Two new businesses are trying to take hold in Lawrence this summer, during the off-season for most KU students.

White Chocolate, 1005 Massachusetts St., and the Chartroose Caboose, 1606 W. 23rd St., are two new businesses trying to establish themselves in the local retail and restaurant environments.

Rod Smith, owner of White Chocolate, which opened June 21, said the summer-time opening had its advantages. White Chocolate is a skate shop selling skateboards, accessories and apparel.

The new store will be the company’s first franchise. The original store is located in Hays, Smith said. The original store did well and Lawrence seemed like a logical place to put a skate shop, because of the skate park and the absence of any other dealer on Massachusetts Street, Smith said.

Summer is the peak season for boards, Smith said, because schools are out of session.

Kerri Henderson

White Chocolate opened June 27 at 1005 Massachusetts St. next to the Masonic Temple. The store sells skateboard equipment and clothing.

The shop’s interior is not finished, with bare floors and few decorations. But that is just for now, Smith said; the store will get more items and more amenities.

The Chartroose Caboose shares the bare look. Tentatively scheduled to open July 18, the American restaurant, well-known for its Philly cheese steak, is in the midst of a total face lift, Bret Wiedner, KU graduate and general manager, said.

The original Caboose is located at 103rd St. and Metcalf Rd. in Overland Park, near to where Wiedner grew up.

“My father, brother and I used to go there all the time,” Wiedner said. “It was always one of the places we wanted to eat.”

The family had always joked about opening a franchise of the restaurant. A year and a half ago Wiedner’s father, Ben, was in Lawrence talking with the owner of the original Chartroose Caboose. The owner told him he was thinking about franchising the business and they began talking and formulating a plan, Bret Wiedner said.

Ben Wiedner provided the capital for the venture with the understanding that Bret and his brother, Lance, would run the business. Currently, Bret is the general manager, and his brother is a manager.

Both Bret Wiedner and Rod Smith said it was a good thing their businesses were opening during the summer, because it gave both a transitional period.

“We don’t have to worry about opening and being saturated with customers,” Brett Wiedner said. “It gives us a chance to break our staff in.”

Smith acknowledged his business may not have as many customers at first as he would like, but he shared Wiedner’s sentiment, and said the summer gave the business time to figure things out.

Although there may not be as many patrons during the summer, since most KU students are out of town, summer can afford businesses a time to collect themselves and train their staffs, said Alicia Janesko, director of economic development for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

Both Wiedner and Smith agreed that by the time the majority of students return, their businesses should be prepared to handle an increase in patronage.