north shore news wo Wednesday, March 31, 1999 — North Shore News — 15 &» BUSINESS Jennifer Larson touts the power of flowers af Special Moments. Macey Sports. Jo-Anne Strub with one of her cre- ations at North Shore Craft Affairs. Scott Macey is having a ball at NEWS photo Psul McGrath Mayuko Okusako provides speedy service with a smile at Nippon Photo. COMMERCIAL Avenues is a bi-monthly feature of the North Shore News business section. While it is by no means a comprehensive quide to any of the areas it focuses on, it seeks to capture a snapshot of the day-to-day life of busi- nesses selected at randont that call the street home. If'von have a business that is part of a unique or otherwise worthwhiie block or know of any, share it with us. Write to Commercial Avenues c/o Bob Mackin at the North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, V7M 2H4 or e-mail at . Beb Mackin Contributing Writer JO-ANNE Strub is a firm believer that anyone and everyone can paint. For the past five years, Strub has encouraged bud- ding artists to excel in the hobby at North Shore Craft Affairs, her combination store and studio next to the Cineplex Odeon Park and Tilford Theatres. i “You don’t have to J be artistically inclined P ARK & to do this,” Strub says. “Everything has a pattern. You place a pattern on and we : teach “you .to paint: within the pattern lines. So it’s not-all that - difficult.t’s therapeutic.”. - Strub offers decorative painting lessons and a wide range of sup- plies, including pattern books. “A lot of people just like to come ta the store, because it’s pretty laid back and it’s a nice place to social- ize and just get out. It can be an expensive hobby, but it is reward- ing in the end.” Her clients turn otherwise ordi- nary objects made of tin, papier mache, canvas or fabrics into smail wonders. Strub’s magnetic personality even attracts top art teachers from around North America to con- duct workshops at North Shore 7 AVE “ARK TLFORD Craft Affairs. Coming in June is Karen Hubbard, while Ronnie Bringle is booked for November. A more immediate concern for Strub is her open house May 7-9 from 10 am. to 5 p.m. Painters and non-painters of all ages are welcome. “I meet a fot of individuals who think they don’t have talent, bur they do. It’s really neat when you bring it out in them.” Goooooal! Customers at Macey’s Sports score with every purchase. That's because the service counter is located inside a goal net. “The creatively designed store is *y packed with the latest balls, jer- seys, boots, goalkeeping gloves and souvenirs from the world’s most popular — and most beauti- ful — game. It’s a sport that proprietor Scott Macey has played profession- ally with the Vancouver Eighty- Sixers and on the Canadian Olympic team. “It's very seasonal, because we're involved in soccer,” Macey says. “Soccer is the number one sport in Canada, and on the North Shore plenty of people play soc- cer,” Macey sells some baseball, lacrosse and rugby gear, bur the focus of the business ts soccer. £5 NORTHSHORE Pizzahouse owner Ping Ho displays a fresh- made pie. painier in you Macey says the old standby Adidas Copa Mondiale boot remains one of the cop: sellers, which isn’t surprising. “Soccer players are very tradi- tional, so they like to stay with the shoes they’ve been comfortable in for several vears.” The store installed a large- screen TV fase summer during the World Cup to attract soccer-hun- gry customers. It’s been there ever since as an added bonus for browsers. The nexe World Cap is three years away, but the women’s ver- sion is coming in June and there’s British soccer action every week. The Pizza Man There’s always a slice and a smile available at Northshore Pizzahouse. Owner Ping Ho says ham and Pineapple, vegetarian and pepper- oni are the most popular pizzas these days. But he’s open to cus- tom orders. “We make them whatever they like,” Ho says. The small cating area of Northshore — Pizzahouse,> gets packed during evening shows at the Cineplex next door. " But the majority. of Ho's busi- ness comes at lunchtime every day as shoppers and workers from nearby stores descend for a quick, cheap meal. It’s the meal of choice for his “working class” clientele, says Ho. He opened Northshore Pizzahouse just over a year ago and works with one employee. Say Cheesel Spring is here and no one could be happier than Mayuko Okusako. The Nippon Photo customer service representative is cager for a flood of customers when 2 bright, dry spell of weather descends on the North Shore. “It goes up and down, you can’t really predict . it,” Okusako says of business. “A lot of people when it’s sunny like to take pic- tures and business gets better when it’s better weather.” Nippon Photo specializes in photofinishing and enlargements. Okusako, who is a shutterbug in her spare time, says she can’t begin to estimate how many rolls of film have been developed at Nippon Camera in the decade since it opened. Bur she’s grateful for Lions Gate Studios. Production compa- nies Jocated there often take advantage of the 23-minute guar- anteed phototinishing. Some of the production stills and. behina-the-scenes pictures develuped by Nippon Photo are posted in the store. “It’s pretty good to us,” she says. A Rose is a Rose... Jennifer Larson gets orders from all over the world at her Special Moments Flowers and Gifts store. “We get a lor of phone calls from overseas,” Larson says. “I had a call the other day from the Bahamas. We. had someone call from Israel. We get lots of people call from the U.K.” They all want Larson and her staff to compile a bouquet of sweet-smelling fresh flowers for a local loved one. Larson bought the four-yeaz- old stere in March of last year. Since then she has made many changes, including a range of new products and a total interior reno- vation. - “We sell lots of arrangements See Florist page 16 B.C.A.A. - A.R.A. 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