Small businesses are a personal touch in Logan

  In 2009, Texas Roadhouse came to Logan, joining Olive Garden and Chili’s as the premier chain restaurants in the valley.

 As a college town, there is no shortage of eateries in Logan. Fast food chains such as Burger King and Wendy’s dot Main Street. Chains such as Ihop and Café Rio catch the eye as hungry students look for recognizable signs of their favorite restaurants.

 Among the all the neon open signs and 30-foot high signs bearing familiar logos, however, are restaurants with a more personal touch. Restaurants founded in—and exclusive to—Logan.

. “We have something different for Logan; things that other cities don’t have,” said Ciara Connors, head manager for Le Nonne. “We have something unique they’ve never tried.”

 Le Nonne is one of the best known Italian restaurants to locals in the valley, and has won several awards for its authentic Italian cuisine.

 Angie’s is another well-known restaurant in Logan. So much so that it bear’s the slogan, “Where the locals eat.”

 Angie’s was founded by Saboor Sahely, who immigrated to America from Afghanistan in the ‘70s. Sahely came to America for an education little more than the clothes on his back.

 “I have to be always working hard to compete with the chain restaurants with huge capital,” Sahely said. “I don’t have the backing of a major corporation with a lot of money. I have to take every dime and a quarter and make it work.”

 Heather Senti established her own successful restaurant in Salt Lake City before being recruited to manage Herm’s Inn here in Logan.  Senti believes that these home-grown restaurants are vital to a city’s character.

  “Small businesses are what make the larger ones all run here in any city,” Senti said. “The more local people can go out and support the local businesses the better off the cities are.”

 Senti also said that money spent at a local business stays in the community and supports the local economy. Larger chains just don’t have the same effect and often put these smaller stores out of business, Senti noted.

 The Indian Oven down the road is run by an Indian immigrant who developed his talent for cooking while working on a freight ship.

 Jack’s Woodfired Pizza on Main Street was founded by a husband and wife, and their son works for them as a cashier.

 The Pauni family founded their own catering and entertainment business, with the children growing up performing traditional island dances for their clients.

 Joe Pauni learned from his father the importance of what they were doing: sharing their unique food and culture for everybody to enjoy.

 “That’s the main reason why my dad got into it,” Pauni said. “He could see how much people appreciated experiencing and learning about different cultures, especially our culture. It was important to him and now it’s important to us.”

 For Connors, owning a small business is far more challenging and personal than a corporate owned restaurant.

 “The people that own their own restaurant care so much because it is their livelihood and how they support their family,” Connors said. “So they put a lot more thought into it—they try to be the best that they can.”