New restaurant, Rusios, slated for opening Sept. 4

Rusios owner Tony Blakeslee, in front of the new restaurant's free-standing gas fireplace. The restaurant is scheduled to open Sept. 4.

Rusio's, a new restaurant at 1610 E. 17th Street, will be opening Sept. 4, the Wednesday after Labor Day.

Owner Tony Blakeslee said that with people off to the Eastern Idaho State Fair the week after Labor Day is great timing for a soft opening and getting things squared away. Blakeslee's restaurant experience includes years of managing Chili's and Texas Roadhouse.

Blakeslee and his wife, Sunnie, took their inspiration for Rusio's from Zupa and Paradise Bakery in Qgden, Utah. The menu will feature soup, salad and sandwiches, all made from scratch.

Rusios has 5,600 square feet, including a banquet room that can seat up to 50 and is equipped with a full audio-visual set-up. Blakeslee said he has already booked 12 Christmas parties in the banquet room.

In the main room, there are several TV screens and a large free-standing stone fireplace. Good food is only part of what keeps a restaurant in business, he said. "You're selling an experience now."

To keep up on Rusios progress, here is a link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CafeRusios

Les Schwab breaks ground on new alignment center

Excavation at 930 E. 17th St., where Les Schwab Tire Center s building an alignment center.

OK, I'm back from two weeks on the East Coast, and while I tried to keep some content coming there's still no place like home. Funny thing was while I was there anytime I saw new construction my immediate reaction was to ask myself, "Wonder what's going on there?"

This morning's first order of business was to visit the city of Idaho Falls Building Department to get an answer for two BizMojo Idaho readers, Gary Mills and Chad (chado347l), who wanted to know what was happening next to Les Schwab Tire Center on 17th Street. The longtime car wash at 930 E. 17th St., has been torn down and a quick drive-by revealed dirt being dug on the .63-acre site.

Word from the city is that Les Schwab is adding on to its operation there and building a new alignment center. No word on when it will be complete, but if you look at the frame a few blocks further east where Natural Grocers is going up fast I think it's a safe bet they'll have it done before the snow flies.

Darci Davis returns to eastern Idaho AmeriTitle office

Darci Davis

After a two-year hiatus, Darci Davis has returned to the escrow team at AmeriTitle's office in Idaho Falls. After 10 years in the title and escrow Industry, Davis took a break to acquire and manage a family-run dry cleaning business, helping it turn into a successful and stable enterprise. She returns to AmeriTitle today as the escrow manager for the Idaho Falls, Rigby and Rexburg locations.

"I am excited to get back into the industry I am so passionate about, and look forward to again working with the outstanding AmeriTitle team and our customers," she said.

"Darci brings with her an in-depth knowledge of escrow, a wealth of experience and a known reputation as a leader in our industry throughout the region. We are thrilled to have her back," said Richard Hajek, general manager of the Idaho Falls AmeriTitle office.

What's a Facebook 'like' really worth? Depends on whether you're talking ego or money

When Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men," I don't think he was talking about 21st century social media, but who knows? Whatever you want to believe is fine with me.

This morning, prompted by my friend Melissa "Moe" Bristol, a local photographer and occasional BizMojo contributor, I invited all my friends and associates to like the Facebook page for her business, https://www.facebook.com/PhotographyByMelissaBristol.

I admit that part of this was driven by ego. Before I started my fishing expedition, she had 326 likes. A half-hour later she had 330. If she ends the day with 450, I'm really going to feel like somebody.

I won't endorse her except to say she's a person who sees pictures everywhere she goes and whether it's with an iPhone or a digital Canon, she almost always gets a shot. This can be annoying or frustrating, depending on how much of a hurry you're in. But as a single mother of two boys, Mikey, 11, and Leighton, 6, she's trying to make a living doing what she loves, shooting photos of families, engaged couples, high school seniors and weddings. More power to her.

Beyond that, however, this whole exercise has got me wondering, "How much is a Facebook like really worth?" If you drive down 17th Street and every business has a sign that says, "Like us on Facebook!" doesn't that devalue the currency?

Diving into the matter, I found this link from earlier this year:
http://www.businessinsider.com/brands-spend-on-facebook-not-effective-2013-66.

Feel free to read it, but here's the sentence that jumped out at me:

Researchers have attempted to calculate the potential value of a user who "Likes" a brand, but those numbers vary wildly. Social Media Examiner's 2013 Social Media Marketing Industry Report surveyed 3,000 marketers, and 41% said they are "uncertain" about the effectiveness of Facebook marketing. The report also found that 17% flat-out said the site is ineffective for marketing purposes. Only 32% agree it is effective.

It's all very scientific and hard to quantify -- I'll grant you that -- but at the most basic level, who doesn't like to be liked?

Oh, by the way, if you want to like BizMojo Idaho's Facebook page, here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/BizMojoIdaho. Like everyone, I could use some validation.

One-man Churchill show coming to Carr Gallery in September

Sir Winston Churchill on April 5, 1955, the day he resigned as prime minister because of declining health. (Source: British Pathe Archive)

I saw this on Facebook today, and as a student of history I found it interesting. The Idaho Falls Arts Council is bringing Churchill, a one-person show, to Idaho Falls Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carr Gallery. Tickets are $50.

Set in April 1955, Churchill agonizes in his wartime bunker below London whether to resign as prime minister. As he tries to decide (Spoiler: He did. He was 80 and had suffered a stroke in 1953), he reviews his uniquely eventful career, filled with history-changing events and people, glorious speeches, pithy comments and funny stories. The show promises all the wit and wisdom that has made Churchill into an imperishable legend. 

Limited tickets are available to create these intimate performances in the Carr Gallery. Selections of sweet and savory desserts are included in the admission price. It is being sponsored by Jerry and Carrie Scheid and Tim and Anne Hopkins. For tickets, go to www.idahofallsarts.org or call 522-0471.

As an aside, I can't imagine whoever is playing Churchill will smoke the way the great man did. Not in an art gallery. Yet for the record, here is brief bit from Cigars Magazine:

The man for whom the imposing Churchill cigar size is named smoked eight to 10 cigars a day, primarily Cuban brand. Not even the necessity of wearing an oxygen mask for a high-altitude flight in a non-pressurized cabin could prevent Churchill from smoking. As the story goes, the prime minister requested that a special mask be created that would allow him to smoke while airborne. Naturally, the request was fulfilled. On another occasion, Churchill hosted a luncheon for King Ibn Sa'ud of Saudi Arabia, who did not allow smoking or drinking in his presence. Rather than submit to the king's wishes, Churchill pointed out that "my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." The king was convinced.

I remember Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain (20 to 40 cigars a day) many years ago at the Colonial, and all the coughing and consternation over the clouds of cigar smoke billowing from the stage.