Great Japanese Food at Matsukaze

It was 29 years ago that the Tamashiro family moved to Grants Pass from Honolulu, Hawaii. In August 1984 the four brothers, Jon, Peter, Kurt and Tony, along with their mother Grace, opened Matsukaze Restaurant at 1675 NE 7th Street to rave reviews.
A few years ago Grace retired, leaving the operation of the restaurant to Jon and Tony. The oldest brother, Peter, is now a mortgage broker and, along with his wife Susan, owns Platinum Financial. Kurt has been a successful realtor for many years.
"Most of us had experience in restaurants," Jon said. "Peter went to cooking school in Hawaii and worked at a number of restaurants there. I was a busser and server while in college. Interestingly, our grandfather on our dad's side immigrated to Hawaii from Okinawa and worked in the restaurant industry, eventually owning and operating his own restaurants in Hawaii. It may have skipped a generation, but cooking is in our blood."

61 Years Young at Les Schwab Tires

The list of things absolutely essential for any automobile to operate properly is a long one, but I'd have to put tires right up there at the top. Les Schwab recognized that reality 61 years ago when he founded Les Schwab Tires in Prineville, Oregon, in 1952.
Today, the store includes 430 tire centers across the western Untied States, including two in Grants Pass at 1694 NW 6th Street and at 320 Union Avenue.
Les Schwab was a man who believed in hard work and loyalty to his family, his employees and his community. He was born in 1917 in Bend, living in logging camps and going to school in an old railroad boxcar. His parents died while he was a teenager, and he built his life from humble beginnings.
After high school he married Dorothy Harlan, who was his loving wife for the next 70 years. He found work as a circulation manager for a newspaper in Bend, until he bought a small tire store in Prineville.

Dining along the Rogue at River’s Edge

I have a soft spot in my heart for the setting at River's Edge, a restaurant located at 1936 Rogue River Highway. It was originally converted to a restaurant in the summer of 1979 by some friends of mine, and I practically lived at the Casa del Rio for a number of years.

It has gone through a number of iterations since then, including the old Hamilton House back in the early 90s, when it was completely remodeled and expanded. It was always a great place to sit outside and view the river, but with the expansion, it took outdoor dining and great views to a whole new level.

Quality Sales & Service at Mattress Experts

You know a mattress store is doing its job if you feel like taking a nap after making a tour of the showroom. And at Mattress Experts, located at 260 NE Agness next to Subway and Applebee's, that's exactly the effect they're looking for. They carry all the brand names, including Simmons Beauty Sleep, Sim-mons Comforedic, Serta iComfort, Pure Latex Bliss, Restonic, and Lady Americana.

And at Mattress Experts, the customer always comes first.

"We listen to the customer's needs," said co-owner Rod Broderson who, along with his wife Peg, bought the business in 2003. "There's no high pressure, and all of our sales team live in the Rogue Valley and have raised their families here."

Quality Comes First at Plaza Sewing Center

It was July 1986 when I walked into Plaza Sewing/Quilting & Vacuum Center to try and sell an ad for the first issue of the Sneak Preview. Staff told me to talk to co-owner Rick Chapman, and I was directed to his inner sanctum where he was laboriously working on a vacuum cleaner. It turns out we both recognized each other from our softball playing days,