LOOKING AHEAD Cover Story CONT. FROM PAGE 17 “Te key to our success is the people of
San Juan, both as customers and employ- ees,” says Tom DeNault. “We care about our customers and our customers care about us. People like doing business with a local mer- chant if they have what they need.” Indeed, DeNault’s is one of the most pop- ular destinations in town, offering just about everything, from gardening and construction supplies to coffee makers and candles. Locals like to go there because the employees know their names and on any given trip you’ll probably run in to a friend or neighbor. “It’s fun to come to the local hardware store on a Saturday morning and see
your neighbors and be recognized by the employees,” says DeNault. “And we like
San Juan Photo & Digital, 24 years in Capistrano
First and foremost, you have
to offer quality service and treat clients and customers like you’d like to be treated. Stay involved in the community and create an experience that makes a customer say ‘wow’ when they walk out of your store.
—Scott Schmitt, Owner Diana and Scott Schmitt. Photo: Danielle Johnson
to our family values,” says Tom DeNault. He points out that currently there are twelve DeNault family members, from three genera- tions, working in each of their six stores. In San Juan, Tom’s brother Don runs the store and his two sons and daughter all work there. Looking toward the future, Tom says the
family keeps a close eye on the changes in the community, which can be subtle but critical to running a successful business. “As other retailers come and go, we
constantly tailor our selection to fit the needs of the community and marketplace,” Tom DeNault says. “We’re also using our TrueValue Rewards frequent shopper program to reward our regular customers, and they seem to ap- preciate the effort as much as we appreciate their patronage.”
Larry Thomas. Photo: Danielle Johnson
Independence Bank, 7 years in Capistrano
One of the keys to success is
getting involved in the community. It’s very important to get a pulse of the community and networking to raise awareness about your busi- ness in the community. Plus, it’s part of corporate responsibility.
—Larry Thomas, Vice President
to think we’ve brought the old hometown hardware store into the modern era by stocking just the right mix and type of items for them all.” In 1972, the DeNaults took over a small
hardware store located in the El Adobe Plaza. Ten, in 1976, they purchased the land and built the current store. “Another main ingredient in our longevity in the community can probably be attributed
The Interchange: Creating a Downtown Gateway
A major change is coming to Capistrano, and it will have an enormous effect on resi- dents and the business community. Caltrans is moving ahead on plans for an $84 million rebuild of the Ortega Interchange—the main entrance to the downtown. Te interchange was created when the
freeway went through town in 1958, and as the town has grown from a population of about 1,000 then to 35,000 today, the Ortega Interchange has become one of the worst chokepoints in Orange County. About 99,000 cars a day use the interchange—up from 71,000 a day just a few years ago. With the anticipated Rancho Mission Viejo devel- opment of 14,000 homes east of San Juan Capistrano, the number of cars using the interchange is expected to jump to 121,000 a day by 2030. But fixing it won’t be easy, or painless. Te first stages of the work, expected in 2013, will see the Ortega Highway overpass
18 San Juan Capistrano Business Directory & Visitor Guide Downtown San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Jonathan Volzke
well as the Jack in the Box and Arby’s on Del Obispo Street. Denny’s on Ortega Highway will also be torn down. But when the work is finished, the city will have an interchange transportation officials say will serve Capist- rano well for decades. Te plan creates a hook ramp beneath
the freeway so motorists heading east on Ortega can go north on the freeway by
CONT. ON PAGE 20
rebuilt. Te south side of the bridge will be torn down, and all of the traffic will use what are now the northbound lanes. Ramps will be closed at times during the work, and the interchange will be raised four feet. Ortega Highway will also be closed at times. Te city will lose the Chevron stations on the east and west sides of the freeway, as
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