Ordunos strike it lucky with The Pearl

Over the past several years, Cassie and Tommy Orduno have added a number of businesses to Saratoga beginning with Bella’s Bistro and then adding the Saratoga Sandwich Company and SunnyCup.

Now, the couple have added yet another business with The Lucky Pearl at 100 N. 1st Street. The location had previously been the home of the Laura M Art Gallery until owner, Laura Morrow, chose to close her business last year. When Laura M made her announcement, Cassie said she briefly considered opening something in the space.

“At that point, it wasn’t feasible. I had too much going on, it was just not in the cards. Then, I walked by the empty building every single day on my way to work at the (Saratoga) Sandwich Company and it just seemed to get darker and darker over here, and the windows seemed dustier and dustier,” said Cassie. “I missed shopping and I know a lot of people did too just chatting with them at the barista bar at the Sandwich Company.”

Eventually, the stars aligned for the Ordunos as Cassie reached a point where she could step away from the day-to-day operations of the Sandwich Company.

“Tommy and I seriously talked about it and, in September, I called Laura and said ‘You know your empty building. I might be interested,’” said Cassie. “Of course she was gracious and willing to help me in every way.”

After the phone call in September, those walking by the space started seeing some life return to it as display racks and boxes could be seen through the large windows of the storefront. Then, on November 9, came the opening of The Lucky Pearl. Cassie doesn’t call it a grand opening, as she’s never done a grand opening of any of her businesses and considers it a tradition at this point. The day of her opening was also the same day as the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce’s JIngle Mingle.

“It was such a fun night to unveil everything I’d been working on and let people in to shop, to see what I’ve been busy with. It was well received, we had so many kind comments and just a ton of people passing through the store,” said Cassie. “It was fun, it was a good feeling.”

Within the space, one can find just about everything ranging from women’s clothing, drinkware and cookware, children’s items and more. According to Cassie, with this being her first foray into retail, she agonized over what to include in the inventory.

“I tried to get a little bit of everything and just feel it out and see what people are most looking for, what niche can I fill that people are looking for in shopping experience. I just thought about the people who are important to me,” said Cassie. “I just tried to envision different people in the ordering process and plan my grand scheme around that.”

One piece of inventory long-time Saratoga residents might recognize is the painted drinkware by Gwen Gorton. Before the space had become Laura M’s, it had been the home of Blackhawk Gallery where Gwen worked as the gallery manager.

“Gwen I consider to be a staple of this location because she was the face of the Blackhawk (Gallery) for so long and she’s been painting these glasses for so long. Laura carried them and people are excited to see them,” said Cassie. “I was really happy I could bring that back and carry on the tradition of Gwen’s hand painted glasses.”

At the moment, Gwen is the only local creator in The Lucky Pearl. Eventually, Cassie would like more local creators in the retail space.

“I’m a local’s local and I would love to see more handcrafted artisan wear in this space,” said Cassie.

With all of Orduno’s businesses, there is usually a meaning behind the name and The Lucky Pearl is no different. Pearl is a family name, said Cassie, and was the name of her grandmother’s sister. It is also the middle name of her oldest child, Sophia.

“I’ve always considered her to be my lucky pearl. Pearl’s like my lucky stone and the fact that it’s a family name made it even cooler. To me, the pearl is just so representative of taking something that isn’t glamorous, something that might be a little bit painful, and then turning it into something really beautiful,” said Cassie. “That’s kind of the story of my life and so I consider a lot of things to be my lucky pearl, but Sophia specifically.”

With now four businesses in their portfolio, many may wonder how it is that Cassie and Tommy find the time for business and family.

“Honestly, I think I’m just good at organizing my time. There was a point when we had opened the Sandwich Company and we had that and Bella’s going and I had just had Sophia. I just thought ‘There’s no way I can get any busier’ and somehow it doesn’t feel like I have,” said Cassie. “I’m just busy in different ways and I’ve become a lot better at managing my time and my tasks and hopefully still making enough time for my family.”

Cassie said she does her best to prioritize her family and said she owes it to her employees in place at all the businesses she and Tommy have opened.

“I’ve got really good people in all my places and I lean heavy on them,” said Cassie. “I rely on them to keep things running while I’m dealing with the oversight.”