Auroraadvocate.com

Business Briefs

March 19, 2008

Wildwater Kingdom's

dates, admission told

Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom is scheduled to open May 24 this year.

It will be open weekdays only through June 1, then seven days a week June 7 to Aug. 24 and the weekend of Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.

Single-day admission will range from $11.95 for senior citizens and juniors under 48 inches tall to $23.95 for those 48 inches or taller.

Season passes are available for $34.95 for juniors and seniors and $44.95 for those 48 inches or taller. Season pass holders have the opportunity to enroll their children ages 3 to 10 in swim lessons.

Among attractions at the water park are Splash Landing, Coral Cove, Tidal Wave Bay, Liquid Lightning and VIP cabanas.

For details, visit www.wildwaterfun.com.

Chrysler plant to close

for 2 weeks in summer

Two area Chrysler plants are among many that will close for two weeks in July after an announcement by the company that it needed a jolt -- possibly to offset a $1.6 billion loss in 2007 and plummeting sales so far this year.

Thousands of employees worldwide learned of the plan, requiring all workers to take a two-week vacation this summer, from an e-mail sent March 11.

Included in the global shutdown are the Twinsburg Stamping Plant and Mopar distribution center in Streetsboro.

"This year, in order to create better alignment and efficiency across organizational lines and boost productivity, Chrysler will use a corporatewide vacation shutdown for the weeks of July 7 and 14," the e-mail said.

Chrysler spokesman Mary Beth Halprin said the move isn't a cost-saving measure, but an attempt to become more efficient.

The Streetsboro distribution center was nearly closed last year, but got a reprieve after a contract with the UAW was signed which saved 100 jobs.

Big T's diner opens on

Route 14 in Streetboro

The "T" may stand for co-owner Tim Berecek's first name or it may be for "taste," it doesn't matter to Berecek. He said he just wants area residents to give Big T's Diner a try.

The new breakfast and lunch restaurant, which Berecek described as a "mom and pop" business, is located in the Route 14 building which housed George's Donuts until late 2007 when it moved to Twinsburg.

Berecek and co-owner Faye Ambler opened the restaurant in January after a complete remodeling, which included building a curvaceous counter and bringing in a variety of tables from different periods.

Berecek said the restaurant's specialty is, and will remain throughout the year, fresh, locally raised meat and produce.

Jones firms rated high

BusinessWeek magazine has ranked the Edward Jones investment company No. 8 in its second annual customer service rankings.

Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis, and there are two of the firm's investment representatives in Aurora -- Brady Krebs and Richard Gerbracht.

BusinessWeek's list ranks the best providers of customer service and digs into the techniques, strategies and tools they use to deliver great service, according to the magazine.

Easter egg hunt slated

Eagle Creek Garden Center on Route 306, just north of Pettibone Road, in Bainbridge Township will have an Easter egg hunt March 22 at 11 a.m.

The event is for children ages 2 to 4 and 5 to 8. Four thousand toy-filled eggs will be available, as will photos with the Easter Bunny.

For details, call 440-708-0177 or visit www.eaglecreekgrowers.com.