4 • NOVEMBER 2019
LUKE WHITTAKER
Kaarina Stotts and her son Aarin, 12, pose for a picture inside the Neptune Theatre in Long Beach in early November.
Stotts is planning to expand the lobby to include more food and games in the coming months.
past that have not done so well
because they didn’t like people.
You can’t run a successful peo-
ple-based business if you don’t
like people. Listen to the needs
of your customers. You cannot
base your decisions only around
what you like.”
What are some of your
immediate and future goals for
your business?
“An addition on the Neptune
will be starting first thing in Jan-
uary! We are bumping the build-
ing out 14 feet in the front, mov-
ing the entrance closer to and
facing the parking lot. We will
move our concession counter
accordingly. The lobby will grow
with room for a few tables and
chairs and hopefully a few pin-
ball machines. We will be offer-
ing a small bit of food like hot
dogs, hamburgers, nachos and
hopefully slices of pizza.”
What is your proudest
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
book. So unbelievably nice! I
have another couple who come
to literally almost every sin-
gle movie, sometimes more than
once. We have gotten to know
each other very well to the point
where we know their grand-
children, have been their sup-
port through surgery, they give
“parenting” advice to me when I
need it. They have become great
friends. I have met people from
all over the country and world,
for that matter. Very rarely do we
get a not-so-friendly type here at
the theater, which is what I love
best!
What’s been the biggest les-
son you’ve learned as a busi-
ness owner?
“Oh jeez, I’ve done this so
long I don’t know how to answer.
I guess just that you can’t please
everyone. There is always going
to be someone that is going to
complain or not be happy with
something. It gets very old but
luckily they are few and far
between!”
What advice would you
offer a new business owner?
“Do not associate any opinion
with politics and religion. Unfor-
tunately, people will judge or
boycott your business if you do
not have the same beliefs, which
is silly really. Don’t be afraid to
ask for help. Research anything
you can before making a deci-
sion. Do not be afraid to stand up
for yourself, even when others
are telling you otherwise. Don’t
‘half-ass’ anything. If you’re
going to do something, do it right
the first time. If you are in a cus-
tomer-based business, make sure
you can handle it. I have met
some business owners in the
COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL
BUSINESS NEWS
accomplishment as a business
owner?
“The Neptune, hands down.
This year has been quite chal-
lenging in every way possible
and to be here right now, and still
be in business is a blessing. This
time last year, I wasn’t so sure.
But, I think it is doing better than
ever as we have all worked hard
to make it a fun, inviting, afford-
able place to go.”
What do you feel is the
biggest challenge for your
businesses?
“The biggest challenge was
definitely earning everyone’s
trust in a business that had let
people down so much in the past.
To let people know that, ‘Hey,
we are here and we are not going
anywhere’. You will get great
service and hopefully be com-
fortable and not feel like you
have to get a second mortgage
just to go out for an evening. You
won’t have to worry about com-
ing to watch a movie and find-
ing it unexpectedly closed. It has
taken some time but I think we
are there. People know what to
expect and look forward to it.
What do you feel is the big-
gest regulatory burden cur-
rently facing your business?
“Like any business you have
payroll. It’s always the biggest
expense and an expense that you
cannot earn back (like conces-
sions). But other than the obvi-
ous, definitely the cost of the
movies themselves. The whole
string of bills that come with
each movie is crazy. They aren’t
kidding that the only way to
make money at a movie theatre is
from the concessions.”
Are there any changes you
would like to see regarding
business regulations or laws?
“Luckily, this new business
that I am in does not put me face
to face with much of this. There
is the stuff that affects every
business no matter what business
it is and there is never going to
be a way around that but, that’s
pretty much it for me. I have
no corporations that I have to
answer to anymore, no one really
bothers me. It’s great!”
Live
Sponsored by:
Presents
Luke & Brianne
Probasco
Paul Delau &
Barbara Hannah
Birch Pereira
& The Gin Joints
Dennis Company
Willapa Portable
Toilet Services
Tickets are $20
in advance
$25 on
performance day
November 24, 2019
ntry folk music
d cou
Featuring rockabilly, jazz, an
In the
HISTORIC
RAYMOND THEATRE
Buy advance tickets at: www.sundayafternoonlive.org
or by phone (360) 836-4419 • PO Box 964, South Bend, WA. 98586