Meet Josie. Josie is one of our favorite kid customers that frequents our Hermosa Beach restaurant. Having just recently turned 2 years old, Josie dressed up especially cute to have her picture taken for our newsletter. Since she had her family holiday photos taken just the week before, she was a professional at posing for the camera. She was a little concerned about wearing her purple Ugg boots instead of her rain boots for the rainy day. Luckily, dad was there to help her out. Josie has 2 dogs, and once a week has a special breakfast with just her and her dad at the Hermosa Good Stuff. She loves scrambled eggs, strawberries and toast with extra butter. Josie, thank you for coming in and making us smile!

 
This month I would like to spotlight Cris Bennett. Besides his obvious accomplishments in pioneering the entire Good Stuff concept, Cris has also gone out of his way on many occasions to give back to the community. He has given so much that he was recently named the 2004 “Businessman of the Year” by the Redondo Beach Rotary Club for his many contributions. The Rotary’s annual award is given to individuals within the community who go out of their way to donate time and money to local programs, according to past president, Steve Aspel.
Steve nominated Bennett for the reward and says, “It’s not the business with the largest gross revenue or most employees, but it goes to a person that gives back to the community. Cris is very involved and he doesn’t ask for accolades. He just does.” Bennett is also been the president of the Manhattan Beach Downtown Business Professional Association (DBPA) for the past year. He comments, “It’s nice to work with the community, with grass-roots groups, it really makes you feel like what you do is making a difference.” He has also received a volunteer service award from the Tulita School PTA where his children go to school. Cris thinks this is, “an incredible community and I’m lucky that my work allows me to be very involved.” He adds, “My wife is also very involved in the community.” Besides running his 5 restaurants, Cris also presently coaches two youth soccer teams and a youth baseball team. “We’re really busy and we can’t always do everything that everyone asks us to do, but I think we’re doing a good job. I feel good about it.” Well, Cris, it looks like the community feels good about it too. Thanks to the Rotary Club for honoring a man we have personally seen sacrifice for others again and again. “It (the plaque) says ‘service about self” and when I saw that, well, I was really honored,” says Bennett.
Written by Christine Smith, sister-in-law