One-man operation supplies photo booth for events.
Kevin Flanagan is quickly becoming the life of the party.
As owner of California Photo Booth Co., Flanagan runs a one-man operation supplying a photo booth for weddings, class reunions or any other venue where people want a new twist to their event.
The custom-made photo booth arrives ready to go. Flanagan unloads it from a trailer and plugs it in. The host pays for the rental -- it starts at $900 for three hours -- and party guests can take as many photos as they like. The prints, available in black and white or color, are ready in minutes.
"I always get people who tell me that they haven't been in one of these in 30 years," Flanagan said. "It is really nostalgic for some."
For others, it's pure enjoyment.
"People get goofy and have fun," Flanagan said. "They come out of the booth giggling."
So far, a bulk of Flanagan's events have been weddings and special events. Last month, he hauled his booth down to Los Angeles to the MTV movie awards after party.
For the 29-year-old Flanagan, operating a photo booth was not a life goal. He studied history and philosophy in college and worked as a teacher for four years in Southern California. But teaching became routine. And Flanagan is a creative type.
He worked with his father-in-law remodeling homes, but his career plans soon changed after seeing a photo booth at a friend's wedding.
"It was just a guy sitting with a camera with a curtain around him," Flanagan said. "But people loved it. I thought I could really improve on that."
Using his construction skills, Flanagan built his own custom photo booth and now travels the Valley. Business is generated mostly by word of mouth. And he is in the process of building a second booth to meet demand.
"It is always great when you can enjoy what you do and make money doing it," Flanagan said.
Details: www.caphotobooths.com or (559) 676-1955.
Cool downA new frozen yogurt shop opened in Fresno at a serendipitous time -- the day before the hottest day of the year.
Cefiore opened a shop July 11 in The Shops at River Park in the former Marble Slab Creamery across from the movie theater. The owner of that business sold his lease to Cefiore, said River Park spokeswoman Tracy Kashian.
The California chain serves nonfat frozen yogurt in exotic flavors such as raspberry pomegranate, green tea and acai berry. Cefiore means "there is flower" in Italian.
Sanger got a new ice cream place, too, when the city's first Baskin-Robbins opened last month at Academy Avenue and Ninth Street.
Gus Anan of Clovis, who owns five Hungry Howie's Pizza shops in Fresno and one in Sanger, opened the Baskin-Robbins.
"I was talking to some people who said we need more business [in Sanger], and Baskin- Robbins was one of the businesses they wanted to have," he said.
Anan said he realizes he is opening the shop during tough economic times, but said the hot weather helps business.
"For the first time, I was able to say it's good to have 110 degrees," he said.
Odds ...Silkroad Gallery has moved into Sierra Vista Mall. The shop started as a kiosk in front of Edwards Theater in 2002 and later moved to the Mission Village shopping center at Shaw Avenue and Fresno Street.
The business was growing, so owner Xu "Roland" Liu said he decided to move to the mall, where the shop is next to Claire's accessories store.
The shop sells anime films, swords, knives and Asian-themed home decor, dresses and lacquer furniture.
And ends ...While many restaurants are struggling, Piemonte's Delicatessen in the Tower District is expanding its hours.
The deli, which has sold sandwiches and groceries on Olive Avenue for 37 of its 67 years, once closed at 6 p.m. on weeknights and 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Now it's open until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"A lot of our customers work downtown, and they usually don't get off until 6," said manager Tanya Wallace, "There's a lot of foot traffic in the Tower, [we're] just trying to capitalize on that."
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