Everybody’s business

Pita eater
A downtown storefront is going from soap to pitas. With Body and Bath moving out of 240 Broadway, the Pita Pit is moving in.

It’s a 9-year-old chain based in Canada, and the company offers franchises ($131,800 to $197,000 initial investment) throughout the United States, including locations in Davis, San Francisco and West Hollywood.

The Pita Pit boasts only “healthy” food (no fries or burgers). Customers line up at an L-shaped counter and pick their pitas, which are assembled using toppings of choice ranging from babaganoush to feta cheese.

The Pita Pit sounds tasty enough, but I’d also like to give a shout out to locally owned Sultan’s Bistro, which has been making delicious gyros and other Greek food in the Phoenix Building downtown for nine years and says it isn’t worried about the new shop at all.

Seniors score
When I retire, probably 50 or 60 years from now, I’m going to do a lot of sitting around and watching bad TV. Maybe I’ll travel, if I have the dough.

The senior citizens who are members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.) aren’t content to sit around and catch up on their fishing. They’re staying involved by counseling owners of new and growing small businesses.

“It’s an opportunity to volunteer some skills the people who are going into business or who own a business and have problems can use,” said Bill McKinnon, a counselor with the regional S.C.O.R.E. office.

McKinnon, who opened a Chico Baskin-Robbins in 1968 and later started a retail nut shop operation, said it’s a natural for former businesspeople to remain involved in the community after they retire. “It’s fun to sit down across the table from somebody and have them tell you what they’d like to do.”

Chico businesspeople have a chance to be on the other side of the table at a $20 May 15 workshop at the Chico Chamber of Commerce, where S.C.O.R.E. volunteers will talk on buying, operating and selling a franchise business.

S.C.O.R.E. is also looking for more volunteers, particularly women, who can offer seven to 10 hours a month in service. Call 342-8932.

They love a parade
The first … well, the first of the new incarnation of the Pioneer Day Parade took place May 5, and the judges have picked their float favorites. This is a partial list.

The sweepstakes award for best entry went to Tau Gamma Theta fraternity. The Ed Walser Spirit Award went to A.S. Recycling and Emma Wilson Elementary School.

First place for a sorority float went to Alpha Chi; the best frat float was by Tau Gamma Theta. Top color guard and high-school marching band went to Pleasant Valley High School; best junior-high marching band was Hank Marsh. First place for commercial unit in motion was Valley Oaks Children’s Services; first place for community unit in motion was Skidz; and first place for novelty unit in motion was Sigma Kappa.