Local businesses keep pets clean, stomachs filled

For years, small business owner Kimber Lanning listened to friends who'd moved to Arizona reminisce about the local shops in their hometowns. Some had lived in Phoenix for 20 years but rarely ventured to or knew about Arizona's local businesses.

So in 2003, Lanning and two other area business owners founded Local First Arizona, originally known as Arizona Chain Reaction, to educate Arizonans and recent transplants about the benefits of supporting businesses based in the state.

That coalition has grown to more than 1,300 businesses, which can be found on localfirstaz.com, a Web directory searchable by city, category and even eco-friendliness.

"I would argue that part of connecting to a city and feeling like it's your home is tapping into local businesses," Lanning said. "I'm trying to create a database where people can go and hook onto local culture."

But shopping local doesn't just help a person feel connected to their city - it also has economic and environmental benefits, said Lanning, who owns Stinkweedsmusic store and Modified Artsgallery, both located in Phoenix.

She cited a 2004 study by Civic Economics,a consulting firm, which found that for every $100 residents of a Chicago-area suburb spent at locally owned businesses, $68 went back to the community.

For chain businesses, the amount was $43.

Shopping locally also means you're using less fuel, helping both the environment and your bank account, Lanning said.

For Stacy Bertinelliof Scottsdale, the appeal of local businesses is just as much about authenticity.

"I like diversity, and I like being able to go places that are unique and interesting and unusual," said Bertinelli, a Local First Arizona board member.

Sure, it can be challenging to shop local all the time but other benefits such as more personalized service and the ability to give back to Arizona's economy make the sacrifice well worth it, she said.

This week, Bertinelli and others across the region have pledged to do all of their shopping at local businesses in honor of Independents Week, an event made official by Gov. Janet Napolitano. Participants can visit the Local First Arizona Web site for coupons for about 50 locally owned businesses.

To learn more about Local First Arizona or check out its database of businesses, visit localfirstaz.com.

• Scrubbin Pups

"We do absolutely everything with the dog, the cat," owner Casey Romijn said. "We've even done a couple of the more exotic animals."

Customers can find tubs, shampoo, towels, dryers, cologne and everything else they need to wash their pets without making a mess in their homes, Romijn said.

Or they can leave the animals for staff to wash or groom.

Animals are not put in cages and baths take about an hour, Romijn said. Grooming take about an hour and a half, he said.

"We'll bathe it for you, give it a bath, cut the nails, do the ears, eyes, express anal glands," Romijn said. "It's a spa day for the dog." Location: 15425 S. 48th St., Suite 104.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (plus often beyond those hours) Tuesday through Saturday. Monday and Sunday hours vary.

Information: 480-893-9180 or www.scrubbinpupsdogwash.com.

• Ausler's Grill

The restaurant is a "comfort-food grill with a lot of sandwiches and salads," co-owner Rod Ticknor said.

"A lot of people are looking for something different - flavor, value, as well as just some place different besides all the chain restaurants," he said. "Hands-down, our salads just rule."

Prime rib is offered on Fridays and Saturdays for dinner. Bourbon salmon, mahi mahi, chicken and steaks are also on the menu.

Popular lunchtime favorites are the Club West salad, named after the Ahwatukee homeowners association; the strawberry/apple salad; and the grilled salmon salad, said Ticknor, who co-owns the restaurant with wife Kim.

The Ahwatukee-tinis are made with peach Schnapps, cranberry juice and lime juice, and the South Mountain mudslide is a chocolate-flavored alcoholic concoction. Wednesdays are half-priced martinis all day, Ticknor said.

Location: 1339 E. Chandler Blvd.

Hours: Restaurant from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

Information: 480-283-9600 or www.auslers.com.

• Fruttia

The store has Italian frozen yogurt, manager Daniel Kim said.

"This is totally non-fat, healthier than any other yogurt or ice cream," Kim said, adding that the yogurt has what some call a "tart taste."

It comes in two flavors - original and green tea - and then there are about 20 toppings that can be added, including white chocolate, Fruity Pebbles, Oreos, granola, coconut, almonds, walnuts and fruit.

Couples and larger groups can share bingsoo, layered frozen yogurt with shaved ice at the bottom and about six fruit toppings, Kim said.

Inside the brightly colored store, Fruttia offers board games and wireless Internet.

Location: 4810 E. Ray Road, Suite 7.

Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 480-961-8177 or www.fruttia.com.

• Florencia Pizza Bistro

Jakiw and Lidia Yemetz started the restaurant in 1976 in the Los Angeles area, then moved it to Mesa and then to Ahwatukee almost nine years ago. The couple retired and son Val Yemetz now owns it with his wife, Stefanie.

"We make everything in-house, crust and sauce ourselves," Val Yemetz said. "We pay special attention to detail. We . . . mix our dough a little differently. It gives it a light and fluffy crust and texture."

One of the most popular specialty pizzas is the Stefanos, which has spinach, feta cheese, calamata olives, onions and olive oil, he said. An unusual offering is the Raspotle, which has chicken, roasted bell peppers and a raspberry chipotle sauce.

Individual-size 10-inch pizzas are available and the restaurant also serves calzones and salads.

"We treat people like family," Yemetz said. "That's the advantage of the mom-and-pops. You get to meet the owner of the place." He said the restaurant also supports many local youth teams and groups.

Location: 3646 E. Ray Road.

Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 480-704-7404 or www.florenciapizzabistro.com.

Scrubbin Pups manger and groomer Ashley Wetzel gives George, a standard poodle, a haircut. The locally owned Ahwatukee business also caters to dog owners who would like to use the facilities to wash their dogs themselves.