Clements rocked by recession

Despite other businesses closing in the area, Blue Ayers, day manager at the Old Corner Saloon in Clements, smiles as she talks about the reasons the bar stays busy. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Clements rocked by recession

Surviving merchants, townsfolk remain undaunted

By Jordan Guinn
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 6:09 AM PST

Comments (12 comment(s))

An upscale restaurant where patrons could indulge in surf and turf. Closed. A chocolate factory with a regional profile and numerous employees. Shuttered. A beloved coffee shop. Locked up.

More than most communities, Clements has been rocked by the recession. Three major businesses on its short-but-homey main drag are gone.

"We are downtown," said Blue Ayers, day manager at the Old Corner Saloon about the bar's importance amid businesses closing down along the town's main traffic artery. Chocoholics Divine Desserts chocolate factory is flanked now by an empty parking lot. The 20,000-square-foot main structure is idle, a steel gate making entrance impossible.

Across the street, Lay's Restaurant, a popular coffee shop, and the Clements Feed and Fuel, an upscale eatery, are both closed.

Despite its location on a busy highway, and being the last stop for drivers headed east to gamble or play outdoors, downtown Clements has been battered by the economic meltdown. While thousands of vehicles roll through town on a daily basis, the traffic wasn't enough to sustain the factory and restaurants.

Business owners, workers and community leaders cited economic woes as the main reason for Clements' troubles.

"Tourism was the main attraction," said Cynthia Haynes, voluntary president of the Lockeford-Clements chamber of commerce. "The climate for small business is difficult."

As the economy limped along, the Domino effect was felt across Clements as Lay's Restaurant, Chocoholics Divine Desserts, and Clements Feed and Fuel closed down over the span of a few months.

Inside the closed parking lot of Clements Crossing, which was home to Feed and Fuel and an antique shop before the owners opted not to renew their lease, graffiti scars the front door of the vacant building.

Donny Holsworth, owner of Out West Auto, talks about recent business closures in Clements on Monday. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

"Part of the problem is there is so much blight," Haynes said. "People want to have more than one reason to stop. When the Chocolate Factory closed, fewer people went across the street for lunch."

Clements' seemingly prime location plays a role into its troubles as well.

"Since the speed limit is higher, people have a tendency not to stop," Haynes said. "If it's not easy or convenient, they will not stop." Haynes said the 55 mph speed limit makes it unlike most downtown thoroughfares, where motorists have more time to turn off or see what is available.

She said having a revitalization plan in place and connecting with business owners is vital to regenerating Clements. Haynes said 60 people participated in a community cleanup on Saturday, and they have also made positive action with their graffiti abatement program.

People in the community are on board with Haynes and want to see Clements rebound.

"I would rather spend my money where I live," said Steve Barh, who resides outside Clements but patronizes the local businesses and was having his Saturn sedan worked on at Out West Auto. "People need to support the locals."

Matt Barry's father owns Scooter's along Highway 88, as well as the Scooter's in San Andreas. Looking to expand the business, Barry said his father opened shop in Clements in April 2008. He said the location was chosen because the building was already set up to be a coffee shop and had the amenities they were looking for.

"There is plenty of traffic," he said. "It was a good spot to go into."

Barry said there are five employees, counting himself, at the coffee shop. There have been no layoffs, but workers have had their hours cut.

He said the wave of business closures is a cause for concern for himself and other business owners.

"We're surrounded by empty buildings," he said. "I'm worried people will just fly by."

At Out West Auto, owner Donny Holsworth was checking the battery on a Toyota truck while watching over his staff as they attended to the six cars in front of the shop.

Holsworth has not run any promotions to attract more business, but he benefits from the location and said most of his customers are long-established clients.

"We feed off the highway," he said.

The family operation, which has been in Clements for 13 years, opened another shop in Valley Springs earlier this year. Holsworth said it helps keep his eight total employees busy because he can shift them between the two shops depending on business.

In spite of it all, Barry, Holsworth and other business owners are finding reasons to be optimistic.

Ayers said business, although down a little bit, is still very good overall.

"People who used to get mixed drinks are now getting pitchers," she said.

She said the down economy is most notable during the day shift. She said the customers who made up the early afternoon crowd do not come in any more because they have lost their jobs.

"People are hurting," she said.

Ayers said the bar employs six people, and while no one has been let go, hours have been cut.

The situation is similar down the street at Webster's Country Burger Drive-In. Although the change of seasons has slowed business for the eatery, the manager isn't too concerned about fewer motorists headed for Camanche Reservoir or other summer hot spots.

"We still get the snowboarders and gamblers," said Trina Vier, manager at the drive-in.

She said workers had their hours cut by 30 percent, and while the staff went from eight workers to five, no one was laid off.

"People went off to find other jobs," she said.

Contact Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com.

A hand-written closed sign rests in the window of Chocoholics Divine Desserts, one of several businesses in downtown Clements to close recently. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Reader Feedback

clementspatron wrote on Dec 6, 2009 12:56 AM:

" I think the writer of this story should have done some research before writing this story! Why not go to the owners of some of these businesses and find out the real reason the businesses closed or was forced out! Clements feed and fuel wasn't suffering, they were kicked out due to an idiotic landlord that refused to resign a lease that in the contract he was supposed to resign! The landlord is stupid, now he is left with an empty building that he has gated up with chains so no one can even go into the parking lot and look in the building. Before you write a story you should research why something happened, before you start making assumptions! "

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yellowgirl wrote on Dec 3, 2009 9:56 PM:

" Clements has always felt like second home town to me. When Phyllis and Lawrence Stith owned the 88 Inn, later informally called "Phyllis's" by the locals, you could always count on a home cooked gourmet meal. Man, do I miss that. Then Lay's bought it when Phyllis and Lawrence moved back to Oklahoma.
I do hope people do surveys to find out what is needed and wanted from each other and from the passers by. Then they can produce what people will stop to buy and Clements will once again flourish. Here's to Clements! "

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SendCoffee wrote on Dec 3, 2009 8:14 PM:

" My company had been using Chocoholics chocolate spoons for 6 years. We've tried tons of spoons, but no one took the same care with their product. The Chocoholics spoons were always the best quality chocolate in a clean, professional packaging.
They will be missed. "

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litlkat wrote on Dec 2, 2009 12:34 PM:

" Clements is a great town.To bad the bar is the only business doing good.Well thay goes to show what people want.The man that opened the bait store was there all the time he was just alone and had other things to do don't bash the poor man that died in his own store. "

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roperbill wrote on Dec 1, 2009 5:30 PM:

" Well I know for a fact that the owner of the building feed and fuel was located in, forced the restaurant owner out , she might have been higher priced but she would have stayed there i think, he bullied her out , bullied out the antique people, and doesnt fix anything at all , that place has so much potential too bad owners huge ego is worth more than generating business in the community, maybe he will lose it and the bank can do a better job, one can only hope. I would rather see an operating business that had friendly staff even though prices were a little high, then an empty graffitti filled building representing our town. "

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dogs4you wrote on Dec 1, 2009 3:18 PM:

" As far as Clements goes, when driving through, if you listen carefully you can hear a banjo being played, and you don`t want to see who`s playing it. "

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dogs4you wrote on Dec 1, 2009 1:01 PM:

" Wouldn`t you know that the last business would be a bar. Not really a good reason to stop in Clements, unless your thirsty. "

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ordinarycitizen wrote on Dec 1, 2009 12:42 PM:

" I have to agree re: Lays - the food was horrible. Feed and Fuel, way too expensive for our budget. The Chocolate Factory, sad, but true - the chocolate was ok, but not enough choices. The last time I went in, which was earlier this year I do believe, there were flies buzzing around in the candy case and that wasn't conducive to wanting to buy chocolate. It's sad that the Chocolate Factory closed because it really did have so much potential. Not everybody wants to buy Chocolate sex toy stuff, but truffles and other good quality chocolate goodies - yes! "

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roperbill wrote on Dec 1, 2009 9:06 AM:

" Well here is my take on the whole ghost town in Clements. I have to agree with reality on some of this, as far as Lays, that was a great place and when Freddy and Alice sold it , the food really did suck, greasy spoon with an asian flare on the specials, yuk. That was destined for disaster. Chocolate factory, I gave several chances and tell me how can you mess up chocolate??? I am not sure but they figured out a way, they had not a single good thing to eat that was chocolate there, that was disappointing. The guy that opened the bait shop sadly passed away, but he never kept it open , would come around and unlock the door when you drove up. And last but not least feed and fuel... hmmm yes agree the food and drink was over priced, I went there and could have a couple drinks and appetizers and it would mount over 100 dollars, too expensive for this economy. Too bad the landlord bullied them out of the building that is falling apart and refused to maintain it. I miss the feed and fuel. "

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alf wrote on Dec 1, 2009 8:37 AM:

" deliverance? wow. did not know clements had so many establishments. feed & fuel is also raising their prices in lodi. have not been to their new location because of this. clements will come out of it. "

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reality1 wrote on Dec 1, 2009 8:25 AM:

" The strong survive!!! We have been to all the businesses mentioned except the bar. The Feed and Fuel was great at first but the prices went way up and quality went down. The Chocolate place come on it's Clements not San Francisco. As far as Lays when the new owners took over it went south. Still crowded but food sucked. The W still seems good especially when the owner is there and the prices have not gone up. Seems busy a lot to me. As for the bar when a recession hits drinking goes up. My only problem with going anywhere in Clements is the traffic on the weekend. Not the safest to pull out in. IMO "

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jbhiker wrote on Dec 1, 2009 7:46 AM:

" It's the racetrack through town that is the problem. Solve that and have a healthy business sector. I suggest cleaning the area up a bit. It looks like a scene in Deliverance mostly. "

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