Rising to the Challenge: Eastside Video Store Thrives
By Loreen Bahri
The Chaldean News
Despite numerous online rental and On Demand cable movie choices, as well as the
muscle of national chains like Blockbuster, Ronnie Karmo has suecessfully risen above
the competition for 22 years with Fast Forward Video in Shelby Township.
muscle of national chains like Blockbuster, Ronnie Karmo has suecessfully risen above
the competition for 22 years with Fast Forward Video in Shelby Township.
"The personal attention and the pricing that we give are much, much more competitive than what Blockbuster and Hollywood Video can do," said Karmo, 44. "With us the overhead is not as much as those major corporations so we are able to beat them with prices."
The video store was purchased by Karmo's family in 1985 under the name Video Shack. The store started off in the Auburn Plaza southwest of Dequindre, then expanded to a bigger place on the other side of the plaza when business started taking off in July 1988. It was then renamed Fast Forward.
Fast Forward Video is up against competitors like Blockbuster.com and Netflix.com that offer online rentals with some 80,000 titles to choose from. Added to the mix is Comcast's free On Demand service, which allows subscribers to watch films anytime in the comfort of their own homes.
So how has Karmo kept in business with all that competition?
"We change with the times," he said.
Fast Forward advertises constantly. Karmo offers coupons on the back of Hollywood Markets receipts, and has a five games-five days-five dollars package targeted to gamers. Kid's movies are always free - and so is the popcorn.
Karmo runs his store with the help of manager Dustin Wehrley, 23, and assistant manager Jessica Addison, 20.
Rachel Quinn, a Rochester Hills resident and customer for the past 17years, is sold on Fast Forward. "When we go to Blockbuster, it's not personal and the same person never waits on you. We love Dustin! We shoot the breeze for like an hour and I can rent three movies for like seven bucks: she said. "I don't even think Blockbuster can do that."
Karmo said a major shakeup in the late 1990s changed the industry when movie prices dropped dramatically from $50-$75 to $10 and less. Retail giants like WaI-Mart, Meijer and Best Buy started to sell movies because it became affordable to carry them.
As people began shifting their attention from renting to buying movies, Karmo began selling movies too, with offers like four DVDs for $20.
Karmo's interests go beyond the video business. He has a passion for music and is the drummer for funk band Slight Return. The group just released an album called
"Corporate Pig" and will perform at the ChaIdean Festival in the Southfield Civic Center
on August 4-5 at 3 p.m.
Karmo resides in West Bloomfield with his wife, Fadia, and sons Daniel, 1, and Jacob, 3.
"They keep me busy," he said.
Born in Baghdad, Karmo came to the U.S. when he was 15. He is proud of his Chaldean heritage. "I think that Chadeans are a very hardworking and successful community," he said.
"I am always proud to say that I am Chaldean."
Fast Forward Video is located at 2122 Auburn Road in Shelby Township.
Call (586) 254-5130.
September 1, 2007 ~ Print
Golden Gate Optical: The eyes have it
By Loreen Bahri
The Chaldean News
When it comes to contact lenses, one size does not fit all.
That's the message from Dina Sitto, owner of Golden Gate Optical in Troy.
Sitto explains that surfacing lenses upon certain specifications is what distinguishes
Golden Gate from franchises that use stock lenses.
She recalls one who could not wear lenses because of her eyes irregular shape.
The woman suffered from double vision and nausea until Sitto provided customized lenses.
"You will have your own measurement lens made for you," Sitto said. "It's like customizing your dress but with optics."
The business has been at its original location in the Golden Gate Plaza on 16 Mile and Dequindre for about 40 years. Sitto bought it two years ago from Danny Nishanian.
"I consider him like my dad," she said.
As the new owner, one big change Sitto made was broadening the insurance plans accepted, which previously had been limited to Blue Cross. Golden Gate now accepts most insurance plans and also offers Care Credit, a medical card for uninsured patients that allows them to make minimum monthly payments at no interest for up to 12 months.
Nishanian continues on as an optician. Other employees include Optometrists Asher Weisman and Robert Brinker, and Sitto's husband, Fadi, who is the office manager.
Sitto, 33, is certified in three areas of eye care: Certified Ophthalmic Technician, Optician and Ophthalmology.
Sitto uses progressive lenses supplied from two German companies' Zeiss and Rodenstock.
All of Golden Gate's custom work is done inside its own lab; only lenses requiring coatings like Teflon are sent to the Zeiss lab.
"I give the best for my patients," Sitto said. "Let's say a patient wouId call me and say, what time do you close? I'd say, when do you want to come in? Cause I'm willing to wait.
Franchises don't do that; their employees just want to leave.
Here I want to serve each patient. I've stayed till 11:00 p.m. at night!"
Sitto graduated from the Technical Medical Institute in Baghdad as one of the top 10 students in her class earning a one-year scholarship in Norway.
She has also attended Edutek Professional College in San Diego.
She came to the U.S. in 1994 when she married Fadi Sitto, who in addition to managing the business is an electrical engineer and a mortgage specialist with his own radio talk show.
The couple lives in Sterling Heights with their two daughters Farrah, 12 and Mina, 11.
Sterling Heights resident Douglas Molinar has been a faithful Golden Gate customer since 1982.
"I always get great service and Ican see like a hawk because of Danny's expertise," said Molinar, who is captain of the Oakland County Sheriff Office in Pontiac. "They take care of adjustments with quick and prompt service."
February 23, 2005 ~ Print
China and Russia clash over Mongolia
By Loreen Bahri
The Oakland Post
History came alive at OU for the fifth time as OU history professor Linda Benson spoke on
"Shades of Genghis Khan: The New 'Great Game' Between China, Mongolia and Russia."
The 19th century Genghis Khan dynasty involved China and Russia, the countries that
surround Mongolia.
surround Mongolia.
"Russia's goal is to keep Mongolia a neutral or pro-Russian buffer zone. They don't want other countries to have much influence there," Benson said.
China also wants Mongolia to be a buffer zone.
"They have, in the past, distrusted Russia and are' wary of Russia's intentions," Benson said.
Currently, there is an indepedent country, Mongolia, as well as a Mongol area, that is under control of the Chinese government.
Currently, there is an indepedent country, Mongolia, as well as a Mongol area, that is under control of the Chinese government.
''This is why China has to be concerned about any changes in Mongolia and how those changes might influence its own Inner Mongolian region," Benson said.
The real challenge Mongolia faces is development, Benson said.
"It needs infrastructure."
She described Mongolians as nomadic; they rely on animals in the rural areas. Only Ulaan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia, is technologically advanced, from Intemet to hotels.
Most Mongolians in Ulaan Baatar live in gers, large white felt tents that can be moved easily, on the outskirts of the city.
Mongolia is one of the poorest countries, producing $500 per capita per year, Bensen said.
One slide from her Power Point presentation pictured a table selling antique items, and Benson joked that she wasn't sure if "oId meant 10 years ago or during the last dynasty."
But she said she did see an item in the back that had John Lennon's face on it.
Inner Mongolia is now a part of China.
Outer Mongolia was declared independent in 1924, and China has recognized it as an independent country.
The weather in Mongolia changes very quickly, Benson said, and a two-day rainfall occured during her four-week visit.
Her presentation was based on her trip to Mongolia with the Fulbright project in June of last
year.
According to the Fulbright website, its mission is aimed at increasing mutual understanding
between the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills.
The department of history hosted the lecture, which was the fifth of six featured lectures from the History Comes Alive Series that started this year.
"Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?" will be the last lecture in the series and is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the OC's Oakland room.
April 20, 2005 ~ Print
Woman take back the night
By Loreen Bahri
The Oakland Post
Kristen David stood in front of a crowd wearing a green ribbon on her arm and singing
“Hung Over,” The ribbon symbolized that she was a survivor of sexual assault, and the song was about her experience.
“The song really did help me the first time I had to get up in front of everyone at a show and say rape into the mic. It was the first time that I admitted that it happened to me,” said the lead singer of the band Lazy Sunday.
David's fellow bandmates Susie Giang, Liz Holowasko and Hana Malhaus wore white ribbons to symbolize their support for Take Back The Night, an event that takes a stand to end violence against women, Sponsored by OU and HAVEN, a nonprofit organization against sexual assault and domestic violence, Take Back The Night was held last Wednesday.
The program opened with a rally for which Stacy Swandersk, a Farmington Hills Police Department detective delivered the welcoming followed by a guest speaker who shared her experience of surviving a sexual assault.
A march followed the rally and marchers expressed their support for ending violence against women,The last portion of the event was devoted to Speak Out, which allowed sexual assault survivors to share their stories with the audience, followed by a candlelight vigil.
This is the fourth year Take Back The Night has been held at OU and was part of National Sexual Assault Awareness month. Throughout the day HAVEN and the Women's Issue Forum had tables set up in the OC where students could obtain information about Take Back The Night or purchase T-shirts, CDs and pins.
Meredith Newman, development associate for HAVEN, said that the red wooden statutes that
were placed around the OC are called silent-witnesses memorials for women who have died from violent acts. Alpha Delta Pi - Upsilon chapter, and Center for Student Activities were some of the student organizations involved in Take Back The Night.
“Every year has a different mix and this year a lot more men attended, which is a good thing,” said OUPD officer Nan Gelman.
“The song really did help me the first time I had to get up in front of everyone at a show and say rape into the mic. It was the first time that I admitted that it happened to me,” said the lead singer of the band Lazy Sunday.
David's fellow bandmates Susie Giang, Liz Holowasko and Hana Malhaus wore white ribbons to symbolize their support for Take Back The Night, an event that takes a stand to end violence against women, Sponsored by OU and HAVEN, a nonprofit organization against sexual assault and domestic violence, Take Back The Night was held last Wednesday.
The program opened with a rally for which Stacy Swandersk, a Farmington Hills Police Department detective delivered the welcoming followed by a guest speaker who shared her experience of surviving a sexual assault.
A march followed the rally and marchers expressed their support for ending violence against women,The last portion of the event was devoted to Speak Out, which allowed sexual assault survivors to share their stories with the audience, followed by a candlelight vigil.
This is the fourth year Take Back The Night has been held at OU and was part of National Sexual Assault Awareness month. Throughout the day HAVEN and the Women's Issue Forum had tables set up in the OC where students could obtain information about Take Back The Night or purchase T-shirts, CDs and pins.
Meredith Newman, development associate for HAVEN, said that the red wooden statutes that
were placed around the OC are called silent-witnesses memorials for women who have died from violent acts. Alpha Delta Pi - Upsilon chapter, and Center for Student Activities were some of the student organizations involved in Take Back The Night.
“Every year has a different mix and this year a lot more men attended, which is a good thing,” said OUPD officer Nan Gelman.
Press Release written for Szwed Communications client: The Metro Lofts
