A launch pad for special talent
Plus: Nearly 400 county retirees to lose dependent-care subsidies; What's up with medical offices?; National press remembers Leon Levine; Bed Bath & Beyond bankruptcy; Anti-bat tips
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ZABS Place thrift boutique helps young people with special needs grow skills and get ready for the workplace
A REWARDING MISSION: Bentzion Groner (far left) and Rochel Groner (far right) are directors of ZABS Place, which trains young people with special needs through roles in a thrift boutique and furniture store. Cole Levy (second from left) and his mom, Ami Levy, (second from right) have found the program to be a great way for Cole, who has autism, to build his confidence and independence.
by Michael J. Solender
While talent development takes center stage at ZABS Place, a thrift boutique and furniture store in downtown Matthews, it’s how leaders uncover and engage their associates’ special abilities that make their business model special.
That’s because their associates are young people with special needs, and ZABS Place focuses on them.
“ZABS’ mission is to train, employ and place young adults with special needs to harness their talents and pursue their dream careers,” explains Rochel Groner, who together with her husband, Rabbi Bentzion Groner, are directors of both ZABS Place and the nonprofit Friendship Circle Charlotte.
Many families reach an educational crossroad as their special-needs children age into adulthood, as finding vocational and care options to match their children’s interests and abilities can be daunting. Groner explains it was through Friendship Circle, where special needs kids are paired with neurotypical teens in one-on-one weekly meetups, where the idea for ZABS Place grew.
Filling a special need: “ZABS Place is a brainchild born out of the necessity of parents coming to us about next steps for their aging kids’ future,” Groner explained. “Many young adults with special needs can stay in school until 21. And then there’s a cliff. If they’re not able to go to college, what happens? It’s the world of day programs.”
Groner and her husband saw a gap in the Charlotte community with vocational options for those with special needs. Most were clustered around repetitive task-based work and didn’t look to explore the personal interests of their participants. Making for additional challenge, parents are often so focused on satisfying their children’s basic needs, they don’t have the opportunity to explore long-term interests and personal goals.
“These parents are loving parents, but they are overwhelmed,” Groner said. “When I asked, ‘What does your kid like to do?’ I had a mom tell me, ‘I don’t know,’ and she had tears in her eyes. She said, ‘We’re so busy with therapy and with tutoring, we’re just trying to live.’ It wasn't until we told her, ‘We know what your kid likes because we see it at Friendship Circle.’ We felt equipped to go out and figure out what each young adult can do.”
The Groners researched businesses that had low barriers to entry, would tap into a variety of skill sets and could be run without extensive technical expertise. Finally, after encouragement and support from Charlie and Caren Gale, who had become frustrated in their effort to find employment for their 18-year-old son on the autism spectrum, ZABS was launched.
“A thrift shop is full of things that people no longer have use for,” said Groner. “But if you can see beyond that, you paint it, clean it, display it differently, suddenly, it’s beautiful. It’s a perfect metaphor for our young adults: They come through a system, once shiny and new, and now nobody knows what to do with them. But if we can provide a new environment, sharpen their skills, uncover their abilities, suddenly they’re in a great position to show their capabilities and employers are going to want them.”
Though Groner had some retail background, helping her sister with a clothing store where she did the books for 10 months, she quickly discovered there was much to uncover. On-the-job learning, she experienced, is not only for ZABS’ young talent. “We’ve learned so much,” says Groner, “not simply about retail operations, pricing, and merchandising, but in developing training, working with our talent, their parents, and out in the community.”
Preparing for the workforce: Since opening in 2014, they’ve worked with more than 300 talented young adults and placed dozens of their program graduates. ZABS operates three four-month cohorts annually of about 15 individuals each. They use on-the-job-assessment, skill matching and training to prepare and place their talent in mostly part-time positions across the Charlotte region. Landing spots have included the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Harris Teeter, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, Great Harvest Bread Co. and many others.
Program participation is offered at no charge, and after initial training, the staff members are paid an hourly rate for their work. Private donations and grants help supplement earned income to meet ZABS’ expenses.
SouthPark resident Ami Levy and her family moved to Charlotte in the summer of 2019 from Atlanta. She found ZABS though a referral and brought in her son Cole, now 21, who has autism. “I was looking for programs that could be helpful in terms of next steps for Cole regarding gaining more independence and vocational skills,” Levy said. “It’s hard to navigate that on our own. After connecting Cole with ZABS, we see options available.”
Cole Levy said he immediately took to the training and loves his part-time work with ZABS, where he puts in up to 10 hours weekly. “I help organize merchandise,” said Cole. “ZABS is my first job, and it’s great to get my own paycheck.”
ZABS features a smart selection of upscale men’s and women’s fashion, accessories, household items, books, CDs and hand-crafted gifts. They boast consignment-quality vintage offerings at thrift store prices and have become a favorite shopping destination with locals.
Groner says the unusual name, ZABS, is an acronym for Zecharya Avraham Boruch Shporer, the Hebrew name of a young supporter, Zachary Shporer, who passed away after battling leukemia.
Groner said there are nearly 100 organizations and initiatives in the Charlotte area dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs talents as they pursue careers, find housing and connect socially. Together with Camp Blue Skies, Philips Academy and A Special Needs Plan, they have formed a coalition of organizations and businesses that specialize in services for adults with developmental differences, their families/caregivers and the communities that support them.
“It’s tremendously rewarding,” Groner says. “It’s why we do what we do.”
Michael J. Solender is a Charlotte-based features writer. Contact him at michaeljsolender@gmail.com or through his website.
Today’s supporting sponsors are the Charlotte Museum of History, which is hosting the Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards on May 11, honoring the people and organizations that are saving Charlotte’s history.
… and the 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. You can do this! (Yes, YOU!) There’s an event for every goal and pace at the 2023 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon: Full marathon, half marathon, marathon relay or the Chick-fil-A 5k! It all happens Saturday, November 4. REGISTER NOW
Update: Mecklenburg County says 396 retirees are losing health insurance subsidies for dependents; Benefits paid in error
On Wednesday, The Ledger reported that Mecklenburg County had sent letters to retirees notifying them that the county would stop paying the health insurance subsidies for their dependents — enforcing a policy that the county said had been in place but apparently not enforced.
We didn’t get an answer to how many retirees would be affected by press time Wednesday morning, but the county has since told The Ledger that 396 retirees are affected. Here’s the statement:
Mecklenburg County recently communicated to 396 County retirees that medical premiums for their dependents are not covered by the County’s health plan. County policy is clear that those retirees that were eligible for retiree medical insurance from the County would only get subsidized coverage for themselves, not their dependents. This policy has been in place for decades. Human Resources recently discovered that some retirees were getting subsidized dependent coverage despite the fact that the policy does not allow it. Once discovered, we took steps to rectify the issue by informing these retirees that their dependent coverage would no longer be paid for by the County. The County sent letters of this change late last week. Retirees will need to pay for benefits for their dependents starting on June 1, 2023.
No word yet on how much the dependents’ insurance benefits were costing the county; the county told The Ledger last week that it is looking into it. —CB
Related Ledger article:
🎧 New podcast episode: Update on medical office real estate trends with Brannen Edge of Flagship Healthcare Properties
Telehealth took off during the pandemic. New office developments are largely on hold. Independent medical practices are consolidating. Retirees are heading in big numbers to the Southeastern U.S.
The latest episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast explores all these trends — and how they are playing out in Charlotte and in the Southeast — in an interview with Brannen Edge, CEO of Flagship Healthcare Properties. It’s a Charlotte-based real estate company, with more than 100 employees, that develops and manages clinical outpatient buildings:
🎧 Listen here: “The future of the doctor’s office, with Brannen Edge”
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast — which features brain-nourishing and insightful weekly interviews with Charlotte leaders in businesses, nonprofits and other fields — is also available on podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast and Google Podcasts. We release new episodes on Fridays. Most are under 25 minutes.
The passing of Leon Levine is being noted nationally
The remembrances of Leon Levine, the Family Dollar founder and major Charlotte philanthropist, are pouring in from around the world.
In the couple weeks, national and international media have covered the story of Levine’s death on April 5 at age 85. The Levine name is on many Charlotte-area institutions, including Levine Children’s Hospital, the Levine Scholars program at UNC Charlotte, the Levine Museum of the New South and uptown’s Levine Center for the Arts.
A sampling of some of the recollections:
Wall Street Journal: ‘He knew what was going on all the time’
Leon Levine, a college dropout, founded the Family Dollar chain in 1959, starting in North Carolina and spreading around the U.S.
He stocked cut-price clothing, food, toys and the smallest packages of toothpaste or hand cream for people without enough cash to buy jumbo sizes. The stores were in low-income neighborhoods or small towns. Mr. Levine sometimes found locations by looking for oil stains on the pavement—a sure sign of the leaky cars driven by poor people.
In an age of big box retailing, Family Dollar was defiantly small box. …
“He knew what was going on all the time,” said John D. Reier, who served as president of Family Dollar under Mr. Levine in the mid-1990s. Sales forecasts based on wishful thinking didn’t fool him. “If you told him a lie, he knew about it,” Mr. Reier said.
When he visited stores, Mr. Levine noticed details, such as dust on the shoe displays, and ordered immediate changes.
—Wall Street Journal: “Leon Levine, Who Made Small Box Retailing Pay, Dies at 85,” April 12
—
NBC’s Today Show: ‘A legacy that extends well beyond his groundbreaking stores’
In November of 1959, a 22-year-old recent college dropout named Leon Levine emptied his bank account of $3,000 to start a family business that would become an American institution.
Levine opened his first discount store in downtown Charlotte [it was actually on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood]. He called it Family Dollar. Growing up in North Carolina, Levine and his siblings helped their widowed mother run the family’s small department store in Rockingham.
In college, Levine sold bedspreads before leaving school to pursue his idea for Family Dollar. … In 2015, Dollar Tree, another discount retail chain, purchased Family Dollar for nearly $9 billion, making the Levine family one of the wealthiest in America, according to Forbes.
Levine spent his life giving away that money. Through the Leon Levine Foundation, he funded scholarships, hospitals, a cancer institute, museums and Jewish organizations, leaving a legacy that extends well beyond his groundbreaking stores.
—Today Show, April 16
—
Washington Post: ‘crafty in keeping costs down’
Mr. Levine’s approach to retail was contrarian.
As malls and big-box discounters such as Walmart and Kmart began popping up in America’s suburbs during the 1960s, Mr. Levine focused on lower-income neighborhoods in cities and rural areas, selling family staples such as batteries, socks, underwear, toiletries and makeup at steep discounts.
Family Dollar stores were small — never more than 8,000 square feet — so shoppers could zip in and out. …
He was equally crafty in keeping costs down. Stores were minimally staffed, sparsely decorated and he was a brutal negotiator with suppliers. On visits to their showrooms, Mr. Levine would wait until nobody was inside. Then he would walk in and say to the sales representative, “I see business is slow, what can I help you with?” …
Mr. Levine and his wife rarely gave interviews, but in 2004 they agreed to speak with a Charlotte Observer reporter.
There weren’t any major revelations about his life, though the reporter noted that Mr. Levine sometimes wondered how successful he would have been had he graduated from college.
Also, he liked good deals on groceries, which he bought at Costco.
—Washington Post, “Leon Levine, retail contrarian who founded Family Dollar, dies at 85,” April 10
There were also articles in the London Daily Mail, CNN and USA Today. —TM
You might be interested in these Charlotte events: SouthPark After Five, ‘coolest garage sale,’ book festival, historic preservation awards
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
THURSDAY: SouthPark After Five. 5-9 p.m., Symphony Park. Free music, food trucks & drinks, & hands-on art experiences are coming to Symphony Park at SouthPark After Five on 4/27. Enjoy live music from Breakfast Club Ultimate 80’s. Plus, throw paint at a canvas to make a community art piece with Splatter Art CLT! Free.
APRIL 28, 29 & MAY 1, Charlotte ToolBank, 2513 S. Tryon St. Think about the coolest garage sale ever! We sell new (and gently used) tools marked at 50% off retail prices. 3 days of the HUGE SALE happening Friday, April 28th (5-8 p.m.) + Saturday, April 29th (7-11 a.m.) + Monday, May 1st (9 a.m.-12 p.m.). Free.
MAY 6: Around the World in 21 Branches, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., North County Regional Library, Huntersville. Fun-filled festival featuring NYT bestselling author Megan Miranda, a community mural painting with De’Neer tha Great, DIY screen printing, scavenger hunt, herbaceous demos with master gardeners, virtual reality experience of new Main Library and so much more. The event is presented by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation and sponsored by Lowe’s. Free.
MAY 11: Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards, 6-10 p.m., Charlotte Museum of History. Celebrate Charlotte’s history and culture through live performances, tours, music and more at the Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards. $75-$200.
◼️ Check out the full Ledger events board.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Another retail bankruptcy: Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday and has said it eventually plans to close all its stores. It operates three location in the Charlotte area: in Matthews, at Carolina Pavilion near Pineville and in Mooresville. (NPR)
Race for governor heats up: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson announced he is running for governor in 2024. In the Republican primary, he will face State Treasurer Dale Folwell and probably former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker. On the Democratic side, Attorney General Josh Stein is running. Robinson, 54, is an outspoken social conservative from Greensboro who would be the state’s first Black governor. (Associated Press)
Ballet season: Charlotte Ballet announced its 2023-24 lineup, the first full curated season by new artistic director Alejandro Cerrudo. It includes “Swan Lake” and “Nutcracker.” (Charlotte Ballet)
On the move: The city of Charlotte’s No. 2 economic development official, Christina Thigpen, is leaving the city to return to a position with Ballantyne developer Northwood Office, she confirmed to The Ledger last week. Thigpen previously left Northwood in 2021 to become Charlotte’s deputy director of economic development under Assistant City Manager Tracy Dodson. Her last day with the city was Friday.
Development pushback in Dilworth: Some Dilworth residents oppose a rezoning that would allow an 80-foot-tall building on the site of the Starbucks on East Boulevard. (Biz Journal, subscriber-only)
Wheelchairs stolen: A group of sarcoma survivors was unable to participate in a 5K race on Saturday because a trailer containing five wheelchairs was stolen from a storage lot. The nonprofit Speed for Need uses the wheelchairs to help riders with special needs participate in fitness events. (WBTV)
Expensive home for sale: A 13,000 s.f. home on a private island on Lake Norman is on the market for $22M, the most expensive residential property ever put up for sale in Mecklenburg County. (Axios Charlotte, among others)
Bat prevention tips: Following the discovery of bats at Ardrey Kell High School, wildlife experts “say acting now can help keep bats from moving into homes or businesses,” WCNC reports. Experts say you should “find and seal the gaps” leading into your home. “Basically, just try to seal up anywhere you can fit your thumb in,” said an official with A-1 Wildlife Control.
Taking stock
Unless you are a day trader, checking your stocks daily is unhealthy. So how about weekly? How local stocks of note fared last week (through Friday’s close), and year to date:
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Contributing editor: Tim Whitmire, CXN Advisory; Contributing photographer/videographer: Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project