Sedona Main
Street Program nominates Nestle Toll House Café by Chip for AZ Main
Street Best Large Scale Renovation Project. The following is the owner’s
story in her own words:
In the summer of 2003, I, Deedra
Perez, started a search for an empty nest project that I thought I could
physically, mentally, and financially handle. It also had to have some
special meaning. My mother, Merilyn Smith and I flew to Houston to
preview three Nestle’s Toll House Café by Chip businesses. We stayed at
the Westin Hotel in the Houston Galleria. My mother spent most of her
time observing and I spent most of my time sampling the products! We
loved the whole concept.
When we returned, my husband, Mike
Perez Sr. and I purchased the franchise and I started Cookies Galore,
L.L.C. We used a revolving home equity line of credit for $250,000 to
do the whole project.
The search began for the right
location. We bought the rights to Scottsdale Fashion Square, but we
couldn’t get the storefront location with which we were comfortable.
Sedona was my 2nd choice and we ended up going there 1st. We bought the
Chill Out Café in Uptown at Sinagua
Plaza,
there for approximately 15 years.
A large renovation job took place over
the New Year’s holiday. My family all participated. My husband, Mike
Perez Sr., sons Mike Jr., Vincent, and Eric along with my son’s
girlfriend Dusty Redmond, gave up their holiday vacation time to do the
major part of the tear out. John Linker, Steve Estrade, and Caesar
Estrade, all employees of my husbands hay company, Southwest Farm
Services, spent a couple days on the tear out duty, also.
The search began for a General
Contractor. Terry Medulla Construction Co. was referred to me. The
construction process was stressful but it was worth waiting for the end
result. David Harvey, owner-Creative Flooring Designs, Inc. did a great
job with all the tile & granite work. The doors opened July 11, 2004.
As of July of 2004 we have sponsored
many local charities, some of which are Verde Valley Sanctuary, Domestic
Violence Shelter, Adult Community Center of Sedona, Zaki Gordon Film
Institute, and Verde Valley Relay for Life. We truly have enjoyed being
able to be a part of these organizations.
We hired a new manager in November,
2004. Richard Zimmerman lives in the Village of
Oak Creek.
He truly enjoys people!
The café was special to me. Mr.
Nestle’ was a pharmacist in the 1860’s and created the first baby
formula for women who couldn’t breastfeed. The Chocolate Chip Cookie
didn’t evolve until 1930. I truly have a passion for the products. The
Café is dedicated to my mother Merilyn Smith, my husband, Mike Perez Sr.
and my three sons Mike Jr., Vincent, and Eric. I have enjoyed all my
childhood and adult memories of baking lots of Nestle’ Toll House
Chocolate Chip Cookies.
A special Thank You to Miss Dusty
Redmond, an ASU Photography Student for all her hard work on the total
project and for taking time on her July 4th holiday weekend
to take all the new pictures!
Our family takes great pride in
“Making the Best Better.” We hope that we can create a moment in a
beautiful setting like Sedona that will give you a new memory or bring
back an old one. Childhood days are so important!
Sincerely,
Dee Perez – General Mgr. Cookies
Galore, L.L.C. (DBA – Nestle’ Toll House Café By Chip)
Photos included with Nomination
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