OASIS BAGELS HANDS OVER THE KEYS TO A NEW OWNER
JULY 16, 2015
Fred and Carol Risano, Founders of Oasis Bagels.
Photo courtesy Jo Comstock
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A staple in the Estrella community has been sold.
Fred and Carol Risano, founders of Oasis Bagels, made the announcement this morning. After more than five years of running Oasis Bagels, Carol and Fred have decided to pass off the keys to Jamie Vanderver, an Estrella Resident. Though this was a tough decision, it made sense since their boys have all graduated college. We felt this was a good time to make a change in our lives as well. We are staying in Estrella and are looking forward to becoming more active in Estrella. We would like to thank everybody who has supported Oasis Bagels throughout the years and hope you'll continue to be patrons. How lucky we are to have the opportunity to turn our customers into friends. Fred and I look forward to sitting and having breakfast with all of you at Oasis. ~Carol Risano, Oasis Bagels Founder |
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The new owner is Jamie Vanderver. We welcome her to the Estrella community and will be learning more about her in the upcoming days.
As we showed you on the Estrella Mountain Residents® Facebook page June 27, 2015, the Risanos just celebrated their fifth year in business. Our Oasis Bagels #FridayFeature, (the feature below this announcement), has been our most popular with more than 125 Likes and hundreds of hits on our website. Understandably, these business owners will be greatly missed. |
New Owner Jamie Vanderver with Oasis Bagels founder Carol Risano. Photo courtesy Jo Comstock
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Jamie Vanderver, the new owner, is so excited to continue Oasis Bagel's legacy and is looking forward to learning all of the secrets to making great bagels. Jamie is from Michigan and a culinary school graduate from OCC in Farmington Hills, Michigan, specializing in bakery/pastry. While she hopes to improve her golf game in her spare time, she will fulfill a lifelong dream of opening her own small business. When she realized that family, friendly Oasis Bagels was available, she jumped at the opportunity. She looks forward to expanding the bakery with even more yummy goodies which will include the legendary crumb cake and donuts. Jamie is looking forward to meeting everyone and becoming a part of this great community. Please join me in helping her feel welcome. ~Carol Risano, Oasis Bagels Founder
Estrella Mountain Residents® wish Fred and Carol Risano the best and thank them for all they’ve done to build a wonderful meeting spot for residents to enjoy our beautiful community.
Feel free to leave your notes of best wishes for Fred and Carol on their Facebook page.
Feel free to leave your notes of best wishes for Fred and Carol on their Facebook page.
OASIS BAGELS
AND CAROL RISANO
JUNE 12, 2015
St. Patrick's Day green bagel
Jen's Editing Note: Oasis Bagels is a staple in the Estrella community. Not only does this mom and pop shop have THEE BEST bagels around... the owners are also some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. We introduce you to the Risanos.
Carol Risano has a good pulse on the community. She takes the time to get to know her customers and sincerely cares about what's happening in our area. She's active in her neighborhood block watch, the Estrella Business Group, and supports countless efforts in the community. In fact, she was one of the sponsors when our local vet raised funds to replace the torn American flags in Estrella.
Carol is a neighbor of mine. I also consider her a friend. And I wish only the best for her shop's success in Estrella.
THANK YOU Carol for taking a break to answer our questions!
Carol Risano has a good pulse on the community. She takes the time to get to know her customers and sincerely cares about what's happening in our area. She's active in her neighborhood block watch, the Estrella Business Group, and supports countless efforts in the community. In fact, she was one of the sponsors when our local vet raised funds to replace the torn American flags in Estrella.
Carol is a neighbor of mine. I also consider her a friend. And I wish only the best for her shop's success in Estrella.
THANK YOU Carol for taking a break to answer our questions!
Q. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from and how did your family decide to move to Estrella?
A. I was born and raised in New Jersey. While growing up I had some interesting jobs. In addition to my weekend babysitting, I managed a Baskin Robins, and I spent my summers working in a cemetery helping to sell mausoleum crypts. I went to school in Utah, and returned to Jersey after I graduated. Fred and I lived in Ramsey, NJ before relocating to Arizona in 2004. Fred was in construction management and was working in Washington, DC. He was able to transfer to Arizona so he could be at home with the family.
A. I was born and raised in New Jersey. While growing up I had some interesting jobs. In addition to my weekend babysitting, I managed a Baskin Robins, and I spent my summers working in a cemetery helping to sell mausoleum crypts. I went to school in Utah, and returned to Jersey after I graduated. Fred and I lived in Ramsey, NJ before relocating to Arizona in 2004. Fred was in construction management and was working in Washington, DC. He was able to transfer to Arizona so he could be at home with the family.
Q. Tell me about your sons. What makes you most proud of them?
A. We have four sons. Steven graduated from the University of Utah in Community Planning and is doing an internship with the City of Salt Lake.
Scott graduated from NAU in Exercise Science and has his own massage business in Tucson. Ross graduated in Urban Planning from NAU and is working for a commercial HVAC company. He lives in Litchfield Park. Jeff graduated in Bio-Medical Sciences and is going to nursing school at Chamberlin.
I am very proud of all of them for graduating college, supporting themselves, and being good people. All of them helped build Oasis Bagels. It truly was a family effort.
A. We have four sons. Steven graduated from the University of Utah in Community Planning and is doing an internship with the City of Salt Lake.
Scott graduated from NAU in Exercise Science and has his own massage business in Tucson. Ross graduated in Urban Planning from NAU and is working for a commercial HVAC company. He lives in Litchfield Park. Jeff graduated in Bio-Medical Sciences and is going to nursing school at Chamberlin.
I am very proud of all of them for graduating college, supporting themselves, and being good people. All of them helped build Oasis Bagels. It truly was a family effort.
Q. Oasis Bagels is a huge favorite of many of us who live in the Estrella community. How did you decide to open this business?
A. We had a bagel store for over ten years in New Jersey. When the shopping center was built, Fred thought it would be a great idea to open a store and offer a good, New York style bagel (a boiled bagel). When Fred was sixteen, he worked in his friend's bagel store and learned how to roll and bake bagels. That is how Oasis was born. My nephew came up with the name because when you look out the front windows of the store and see the beautiful palm trees and blue sky, it really looks like an oasis.
A. We had a bagel store for over ten years in New Jersey. When the shopping center was built, Fred thought it would be a great idea to open a store and offer a good, New York style bagel (a boiled bagel). When Fred was sixteen, he worked in his friend's bagel store and learned how to roll and bake bagels. That is how Oasis was born. My nephew came up with the name because when you look out the front windows of the store and see the beautiful palm trees and blue sky, it really looks like an oasis.
Q. What's the #1 seller on the menu?
A. Bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel is a favorite followed by our signature crumb cake.
A. Bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel is a favorite followed by our signature crumb cake.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge with the shop and how did you overcome it?
A. We want everyone to experience a fresh, hot bagel -- just out of the oven. When you bite into it, steam just comes out of it. It is delicious! Our second biggest challenge is trying to guess how many bagels and which kind to bake each day. We do not sell day old bagels. So to reduce waste, we try to make the correct amount each day. Some days we just do another bake or two.
A. We want everyone to experience a fresh, hot bagel -- just out of the oven. When you bite into it, steam just comes out of it. It is delicious! Our second biggest challenge is trying to guess how many bagels and which kind to bake each day. We do not sell day old bagels. So to reduce waste, we try to make the correct amount each day. Some days we just do another bake or two.
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Q. As a local business owner in Estrella, what is your hope for growth in our community?
A. We would like more community activities to bring in people from other parts of the valley to see how beautiful Estrella is. Q. Let's talk about education. Please tell me about your career in education. A. I have a degree in accounting. I was a stay-at-home mom with the boys. I started substitute teaching twice a week, when I just had Jeff at home. My neighbor and I would trade babysitting days so we never needed day care. I went on to get my teaching certificate and I taught middle school math at our local school. When we moved to Arizona, I started substituting to get a feel for the schools. I took a full-time third grade position in January and moved to sixth grade the next year. |
Q. What is your advice for parents looking at school choices in and out of Estrella?
A. Schools are only part of education. It needs to a combination of schools and parents working together for the good of child.
A. Schools are only part of education. It needs to a combination of schools and parents working together for the good of child.
Q. You're pretty savvy with cutting your bills. What's the best advice you have on going solar and/or reducing housing costs?
A. We have had solar for three years and we love it! Not only are our electrical bills less, but the panels keep my second floor a little cooler. A variable speed pool pump is also a cost saver.
A. We have had solar for three years and we love it! Not only are our electrical bills less, but the panels keep my second floor a little cooler. A variable speed pool pump is also a cost saver.
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Q. Anything else you would like to add?
A. In my spare time, I enjoy going to ball class, water aerobics, and palates. l love to travel and go to the movies. I have season tickets to the Gammage Theatre. I play Bunko, LRC, and trivia on a monthly basis. Daily, I play Words With Friends and Trivia Crack. On Sunday evenings, I look forward to playing Pinochle with Fred, Ross, and Jeff. We love having Oasis Bagels and appreciate the community's support. We have met so many wonderful people! We feel very fortunate that the store is part of Estrella! |
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