Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 90
There is a new barbershop in town, located at the site that once housed Elro's Barbershop, on Central Avenue. Ayala'a Barbershop has been open almost a month, and is excited about this new opportunity to cut its way into the community's hearts. Owner Alfredo Ayala, along with barber Brent Martinez, opened the shop to give the residents of Shafter a new option when it comes to hair styles. They are ready to give you any type of cut you want, being well-versed in all of the new styles that are...
Wasco Veterinary Clinic is a symbol of compassion, dedication and love for animals and people alike. A family and locally owned business by Dr. Thomas Edick and his nephew, Dr. Brian Edick, they bring warmth and passion to the community they serve. Since 1981, they have built a legacy of exceptional care and community engagement that has earned the clinic a reputation for bringing the highest quality of service, complete with a friendly and dynamic team of ten, including Jenifer Abernathy, who...
Candelaria's Bakery has only been open for a few months, but the business is growing and building a reputation for great pastries and cakes. Owned and operated by Enrique Gonzalez and his wife, Candelaria, Candelaria's is open seven days a week and serves a variety of pastries, cakes and breads. Gonzalez said that they also make tamales. When we visited, they had pork, beef, and jalapeno and corn varieties. Gonzalez said that this is their first venture into their own business. Gonzalez has...
Dutch Bros Coffee opened its doors to the public on Monday with a ribbon cutting commemorating the occasion. Members of the community and Wasco leadership attended the celebration. Morgan Rapp is the regional operator. "We are so honored to serve the community that is just as excited to be here and part of what we do." He said they decided to come to Wasco because the community is so loving. "We are thrilled to bring Dutch love to this city and thought we'd be a perfect fit." Rapp shared that...
Raciel Mendez of Tint Cartel has served the Wasco community for the last year. He comes from Madera, where he owned Sin Cal Glass and Tint for eight years. He prides himself in offering high-quality work at reasonable prices. His is a mobile business, and comes to residential, commercial or automotive clients. Mendez is from a Hispanic family, with his parents originating from Oaxaca and Durango in Mexico. He said they taught him Spanish and instilled in him the value of hard work and a...
If you are looking for affordable and gently used items for your family and home, Wasco 2nd Hand Store may help meet your tight budget and save money. The owner, Maria Teresa Valdez, comes from Jalisco, Mexico, where she owned a clothing store and a fruit and vegetable market. "Ever since living in Mexico before getting married, we always had small businesses. When I came to Wasco in 1995, I wanted to continue that." In March of 2003, she realized her goal. She said she has a little bit of...
Comida Travel in Wasco provides personalized, boutique-style advisory service to ensure one makes the best of their trip with the help of a knowledgeable and seasoned travel professional. Katie Moreno is the owner. By day she is a special assignment teacher at Wasco High School, assisting other teachers with classroom technology and state testing in the Spring. She is also the advisor of the high school's Traveling Tigers Club. She has taken students to Spain, Italy and France in this capacity....
Nancy Guardado has been helping the community celebrate for six years, be it parties with pinatas, inflatables, a bunch of candy and whatever items needed to make a great party. Candyland has been open in Shafter for six years, thriving even during the pandemic, which challenged a lot of store owners in Shafter and Wasco. When we visited Guardado in 2022, she was just opening her second store, in downtown Wasco. She was there just over a year, but closed the store to concentrate on the Shafter...
Wasco Sno-Shack has served the community for the last 33 years. It is a family-owned business founded by Elvia Garza in 1990 and passed down in 2010 to her daughter, Stella Guerra. Sno-Shack is known for its delicious shaved ice cones. There are over 40 flavors and mixtures. Some of their most popular are vanilla with cream, coco con leche, mango-chamoy, cherry and the all-infamous Tiger's blood. "The ice is exquisitely soft, allowing each bite to melt effortlessly on your tongue, creating a...
Out of 100,000 chiropractors in the world, Dr. Dennis Campbell of Campbell Chiropractic is one of only about 3,000 physicians that practice the unique specialty of upper cervical chiropractic. Within that specialty, he practices the Blair technique, where he is one of 20 in the world at the highest skill level. More than half of his practice is from people that come from Visalia, Fresno, Paso Robles and Bakersfield. "And a lot further because of the particular specialty I do. The next close...
SnoFun, on Central Avenue in Shafter, has been doling out happiness, one scoop at a time, for over 30 years. Owners Amando and Ilyana Chavez operate the shop, assisted by their daughter, Audrey, who just celebrated her graduation from high school as SHS senior class president. Chavez said that her father, Fidel Gonzalez, started running the shop after acquiring it over 30 years ago. "We were from Monterey County, and my father heard of an ice cream shop for sale here in Shafter, and he decided t...
Blue Sushi prides itself on serving up authentic Japanese cuisine. Under new ownership, the restaurant has thrived. Daniel Vargas is the owner of the family business, with his sister, mother and aunt on the team. He has lived his whole life in Wasco, attending local schools and graduating from Wasco High School in 2018. Daniel decided to build his business in Wasco because he likes the small community. "I know a lot of people here. It feels like home, being around my family." He worked for the...
Bethany Cranfill, with her husband Jesse, a teacher at Maple School, was growing their own succulent plants at their home for years when she decided that it would make a great business for her to try. Armed with a wide variety of plants and self-taught knowledge through experience, Cranfill set out to open her own succulent business. "I quit my job and decided to do this full time, making a living doing something that I really love to do." She grows the plants in a garden setting in her...
A Shafter man is living his dream, thanks to a leap of faith that netted him a career doing something that he loves to do. Marco Avendano, of Tacos Avendano, has been in business for three years now, serving a variety of Mexican dishes, focusing on his specialty, tacos. Avendano was at a pop up event recently at the Gathering Church on Central Valley Highway in Shafter. Avendano said that business has been great, getting calls from his online presence, as well as a great following on his...
Frosty King in Shafter has been reigning over the city with its great food and customer service for over 15 years, with the business weathering storms to stay the course in remaining a staple in the city. Owner Sammy Ayash has been leading the restaurant in its operations for the entire run. The business had a popular following and then a hiccup when they learned that their previous location where the AmPm is located was being sold. Ayash found a new location a couple of blocks away. "It didn't...
Big Joe's Pool Service launched earlier this year and is off to a great start. Joseph Munoz and his wife, Allisyn, are the owners. Before opening his own business, Munoz worked servicing pools for another company, where he learned the ropes and accomplished expertise that would eventually serve him well in his new role. Munoz is a long-time resident who grew up in Shafter, and said he enjoys working there and in Wasco. So far, business is good. "It's exciting to see it start to pick up even...
A Shafter mother and daughter have taken a leap of faith, opening a booth in a popular antique shop in Bakersfield. Michelle and Adrianna Pompa have a display at the Timeless Antique Shop, 1415 19th St. The duo offers a great variety of items, from timeless décor items to homemade items that are created by Adrianna. Adrianna, who works for the county superintendent of schools, has had her own business for a few years now, creating her own soaps, scrubs, loofahs and earrings. She was having...
With the challenges owners face in caring for their pets, a local business is doing its part to giving customers a healthy and safe option for their four-legged family members. Bob Vella and Jennifer Carroll operate Penny Pet Products, based at the Minter Field complex. Vella said that the company has been operating for over a year and the business is doing very well, with customers enjoying having a healthy option for their pets locally. Penny Pet produces a wide variety of pet food, toys,...
MV Autoworks Collision Center opened in 2004. Over the years, the company has earned a reputation for quality work and attention to detail. Owner Jesus Luna manages the business, along with his large team including five technicians. "I have employees to look after,: he said "I am helping to feed their family like they are helping me." Luna graduated in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice from Cal State Bakersfield. While he was in school, he opened up his shop. "I was already up and running,...
Sandra's Wedding Shop has served the community of Wasco for the last 16 years. As the only store in town specializing in gowns for all occasions, her business has thrived. Owner Flor Casillas runs the shop by herself. Over the years, she has developed an expertise that allows her to deliver top-notch customer service. She sells wedding, bridesmaids and quinceañera gowns. "When people buy a dress, I offer free alterations and custom tailoring. That's not the case for other shops. In this way, I...
Sun Country Flowers in Shafter is now under new ownership. Carol Reichenbach, the owner of the shop for over 17 years, has decided that it is time to move on. Enter Amanda Kirschenmann, who has been growing her own flowers for a few years now. Kirschenmann started her own business a couple of years ago, growing flowers and plants and selling them online and in different spots around town, including from a display at the Tin Cup Coffee Shop, Amanda's Flowers. Kirschenmann no longer grows her own...
Strata Credit Union will host a groundbreaking event on Thursday, Sept. 29, to introduce its latest branch to benefit underserved communities like Wasco. "This is a $3.4 million investment that the credit union is making in the community of Wasco. It is a celebration, and we are inviting residents of Wasco to come join us," said Jose Gonzalez, vice president of sales and membership. The event will be an opportunity to get to know Strata leadership and learn more about its products and financial...
The Shafter Tobacco Shop has been serving the community for a couple of years now and the business has stayed strong, despite the challenges of the pandemic and the governor's efforts to limit the scope of the businesses operating as smoke shops. Owner Yassin Shaw said that the business has stayed strong because of the great people in Shafter and a loyal customer base that keeps them going through good times and tough times. The shop has a variety of tobacco products, including cigarettes,...
Wasco T-Shirts opened in 1999. Since then, the company has been a local leader in the industry. Victor Padilla is the owner and says he is passionate about his work. Padilla started from zero and was a truck driver before he launched his business. He was diagnosed with kidney failure, and that is when he decided to make the switch. "I am self-taught. It has been a tough road, up and down. Now I can say I am very successful." He does silk screen printing, embroidery and branding, including hats,...
Wasco Glass will celebrate 47 years in business next month. Since its inception, Wasco Glass has served the community with much love and dedication. Owner Eric Schroeder manages the business by himself, running the day-to-day operations and handling all of his many accounts. It is a family-owned business launched by his father in 1975, when Schroeder was a sophomore at Wasco High School. "We were a gas station and glass shop for 18 years," said Schroeder. In 1993, they decided to run the...
