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Show Thursday, August 28, 2008 Page 4 0 R E M TIMES mm WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S HAPPENING Customers flock to Spanky's during opening weeks Cathy Allred NORTH COUNTY STAFF Gary DeVincent didn't advertise ad-vertise the soft opening for Spanky's Express. He didn't tell anyone when he was opening his restaurant, because he was hoping the quiet Aug. 20 opening would provide a stress free time to gradually train staff and work out an efficient process for his new business. Didn't happen. Instead, customers cus-tomers flocked to Spanky's on 674 N. 2000 West in Pleasant Grove on the turn off for the American Fork Hospital. "It was like the Beatles were here; it was amazing," DeVincent said of the crowds. "You open the doors, wham. I don't know where they're coming from." DeVincent purchased a Digital Dining system for Spanky's Express from Pinnacle Pinna-cle Technologies, a software company for point of sale restaurant res-taurant management. Other clients include the Brick Oven and Kneaders. Pinnacle Technologies representatives rep-resentatives were at Spanky's for the opening to make sure the Digital Dining system was running smoothly and to train Spanky's employees on it. They had never seen a such a great response to a soft opening like Spanky's. "With a soft opening and a little bit off the beaten path, it was amazing," said Scott Lamb of Lehi, Digital Dining director of marketing for the Intermountain West. "One of our fleet techs. Jay (Jay Hoover of Pleasant Grove and business partner) was taking orders. He was a server. He's never done that in 10 years." Part of Spanky's advertising advertis-ing may have been drive-by motorist exposure to the 1950's look of All Star Auto i re, V" CELIA TOBIN'Daily Herald Gary DeVincint, owner of Spanky's, stands outside the new restaurant July 7 in Pleasant Grove. DeVincint spent much of his life building motorcycles before he started to play around in real estate. His wish, he said, is for the '50s-style diner, which features classic hamburgers and milkshakes, to be a true community gathering spot for locals, like "back in the day." Spanky's Location: 674 N. 2000 West, Pleasant Grove Hours: Monday through Saturday, Sat-urday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Plaza and the old-fashioned diner. "I was just driving by and I noticed how cute the building was," said customer Sharon Bell of American Fork. "A girl I work with told me it was open." Spanky's Express has been a dream of DeVincent "s for 20 years. He has been collecting authentic au-thentic antique signs for the restaurant nearly as long. A large Coca-cola sign on the outside of the diner is dated for 1937 and has bullet holes in it made decades ago. The gleaming silver metal chairs and red, white and black trim, the wide double doors, the booths, everything about the restaurant reflects the 195()'s era. DeVincent also wanted a neighborhood destination and picked the location for its potential neighborhood consumer con-sumer base. "This has been a dream forever" for-ever" DeVincent said. "Nothing "Noth-ing would make me happier to see people walk out of their houses and walk over here." His goal appears to have been met within its initial first week. "I think it brings people back to happier times," diner Jodie Mattinson of American Fork said. "It's a unique setting." set-ting." The response to Spanky's was so good, the restaurant ran out of food by the end of the second day. DeVincent closed for a few days to regroup. re-group. He opened Spanky's again on Monday. Niccole Peeler, Spanky's head chef and newly -appointed manager, previously worked at a Hilton restaurant I was just driving by and I noticed how cute the building was. Sharon Bell SPANKY'S CUSTOMER and a few other high end restaurants res-taurants in California. "She really is a trooper, she really is." DeVincent said. "I couldn't have done this without with-out her." It's the second time the Millers Mill-ers of American Fork have eaten there. "We've been kind of anxious anx-ious for them to open," Susan Miller said. "We think the food is great." With its generous serving sizes and variety, the fare is appealing. Pastrami Reuben's, Philly cheesesteaks, Spanky's Killer Kabobs and mushroom burgers with boneless buffalo wings, fries, salads, there is something for nearly everyone, every-one, including their fresh spinach spin-ach salads, Caesar salads and fish n' chips platters. "We like the fact that it's not a chain," Dick Miller said. "It's the old mom and pop idea." Spanky's Express appears to have won instant popularity, popular-ity, but there is a time when business lulls during 3-5 p.m. Does he plan on having a grand opening celebration anytime soon? "No, I'm not having one ever, not ever," DeVincent said and laughed. ticker EDCUtah annual meeting Business leaders and public officials will gather for Economic Eco-nomic Development Corporation Corpora-tion of Utah's annual meeting scheduled for Sept. 4 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The event will begin at .1 1:30 a.m. Dr. Anne Smith, a nationally na-tionally recognized expert in environmental policy assessment assess-ment and corporate compliance compli-ance strategy planning, will be speaking on "How National Climate Change Policy Affects Regional Economic Development." Develop-ment." She will help attendees understand how global warming, warm-ing, cap and trade programs, and carbon footprints, among other environmental policies, will have an impact on their organization. To learn more about the meeting or reserve a table or single seat go to http:www.edcutah. com2008annualmeeting.php or contact Art Franks at (801) 3234242. Central Bank opens RG. location Central Bank celebrated on Aug. 22 the grand opening of the new Pleasant Grove Central Cen-tral Bank Office located just off of 1-15 Pleasant Grove Exit r?lflTT fl suwr.23 tNSs A C LTD 8 COM I A It Y jH vSSST' jjjjjj Fast Phone Quotes 1 No salesman will visit you. 1 Fast quotes from your rough measurements. Final measurement done at time of order. Visit our showroom! CALL (801)-222-3350 (Have your measurements ready!) FREE ESTIMATES! SHOWROOM 35 East 400 South Springville Hours: Mon-Sat 8a. m to 6p.m. it fl cL Capelli SlfFPLV products t great haiays Gacb To scbQQl SDQCials at 801 S. Pleasant Grove Blvd. Matt Packard, President and CEO of Central Bank. said. "We are thrilled to be a part of the Pleasant Grove community com-munity and we are eager to serve the great people who live here. Our staff here in Pleasant Grove is great and we are very delighted to introduce Steve Patten as Vice President and Manager of this new office." Patten previously was vice president and manager of the Central Bank Provo Office and has more than 20 years of banking experience. He cur- rently resides in Lindon and is very active in his community and the community of Pleasant Pleas-ant Grove. Currently he is on the Board of Directors for the Business Alliance in Pleasant Grove. Working with Patten will be Brannen Trost and Jesse Hurren as loan officers. Trost has been with Central Bank for more than eight years and currently resides in Pleasant Grove while Hurren has been with Central Bank for more than four years and currently resides in Springville. Gold's Gym wins state award An independent panel of judges, recommended by Chambers of Commerce, various vari-ous state associations, community commu-nity and business leaders, and mayors' offices, selected Gold's Gym for the Best of State Award for 2008's Best Fitness Facility in Utah. More on the 15 Gold's Gyms in Utah can be found at www. goldsgym.com. 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