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GJEP Helping Businesses Like New Zoup! Restaurant

by KREX News Room
by Danielle Kreutter

Story Created: Oct 4, 2012 at 10:26 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 5, 2012 at 7:32 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Officials with the Grand Junction Economic Partnership say last month was a busy one for recruiting primary companies, which are those that export goods out of the Grand Valley to bring money back in; however, that hasn't stopped them from helping out restaurant and retail businesses looking to move to Grand Junction.

Officials say businesses are looking to move to the city, and there are several resources available for those who are.

One resource can help interested business owners pick the perfect spots to build their businesses based on what they're selling and who they'd like to sell to.

Opening a new restaurant can be a challenge. "They need to look at if the workforce is available to them in this community, whether or not the market share is going to support their business, if there's a building that works, if traffic counts work for where they're going to be, there's so many things that go into that," said Kelly Flenniken, executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, known as GJEP.

Local resident Joya Piland embarked on that journey when she became the director of operations of the future Zoup! soup and sandwich restaurant in Grand Junction.

"We were looking for some new kind of franchise that we could bring to town," said Piland.

Piland sought out the help of GJEP before planning to open the new location.

"We wanted to make sure that we were in a place where they don't have to drive for more than 15 minutes to get here, they can have lunch and still get back during their 45 minute to one hour lunch break," Piland said.

GJEP delved into the most recent Buxton Report, which breaks down area demographics and traffic numbers.

"It talks about where your customers are coming from, what kinds of gaps there may be, where you're going to find the biggest base for you," said Flenniken.

Based on that information, Piland said the choice was easier to make.

"It was the final decision maker for us to locate at this spot," she said.

"We will work with any business that needs any kind of assistance as they look to grow or locate into this community," said Flenniken.

Piland says she anticipates Zoup! will open in mid-November.

She says as the opening approaches, they will be looking to hire 20 new employees.

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