Business Closure Forestalled as Old Friends Come to Mark Woodburn’s Aid
by
Fred Dorfman

You could call this story a “Sus-Pender”, and it would certainly qualify as such. However, it is actually just a “Pender” story, Lisa and Tom to be precise, and of how their last-minute, at the brink of disaster help, breathed new life into Mark Woodburn’s Jump-Start Espresso and Smoothies business.

Six months ago, the story told was of how the economy has been especially cruel to business owner, Mark Woodburn. His words of how, “Gas for the vehicle trumps a latte no matter how good it is”, has rung especially true for most of today’s business owners.  For Mark, it meant the end of his dreams of a successful business and the type of independence that is especially difficult for individuals with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  As was the case, he was forced to put his business up for sale with the hopes that he could pull out some of his equity to pay bills and to keep afloat until he could figure out what to do next. As you might have guessed, there were no buyers for his business and he was forced to close and move his kiosk out of the Food City/Chase Bank parking lot in late February.

Had the story ended here, Mark’s prospects would have looked decidedly grim, despite his friendliness and “Can Do” attitude. Even with good intentions, Mark has his limits both physically and cognitively. His personal challenges are formidable and significant barriers to competitive employment. He knew well that it would take a special company or individual to provide the accommodations he would require to engage in constructive, meaningful employment.

However, this story did not end as expected with the closing of his parking lot kiosk. Instead, his efforts to survive took an unexpected turn for the better, thanks to Tom and Lisa. They were well aware of Marks challenges to survive and decided they should do something to help their old friend. Not doing anything, was just not an option for this husband and wife team. After all Mark had been one of Tom’s best friends throughout their high school years at Mingus. They were team mates, classmates and had been there for each other through the good times and the bad.

Fortunately for Mark, his good friends were in a position to help. Besides having the inclination to assist him, they too own businesses as well as property in Old Town Cottonwood. Tom operates Pender Engineering and Lisa, Little Lisa’s Gifts, Cards and Printing two doors down the street. Their idea was to have Mark setup his beverage business in Little Lisa’s. The kind of help they offered was clearly beyond talk and involved personal time, resources and money. Simply they wanted to help and offered Mark an opportunity to continue doing business and more so to help him maintain his dignity and independence.

 Bringing Jump Start into Lisa’s business was easier said than done. There were major plumbing and electrical challenges. Counters, sinks, tables, chairs and cabinets had to be secured along with the professionals capable of meeting the challenges that come with refurbishing old buildings. Not withstanding these obstacles, there was also the matter of the money to do this. When asked who was paying for all this, their reply was simply said, “We’ll figure it out one way or another”, which is exactly what Tom and Lisa did.

Good intentions aside, there was also the matter of Mark’s rent, utilities and other life’s expenses. Once again, the Penders were in a position to help. Seeing that this is their property, they put aside Mark’s rent with the caution, “…if you make money, you pay rent. If you don’t, you don’t,’ doesn’t get any clearer than that. Still Mark was not out of the woods entirely. There was also the matter of making money, buying food, and paying for his apartment and utilities. Fortunately for Mark, at the same time the Penders were formulating their plan, social security came through and determined him eligible for benefits.  

Putting the good news aside, Mark would remind us that this is only part of the story. He declared, “My plan is to do so well in my new location, that I’ll have to pay tons of rent to the Penders, tons of taxes to help balance the state and federal budgets and put Social Security support on hold until I retire…..if I ever do.” In the meantime, the owner of Jump Start Espresso and Smoothies invites you to his new location at 1012 N. Main St, in Old Town Cottonwood inside Little Lisa’s, two doors down from Pender Engineering and across the street from Jim Ledbetter’s new law office. He declares with all the confidence of someone who truly knows, “you’ll love the new store’s ambiance and especially the best coffee drinks and smoothies in town”.

Good luck Mark and when you stop by Jump Start, please take time to thank Tom and Lisa for their generosity and inspiration.