. You can find the Shopping Guides all over town at various retail outlets and businesses. Each year (and throughout the year, really) we’ve touted the benefits of shopping locally. But this holiday season, in the midst of an economic recession, it’s more important than ever to make as many purchases locally as possible.
Sure, you might not find the Wall-e remote control robot that your 3-year-old covets in Kuna, but I’ll bet you can find something for almost everyone on your list right here in town.
Did you know that for every $100 spent in a locally owned, independent business, $70 is returned to the community compared to $30 from a national retailer? For example, when you spend $100 at Treasure Valley Gift Shoppe – owned by Kuna resident Renee Harper – you’ll see that money go back into your community two-fold.
You won’t have to fight mall madness, you’ll find many unique and high quality gifts and in many cases you’ll find prices that beat Boise’s.

Kuna Chamber of Commerce annual dinner

Nicola and I just got back from the Kuna Chamber of Commerce annual dinner, where Nicola was officially installed as the chamber president, taking over from Allen Gamel. Other board members installed tonight were Kerri Avery, Tammy Croft, Steven Ricks, Julie Combs, Bill Clark, Charlie Long and Gamel as past president. I think it's going to be a very interesting year for the Chamber, with a lot of new energy and positive input. I'm excited about what the Chamber can accomplish, and not just because my wife is the president. I think there's an excellent mix of minds on the board and a lot of good ideas out there waiting to bubble up to the surface and take shape. Also tonight, Kuna Lumber was named Business of the Year, based not only on owner Dave Browning's contributions as a board member but also for the Browning family's major investment and expansion into hardware with a new 4,000-square-foot showroom. Named Chamber Member of the Year was Steven Ricks for his contributions to the chamber as the government relations director. About 50 people attended the dinner at Castle Gardens. It was great food, great company, great conversation. Terrific night all around.