St. Charles, MO: The Crooked Tree

t’s not just the French toast and crêpes that draw people out of their way to The Crooked Tree.  It’s also the classic turn of the 20^th Century eclectic style that surrounds them while enjoying that breakfast they’ve paired perfectly with the signature drink Café 559. Crooked Tree’s Café 559 is an espresso with steamed milk and a perfect blend of seven secret flavors. Breakfast in a unique coffee shop – a welcome change from any diner.

In 2002 Stein & Julie Hunter decided it was time to put Stein’s 25 years of restaurant experience to the ultimate test.  They designed their shop from the ground up with a mission in mind:

Provide an environment where our guests can feel at home, and our employees can better themselves through gainful employment. Serve good coffee and great comfort food. Treat everyone like a friend. Work hard. Laugh every day!

And what better place to test their dream than a place where the crooked tree legend has inspired many generations of St. Charles residents to take pictures, watch for springtime blossoms and to relax and play under broad catalpa leaves. Their success has proven them.

Just like the relaxing environment of any old Victorian home would have a piano, so does The Crooked Tree.  If you’re a musician and get the urge to play a tune, you are most welcome.  But not common to the Victorian era, a guitar also awaits the customer/musician. It’s a nice change for a coffee shop and the acoustics are great with hardwood floors and a tin ceiling.

So when you’re in Saint Charles and need to rest your feet with a bottomless cup of great coffee, perhaps have a meal or a delectable pastry, remember to stop by The Crooked Tree.  Maybe you’ll understand why the AOL survey voted them #1 in St. Louis.

Terry Sellers: A Servant's Heart in Business & Everywhere

“I’ve always been an individualistic thinker. Even when I worked under others, I was my own boss. They let me run with it because I knew what I was doing and I made them money,” muses Terry Sellers of Grandview Furnace & MidWest Geothermal. Born and raised in Independence, MO, Terry didn’t always know he would own a successful business one day.

“My Dad was in retail management and I knew I liked what he did. So I worked through high school at Western Auto and enjoyed it because of being able to get to know and help people. But I really loved architecture and thought I’d get into that.”

After graduating from Truman High School in 1969, he went to college for a year. The next year, rather than take the chance of being drafted, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served six years.

After the Navy, Sellers worked for a heating and air conditioning company while going to night school for an Associates Degree in Climate Control Technology. By that time, knowing he would be a business owner someday, Terry continued onto college for a Bachelor’s in Business Management.

“I enjoyed the heating and cooling industry because I was involved in new homes construction. I was fascinated by the engineering behind construction and design.”

In 1983, Terry landed in Grandview, working at Grandview Furnace Company.

“I liked this company because it was innovative. They were the first company in the area to start working with closed loop geothermal heating and cooling systems, with all piping underground. Before closed loop, the system was only based on underground water source. When the closed loop system was introduced in 1978, it brought geothermal into the residential market.”

In the meantime, he met the love of his life, Barbara. “We were married in 1985,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes. They started their marriage like his parents did, on New Year’s Eve.

In 1987, Curt Bond, Jr., the owner of Grandview Furnace changed his focus in the industry and sold the company to Sellers. There was no time left for college, but the business has done well regardless.

“I was an orphan and adopted by wonderful parents. You go through a lot when that is the beginning of your life and I guess because of that it just became my nature to serve people. I have a servant’s mentality, to wait on people, to care for them. When people need something I want to be there for them. And in business when you fix something for them they are thankful. This happens over and over again. It never stops. This is what it means to provide a service.”

That servant’s heart is also evident in the Sellers’ entire family, that has grown to include four daughters, sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren. “Our home is open to missionaries on furlough. We enjoy it because we can serve them.”

Terry has been on several missionary journeys overseas. “In the Philippines we actually were allowed to minister to teens in the high school. There is an evangelist there, Leon, who has a program called Say No to Drugs/Say Yes to God. In his quiet and somewhat soothing voice he begins the story,“Here’s what happened while we there. We went to a rural village of squatters. They have little if any electricity. In fact, one hut we passed was in such disrepair, I asked if people actually lived there, thinking my grandkids’ tree house is nicer than that. Yes, people lived there. We brought food, prayed with the people, taught.  While they were distributing the food, I noticed a young woman standing outside, off the porch. My heart went out to her and I had the interpreter ask if I could pray for her. She said yes that would be fine. So we did. After the food was distributed, the plan was to take any leftovers to a family who was not present. We left for the hut I noticed on the way in. It had four thatched walls, a dirt floor with a mat. I asked where the bathroom was; someone pointed out to the trees. It was the young woman’s house. We visited with the family for quite awhile. It was an awesome experience. We prayed again. I told the young woman a little bit about my life. She said she wanted the Lord as her Savior. Later I learned her story. She was 17, got involved with a man, became pregnant, then learned he was married. So she lived with her mother and three siblings in this little hut. Her father had deserted them awhile back. Several other siblings just roamed the streets of the city. I told Leon before I left that I wanted to support her through her pregnancy. I have surrogate daughters all over the world. This would be another one. Leon and his wife took her to their house to have the baby in a clean environment. She had a baby girl. A reconciliation within her family occurred. Her sister left her life of prostitution and came home. Her father came home. Leon has 10 acres that he farms to keep his food program going. On the property is a small cottage. This girls’ entire family moved into the house to run the farm. She has gone back to school.”

That story brought tears to my eyes, to be sure. I was learning about the depth of this man’s soul. I always knew Terry had a gentle spirit, but I had no idea how much he put his faith into action. No wonder people call him for their HVAC systems; his strong convictions are evident in everything he does.

“I didn’t do everything right that’s for sure,” kind hearted Terry explains. “But the way I look at it, every type of business is involved in serving people. You are not in business to see what you can get out of it. But to see how you can provide a service and fill someone else’s needs. It all comes down to biblical principles: it’s better to give than to receive. Whatever it is: money, time, love, caring.  We all go into business to make a living, to make money. But if that’s your primary reason you will miss the mark. The ultimate satisfaction and reward is what you give to others. Making money is always there. But if we look at just the numbers side, it comes up short on the service side and the business loses customers. Work to keep and expand your customer base. Keeping them happy is keeping them served. When they’re not important to you anymore, well, okay, you’ll learn.

Would he do the business all over again? “Yeh, I would,” he responds with certainty. “I enjoy being a servant to others. It’s provided a good living for my family. I’m not rich. I liked where this company was headed in the 80s and where it continues. I never realized what a big player geothermal would be in the conservation of natural resources. It’s fun to be on the ground floor of that arena.”

Constituents in the industry call him Guru Ground Source. “I am the oldest ground source contractor in the KC area,” he adds, laughing. When you’re ready to replace your HVAC system or need repairs, be sure to give Terry a call at 816.761.6357.

Josh Acosta, DC: dedicated to serve

Some people maintain a steady, practical life path, and find themselves in the perfect place.

Dr. Josh Acosta of Acosta Chiropractic was the youngest of four sons in a military family. After many moves, in 1972 Dad retired.  They settled in Colorado Springs, CO. 

Eleven years later and out of high school, he took his mother’s advice that the military is a good place to get a career start. He enlisted in the US Air Force.

Josh separated from the Air Force at age 24, still clueless as to his career path.  But while active duty he hurt his back and it was still not ‘quite right’ when he returned home. A friend worked for a chiropractor and Acosta began bartering services with the doctor, doing odd jobs around the office. It was a good move because his back was healed.

Observing Josh’s interest in health and wholeness, the doctor suggested, “I think you would make a good chiropractor. Think about it.” He did.

“Once I decided what to do, I just went ahead and did it. I assumed it would all work out,” Acosta says with confidence. By now it was 1988. He attended Pikes Peak Community College at night. Next he went to Park College (now Park U) in Parkville, MO because one of his brothers lived nearby and it had the best program to prepare for chiropractic. From Park he continued to Cleveland Chiropractic College and graduated in 1993.

Acosta returned to work for the same Colorado Springs chiropractor who inspired him.  Not long after, he passed his Texas board because that doctor had another clinic in Dallas. By the time Josh was licensed there, no positions were available. Though he had met the girl of his dreams while at Cleveland, he was still single, making his next move easy. He bought a practice in Texas in May 1995 and was married that September to Sherri.

The Acostas stayed in Texas until 2005 when Sherri wanted to be closer to her aging parents in Kansas. He searched the Kansas City area for a practice and found Dr. Brown on Main Street who was ready to retire.  On October 31, 2005, the practice belonged to Josh Acosta.

“In a small business, everything is more personal. Every decision you make effects you and your family. And the people you eventually hire. You have to have a good plan, trust your gut feelings, and hope you are making the right decisions. Get a good product, provide a good service, and hope it all works out.

“I have a lot of friends who complain about their jobs. I look forward to getting up everyday because I have a passion for what I do.

“I had been in Texas about six months, when one of my patients had a daughter who fell off the bed. She was two, and landed on her neck and shoulder. X-rays said everything was okay but her neck had only 5 degrees of movement in each direction. Their doctor was at a loss. They brought her in and said, ‘why don’t you just see what happens’. On my way to the office each morning I stopped by their house. I set the baby on my lap and used an instrument called a chiropractic actuator on her neck, shoulder and upper back. After work each day the parents brought her in. In two weeks she had 50% more movement in her neck. And in a month, she was completely healed. That happened early enough in my career to see how I could really make a difference in people’s lives. I get to see people like that everyday.”

The Acostas now have two children, ages 10 and 8. “I have been blessed to be in the area to get to know family and friends. God willing, I will be around for awhile.”

Dr. Acosta blesses others not just through his services but also through community involvement. He offers four major specials a year where the savings to patients benefit Grandview Assistance Program, like their annual Coat and Food Drive this month.

When your body could use a massage or physical therapy modalities for ailments like frozen shoulder and arthritis or your range of motion is not what it should be, call or walk in to Acosta Chiropractic at 1020 Main Street, Grandview.  You are sure to leave refreshed.

Julie Ellis: Proving What Women can Do

The talk around town in 1993 was, “Oh, I don’t know about a woman buying this business. Afterall, this is mostly for men.” That’s when primary owner Julie Ellis and husband Gary bought Grandview Barber Shop, then located at Grandview Plaza. Julie has proved it was a very good move not only for her but also for her customers.

Born at Ft. Bragg, Julie was a “military brat” as a young child. Eventually she stopped moving around and at about age 13 moved to Belton with her mom and stepdad. Julie has had a life filled with ups and downs that she has learned to ride very well.

By age 19 Julie had two young children and was on welfare. Her stepdad supported her being on welfare with one caveat: “The objective of being on welfare is to get off welfare.” She didn’t blame anyone but herself for needing to support three on an income of $280/month. She found a way to change that. Though she never had an interest in doing hair, when a friend started at the old Grandview Beauty College on Main Street and invited her to attend, she thought, “Why not?” Julie was surprised that she enjoyed doing men’s cuts, which she had a knack for.

Grandview Plaza Barber shop was one of the first businesses to open at Grandview Plaza in 1971. It was owned by Tommy Compton, who has since passed. Tommy hired on Julie, the first woman to work there. It’s the only place she’s ever done hair.

Though she has proved herself now, in the early years, it was not easy being a woman in a man’s working world. She recalls when John Brownfield, now a retired barber, had a customer come in with his son. John said, “Well, Julie can cut your son’s hair.” “Oh, no,” the customer replied and twice repeated, “A man’s gotta do it.” Julie burst into tears and ran out of the shop.

Husband Gary was a barber at the shop. They bought the business in October 1993 and were married the following year. Gary now does all the shop’s accounting. Julie cannot stop talking about what a great husband Gary is and how she owes much of her success in life and business to him. Gary is older than Julie. As she says, “I’m young enough to keep him from being too ‘codgy’ and he’s old enough to keep my feet on the ground.”

As the old shopping center slowed down, she moved the business to Main Street. For two main reasons Julie is fortunate that barbers Roy and Frank, with the shop since 1973 and 1978 respectively, are still with her today. One, she can leave the shop for a day and fully trust them and, two, all the customers know them. Today many of Grandview Barber Shop’s adult customers are the children of original customers.

When Julie is not cutting hair, she is spending time with their three adult children who live nearby and her five year old grandson, the cherry on the top of her life and whom she lovingly calls, buggerhead. And when she’s not involved with them, she’s active with the Midwest Chapt of the Young Marines Unit or sewing blankets for friends, family or charity. Her biggest sewing project was 35 blankets for the VA Hospital. She loves to make them as much as give them away, because, as she says, “I’m a giver.”

Reflecting on her life and her journey as a business owner, Julie comments, “It’s been long, hard and great. I’m the eternal optimist. I don’t carry things around. And I’m fortunate to buy a well established business with a good reputation.” Her advice to people, “Don’t give up. Try hard. Life can always be worse. I’ve had some rough times but I can’t complain.”

When you need your next haircut, head over to see Julie, Roy and Frank at 713 Main Street, 8 to 6 Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 to 3 Saturdays. You’ll likely know why generation after generation continues to do business with them.