Featured Merchants

October 22nd, 2009

Jalapeno Cantina

You’ll kindly excuse Ray and Ardie Alto if they walk around with a great big smile on their faces. Their youngest son, Andre, just graduated from the widely respected San Diego Culinary Institute and is now a full fledged chef, having trained under the Commis de Cuisine method!

Initially, Andre learned from his dad, well known and widely respected restaurauteur, Ray Alto. Ray owns La Tapatia and the Jalapeno Steak House in Escondido and is well known for his many years of ownership and operation of The Fireside Restaurant. Additionally, Ray had learned from Tony Vazquez, who had worked at the Cordon Bleu in Chicago. Later, Ray would work at the Quails Inn, O’Brien’s Restaurant, Dantes, The Bum Steer, and, among other honors, served as Food and Beverage Director in 2001 at the Valley View Casino.

With a lineage and background like that, it’s no wonder that Andre not only learned the food business but wanted to learn the top end of the industry. Thus his entry into the San Diego Culinary Institute.

Andre graduated last Friday and is proudly serving with his dad at the Jalapeno Steak House. You may want to stop by and congratulate the newest and brightest chef in Escondido at the Jalapeno Steak House.

Just ask for Chef Andre!

The Jalapeno Steak House is located in Escondido at 503 W. Grand Avenue, phone: 760.233.1104.

Escondido Mattress Factory

Randy Taylor, Owner, Escondido Mattress Factory

There is just something special about a craftsman’s pride in building his product that makes it an important part of your home.
Randy Taylor, owner,
Escondido Mattress Company

What’s more, watching an artist at his work is a special treat. Raul Villapando is such an artist. He builds mattresses from start to finish for the Escondido Mattress Company. He and owner, Randy Taylor, take great pride in their work and in the finished product.

The Escondido Mattress Company is the type of family operation that still takes pride in their work. Raul Villapando has been making mattresses for over 40 years. He’s been with Randy Taylor and the Escondido Mattress Company for the past eight years.

Together, they can supply quality mattresses for most any budget, from the young married couple on a tight budget, to those who have acquired a taste for the top of the line mattress with the finest in quality and materials. In truth, it is said that ‘a lot of people sleep better tonight, because of Randy Taylor and The Escondido Mattress Company.’

They handcraft elegant reproductions of the same great mattresses you already know and trust, but at a savings that will let you sleep at night. Buying direct from the maker gives you - the consumer, a tremendous savings advantage. You save a bundle by avoiding costly middle-men, big store markups, and fat sales commissions. Call The Escondido Mattress Company, 745.5336.

Factory & Showroom - 1281 Simpson Way
760.745.5336 • 760.746.5336

Carpet Club

The friendly folks at Carpet Club are not only friendly with their clients, but with their community.

Dennis Royer, owner of The Carpet Club, is very active in supporting Habitat for Humanity and the local community. For example, recently the Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club honored a wounded soldier under its Operation Hero program. Sergeant Ryan Kohler had bought a “fixer-upper” home in Escondido. When Dennis Royer heard about it, he jumped in with both feet and provided whole house flooring, carpeting as well as wood floors for this Wounded Warrior. All donated by Carpet Club.

He and his staff are committed to doing all they can to protect and improve the community. His sales manager, Mike Kenny, points out that, often, simply adding some new carpeting or other flooring, can brighten up your home, completely changing the look of a home . . . and, because of the down economy, you can take advantage of carpet mills marking down their excess inventory. The Carpet Club buys up this inventory and can help you beautify your home at great savings!

They have a 15,000 square feet showroom, full of outstanding carpet and other flooring products, six sales/designers on staff, 40 to 50 installers, and have been located in Escondido since 1985. All of this adds up to a strong sense of permenancy in the community . . . and a strong sense of being a solid part of that community. Isn’t that the type of business you would like to patronize?

Visit The Carpet Club and see all the colorful designs in person. You’ll find some of the friendliest, most knowledgeable people in the business.

The Carpet Club is located at 518 West Washington Avenue in Escondido. Call them at 760-740-9545 or visit their website at www.carpetclub.com

Alex Motor Works
$85 Diagnostic Service - FREE!

That’s the offer Alex Teran of Alex’s Motor Works in Escondido is making!

Yes, it’s true.

Normally, if you wanted Alex, or any top auto mechanic service to do a full diagnostic workup on your car, you’d fork over $85 for the results. Let’s face it. The economy is slow and it has affected Alex’s business as well as others in the community. So, to introduce himself and his brilliant auto repair service, he is inviting you to come in, let him do a full diagnostic check of your car. You’ll find out what’s right with you car, as well as what is wrong.

Naturally, Alex is hopeful if you want the car repaired that you’ll give him the chance to do the work. His rates are reasonable and his turn-around time is outstanding. But, if you’re a pretty good mechanic and want to try to do the repairs yourself? Hey, it’s a free country. Go for it. The offer still stands.

For those who don’t know, Alex Motor Works specializes in BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW, both Diesel & Gas models. The fine craftsmanship built into German cars is legendary. Owners also are very picky about who works on their cars. That’s why Alex Teran of AMW (Alex Motor Works) has grown over the years. Alex has 20 years of experience working on German cars.

Asked the secret to his success, he responded . . . “Clearly, it’s the attention to detail and getting the job done right. Owners of German cars bought a German car because they know the engineering is the finest; they know that the craftmanship is there . . . they want their cars to run properly and everything is done just right. We recognize that and want our clentele to know they can always rely on us to do the job right . . . to get their car back to them running as good as it did the day they drove it off the showroom floor."

Alex and his staff don’t sit around behind glossy, expensive desks and talk about mechanical work. They are out in their garage area every day, working on Mercedes, BMW’s, Audi’s, and Volkswagens. If you want a free $85 diagnostic check, if you want to meet a master craftsman, call 760.741.7250!