Spring Break
As one door opens, another one closes (part 2)
Lack of business, poor economy means end for North Shore
Morgan Plummer
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: News
North Shore Smoothies - known for its healthy, fresh and Hawaiian-influenced smoothies - has closed its doors.
After opening in Jan. 2007, the shop closed down in the middle of October this year.
North Shore Smoothies was located on the corner of N.W. Kings Boulevard and N.W. Monroe Avenue, on the first floor of the OSU student apartment building The Gem.
Elizabeth Nepute was a current employee when she heard the news.
"I got called in and was told that the economy had gotten too bad and that there was not enough business, so we would be closing down. We had a lot of loyal customers, but not enough, I guess," Nepute said.
Another employee, Christina Dumas, left the smoothie shop the month prior to it shutting down.
She had worked there for almost a year and quit due to her schedule outside of work.
"It was a really good environment to work in, the atmosphere was fun and the smoothies, food and coffee were excellent," Dumas said.
Dumas added that when she worked there in the summer, business was slow and less employees were needed; while during the school year, the shop got much more attention.
North Shore Smoothies owner Tim Lesmeister was not available to comment. Lesmeister is also owner of Nordsman, Inc. Investigations and works as a private investigator.
Lesmeister is a 1995 Oregon State graduate from the college of business and earned his degree in marketing management.
Most of the business the shop received was from residents of The Gem, since it was located in the bottom of the building. It was also popular with OSU students because they could use their OSU Card Cash to purchase food and drinks.
The shop usually had coupons in the paper and Student Survival Kit booklets.
In reaction to the news of the business shutting down, former employee Dumas was very surprised.
"I felt like a lot of people liked what we had to offer, and we had a lot of regulars," Dumas said.
On the other hand, it came as a bit of a relief for Nepute, who was overloaded with work from other jobs.
"It was one of my three jobs, so in a way it was a relief of stress, but very sad at the same time because Tim worked hard, and it was his personal business that he had started, and now it is ending," Nepute said.
At the time of closure, Lesmeister had three employees, including Nepute and two others who had just recently been hired onto the staff.
Morgan Plummer, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
After opening in Jan. 2007, the shop closed down in the middle of October this year.
North Shore Smoothies was located on the corner of N.W. Kings Boulevard and N.W. Monroe Avenue, on the first floor of the OSU student apartment building The Gem.
Elizabeth Nepute was a current employee when she heard the news.
"I got called in and was told that the economy had gotten too bad and that there was not enough business, so we would be closing down. We had a lot of loyal customers, but not enough, I guess," Nepute said.
Another employee, Christina Dumas, left the smoothie shop the month prior to it shutting down.
She had worked there for almost a year and quit due to her schedule outside of work.
"It was a really good environment to work in, the atmosphere was fun and the smoothies, food and coffee were excellent," Dumas said.
Dumas added that when she worked there in the summer, business was slow and less employees were needed; while during the school year, the shop got much more attention.
North Shore Smoothies owner Tim Lesmeister was not available to comment. Lesmeister is also owner of Nordsman, Inc. Investigations and works as a private investigator.
Lesmeister is a 1995 Oregon State graduate from the college of business and earned his degree in marketing management.
Most of the business the shop received was from residents of The Gem, since it was located in the bottom of the building. It was also popular with OSU students because they could use their OSU Card Cash to purchase food and drinks.
The shop usually had coupons in the paper and Student Survival Kit booklets.
In reaction to the news of the business shutting down, former employee Dumas was very surprised.
"I felt like a lot of people liked what we had to offer, and we had a lot of regulars," Dumas said.
On the other hand, it came as a bit of a relief for Nepute, who was overloaded with work from other jobs.
"It was one of my three jobs, so in a way it was a relief of stress, but very sad at the same time because Tim worked hard, and it was his personal business that he had started, and now it is ending," Nepute said.
At the time of closure, Lesmeister had three employees, including Nepute and two others who had just recently been hired onto the staff.
Morgan Plummer, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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