New location takes Donna’s to new level
Donna’s School of Dance is starting another chapter of its 41-year history with a new studio that will offer music lessons and yoga.
The business — soon to be named Donna’s School of Dance and Music — is remodeling the entire lower floor of the Redwood Plaza Building, just beneath City Hall.
Donna Darby has taught dance at five locations since she started the business. Still, the new location takes the studio to a new level.
“We’re going to have almost 8,000 square feet, so we’re almost tripling our size,” said Darby, who owns the business with her daughters, Dena Spencer and Darcy Case.
Donna’s is temporarily without a home after closing its last studio in June.
Instead of holding her traditional summer dance camps, Darby is preparing for the opening of the new studio by taking phone registrations and interviewing music instructors.
When the studio is up and running, Darby plans to offer a variety of lessons.
The new facility has six music rooms for piano, guitar, voice and other lessons. Kindermusik, a children’s movement and music education program, will be available for children through age 7.
Three large dance studios will offer the latest in tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop, as well as new classes, including salsa dancing, yoga and Pilates.
The three dance studios have viewing rooms for parents. Parents can sit on padded bleachers and watch their budding performers through one-way glass.
Darby expects the renovations to be completed in August, with the new school opening in September. For information on classes, call 922-1011.
Taco Del Mar looks at Valley location
Taco Del Mar is negotiating lease space in a new retail complex that’s being built on the 500 block of north Sullivan on land that once held Living Water Community Church.
Todd Hicks, a master developer for the Seattle-based company, said the company is interested in establishing three stores in the area.
Taco Del Mar opened a restaurant at Windermere in April and Hicks hopes to finish paperwork for the proposed Sullivan location in the next two weeks and have that restaurant open sometime around October. He’s looking for a third location.
A Taco Del Mar was previously open downtown, but closed in 2003 after one year of business.
Taco Del Mar’s menu features a mix of Mexican cuisine, including fish tacos and taco salads. Stores operate under franchisee agreements, with 92 restaurants currently located throughout the country.
Tire store rolls out renovation
Firestone Tire and Service Center recently renovated its store at 10717 E. Sprague Ave.
The showroom and waiting area received floor to ceiling updates, which totaled between $40,000 and $50,000 and made the store more customer-friendly, said store manager Joey Crider.
Displays for tires and other merchandise are mounted on the walls, instead of stacked on the floor, making it easier for customers to see the entire selection and make choices. Airline-style seating was added to the waiting room and young children now have their own small space to sit and color.
The center also received new flooring, cabinets and lighting. Both the inside and outside were painted during the remodel, which took one week in June. During that week, the entire store temporarily worked out of the service area.
“It was a pretty big project,” Crider said, adding, “It looks like a completely different store.”