northeast kansas enterprise facilitation's entrepreneur spotlight
DESCRIPTION
Entrepreneurs Darin and Amy Schmitz are highlighted in this issue.TRANSCRIPT
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Northeast Kansas Enterpr ise Faci l i tat ion Ini t ia t ive Volume 9 , Issue 3
M arch 2013
Project Outcomes:
(June 2, 2003 to February 28, 2013
Total Clients
Assisted: 833
Businesses Started:
71
Businesses
Expanded: 20
Jobs Created: 266
Businesses
Retained: 10
Jobs Retained: 84
Tune-Ups of Existing
Businesses: 68
For more information contact:
Facilitator Teresa McAnerney (785) 364-0583
Board Chair David Key (785) 336-2184
Visit: www.nekef.org
Last October Darin and Amy Schmitz
opened Schmitz Drive Thru Liquor and
Deli in Seneca, KS. The businesses are
located at 310 North Street (36 Highway).
The Schmitz had a dream to start a
business and finally the dream is reality. It
was not without months of planning and
hard work that they achieved their goal.
“Darin and Amy were diligent; they
investigated every aspect of the industry
while composing their business plan,” says
Teresa McAnerney of Northeast Kansas
Enterprise Facilitation (NEKEF). The
couple called McAnerney at the beginning
of their planning process. “Enterprise
Facilitation was so helpful to us! Teresa
provided planning tools and community
resource board members provided expert
assistance,” Darin Schmitz relayed at a
recent NEKEF board meeting. Schmitz
also commented on the five county
networking aspect of the group saying he
was able to find shelving at
a greatly reduced price due
to the group.
The couple purchased a
building in an excellent
location on Highway 36
that had a great parking lot,
plenty of interior space and
was set up perfectly to add
a drive thru window. With
room to circle the building
and approval of the city
they opened the only drive
thru liquor store in the
area. The building had to
be totally renovated and
with the help of Darin and
Amy’s fathers’ and other
family members that was (Continued on Page 2)
Cheers to Schmitz Drive Thru Liquor and Deli
Upcoming Events
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
March 15 & 16, 2013
Visit the NEKEFI Booth
Holton Spring Expo
The Fair Building
Holton, KS
April 4, 2013
NEKEF Board Meeting
6:00 pm Dinner/Meeting
Atchison County
Venue to be determined
May 2, 2013
NEKEF Board Meeting
6:00 pm Dinner/Meeting
Doniphan County
Darin and Amy Schmitz with their children, Trenton, Josie and Kendra
Northeast Kansas Enterpr ise Faci l i tat ion Ini t ia t ive Volume 9 , Issue 3
M arch 2013
accomplished quickly. It was a natural fit to have a deli
attached for quick food to go along with ice, soda and
snacks. The Schmitz knew they wanted to offer high
quality “fast food” but they also knew they wanted to be
different. That led to adding a special lunch menu that
runs from 11am-1:30pm offering Mexican food, including
taco salads, burritos, rice bowls with choices such as
chicken, ground beef, spicy steak, refried or black beans
and of course all the fixings. Along with a wide variety of
deli meats and cheeses and any sandwich can be made into
a wrap. The Schmitz say that the Mexican fare is going
over very well and they are considering expanding it to a
nightly special due to requests from customers.
The liquor store offers an expansive variety of beer, wine
and liquors. There is hundreds of brands and varieties to
choose and the Schmitz will offer suggestions too if you
are looking for ideas and drink recipes. “I am not a wine
expert but I am learning more and more every day from
customers who are experts” says Darin, “so I can pass that
information and feedback on to other customers in helping
them make choices”. They are also happy to take custom
orders for specialty items. The couple’s goal is to have
the coldest beer available, they said that people in Nemaha
county work hard and many may enjoy an icy cold beer at
the end of the day.
Stop in and say hello, order some excellent food and then
be sure to get some cheer from the liquor store and from
the owners!
Cheers to Schmitz Drive Thru Liquor and Deli
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
Board Chair David Key and board members were on hand to
present the Schmitz with the Partners in Success Ribbon at
their Grand Opening in December 2012
Pictured left to right: Teresa McAnerney, Amy Schmitz, Darin
Schmitz, Betty Lortscher, Gary Lortscher and David Key
Schmitz Drive Thru Liquor and Deli
310 North Street (Highway 36)
Seneca, KS 66538
Call Ahead! 785-334-DELI (3354)