Komo’s Cocina
Lisa Buchanan, co-owner of Komo’s Cocina, said the circumstances aligned to allow the restaurant to open. Buchanan’s father and business partner, Ken Putnam, owned a house behind the location, which previously housed an eatery called Fora Restaurant. In 2014, Putnam was in the process of remodeling his home when his contractor gave him a tip: the owner of Fora was preparing to sell it. Putnam, also the owner of Luau Larry’s, a restaurant and bar on Catalina Island, had been considering opening another eatery. They decided to buy the business and convert it to a Mexican-style restaurant since there were none in Naples. “We wanted to offer a cuisine with clean food, that doesn’t use lards and fats that are in a lot of traditional Mexican restaurants,” she said. Buchanan added that she recently expanded the menu to offer more salads, appetizers, hamburgers and sandwiches to appeal to a wider range of palates. The restaurant also has more than 100 types of tequila. “We research each one before we put it out,” Buchanan commented. Komo’s also holds events to educate guests about the tequilas. “All of our staff is super knowledgeable,” she said. “We’ve come up with a margarita recipe that we’re really well-known for.” Buchanan said Naples provides a positive atmosphere for business owners. “All of the people who own restaurants on this street are kind, friendly and helpful.” Komo’s Cocina is located at 5730 E. 2nd St. For more information, call 562/856-9494 or visit komoscocina.com.
Sennikoff Architects
Steve Sennikoff, who described himself as “your friendly neighborhood architect,” said he first knew he wanted to enter the profession in the 7th grade. “I had a Spanish teacher who had us draw a house and label everything in Spanish,” he recalled. “I came back to school with a big cardboard house with bowling alleys and movie theaters.” Before starting Sennikoff Architects nine years ago, the Long Beach native worked at a large firm in Newport Beach for almost 20 years. “Before the Great Recession, the firm I worked for was [made up of] about 50,” he said. “Then we got down to five and we had no work. After a year of sitting in an empty office, I decided I would just come home and open up a small office.” Most of Sennikoff’s clients are homeowners and families who want to build their own home or remodel their current one. “Long Beach has a lot of old homes that are kind of outdated,” he said. Sennikoff said he enjoys designing projects and working with clients to create their dream home. He also collaborates with small developers on residential projects. As a business owner, he also values the flexibility that allows him to spend time with his family. “Keeping everybody happy” is the architect’s biggest challenge, he said. “You deal with a lot of personality types and a lot of wants and needs for homes,” he explained. Sennikoff Architects is located at 5500 E. 2nd St. For more information, call 562/344-5438 or visit sennikoffarchitects.com.
Kids Under Construction
While the Great Recession stalled one career opportunity for Kids Under Construction owner Kristen Peters, it allowed her to find another. “I got my teaching credential in 2008 from California State University, Long Beach. That was the year that Long Beach Unified School District and a bunch of other [districts] were laying off teachers because of national budget cuts,” she said. Peters started working as a substitute teacher, but realized she needed a project she could “take ownership of” after her dream of becoming a classroom teacher was put on hold. So she set up a booth at the American Youth Soccer Organization’s opening carnival, hoping to meet moms whose kids needed tutoring. “I signed up 18 kids the first day,” she said. “Then they had friends and teammates who needed help. Before I knew it, I was working six days a week with kids after school and absolutely loving it.” Kids Under Construction offers both one-on-one and small group sessions for kids in preschool through 12th grade. Peters provides help in reading, math, writing, Spanish and study skills, conducting sessions both at her business and in students’ homes. She also runs summer workshops and a homework club. “Today’s parents are so busy. They don’t have time to dive into their kids’ education as much as they want to,” she said. “I love to be that support system.” Kids Under Construction is located at 5520 E. 2nd St., Suite K. For more information, call 562/999-2582 or visit kidsunderconstruction.com.