ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
After high school Mark earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology in Wisconsin. “Psychology fascinated me, I found personalities and how we interact with each other very interesting,” Mark chuckled. His keen interest in psychology paid off when he entered his corporate career. “I felt like I gained a lot of insight from my education about people and how to find the right people for the job,” Mark elaborates. His first career path started out as a natural vitamins salesman in Chicago. “In three months I tripled the company’s inventory, and was very successful,” Mark explained. Shortly after being promoted to regional, sales continued to skyrocket and he relocated to California when he was promoted to the national level.
THE WEDDING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
After a long and successful career, Mark first retired in 1995, and within six months he felt like he was going stir-crazy. A trip to Miami for a wedding changed everything. Mark met up with a friend who owned a cigar factory in the area and who offered him a tour. “I was instantly mesmerized with the whole operation, the beauty of the rollers, the fragrance, everything about it.” Mark knew he was on to his next passion. He started Stogies Cigars and carefully selected his location to be on Fisherman’s
Wharf.
“I had a 500 square foot store and I was sweating bullets because the rent was five times my mortgage, but I had faith because of the sheer tourist foot traffic in the area,” Mark explains. Mark further reminisced on the gigantic 20×27 foot sign of a 3D cigar and striking red lips. Sure enough business was booming. “In 1995 there was a cigar craze,” Mark emphasized. With the right high-quality product, timing and location his business not only flourished but exploded. After ten years of running shop, his accounting firm bought his business for an offer he couldn’t refuse.
RETIREMENT ATTEMPT #2
After a few years of retirement Mark went home to Chicago in 2008 for an extended stay to spend quality time with his mother, living in a 35th floor corner apartment. From Mark’s window a popcorn shop caught his attention. It was constantly
busy so he visited. Mark was impressed with the popcorn machines and just how simple and popular fresh popcorn was. As a man of faith, Mark was moved by an experience that day that led him to his next opportunity.
“It struck me like a sign; I knew right then and there I would open a popcorn business!” Mark exclaimed. Mark knew nothing about the popcorn business, but he knew it was reviving his desire to work. He started his popcorn business in San Francisco where he fell back on his key to success: quality service and quality ingredients. Popcorn pairings created by a famous Napa Valley and New York wines connoisseur were another novel concept and business boomed! After ten lively and fun years, Mark and Michele sold their popcorn business to a lovely couple in order to retire for good…. or so they thought.
THE BEST BAGELS IN THE VALLEY
Michele and Mark moved to Del Webb Rancho Mirage in 2019 to settle into their retirement years. They enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, entertainment scene and
great restaurants; but to Mark, something was missing. He couldn’t find a bagel that reminded him of home. “There was no ‘wow’ factor.” While Mark was considering
the idea of making bagels to fill the void Michele jokingly exclaimed, “If you open a bagel company I will get a divorce!” but ultimately they opened Stone’s Best Bagels.
“We deliver anywhere in Coachella Valley. They are 10/10 and taste just like bagels the east coast is famous for,” Mark beams. Sure enough, East Coasters and Canadians who grew up loving bagels have attested to Mark’s quality bagels.
“I also made my business convenient for people who are retired. The bagels are flash-frozen and I deliver the next day. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw for 20 minutes, toast it and it tastes as fresh as if it was just baked!” Mark explains. Just like everything he sold before, vitamins, cigars and popcorn, Stone’s Best Bagels are made with quality. “I believe in the best ingredients, I am willing to pay the price for the high quality taste, I do not believe in skimming or cutting corners.”
Stone’s Best Bagels carries seven varieties:
Everything, Sesame, Plain Jane, Onion, Cinnamon Raisin, Garlic and Blueberry. “For all my neighbors reading this, if you mention you read this Sun City article when you place an order for one dozen bagels, I will throw in two extra free bagels!” To place an order visit www.stonesbestbagels.com or call (760) 977-9494.
