Small Business Owner Relishes Family Time

It was a warm November day and the drive-thru line to Family Frosty was out to the road. As I walked in Amy DeJohnghe is frantically running between making orders, answering the ringing phone and explaining the new register to an employee. After a few moments she sits down with me. In this situation you are able to notice that Amy takes great pride in running her own business, which includes an ice cream place, a putt-putt and a now a pizza place.
When asked how her family has helped her with her business’ she responded with, “At first my kids, Nathan and Adam, were really little so they didn’t do much, but now they’ve worked here and are a huge help when it comes to naming different and new items. My husband also builds everything and helps me fix all of the machines. I honestly don’t know how I’d do it without my family.” We were interrupted by the phone ringing.
Amy DeJohnghe first started out with Family Frosty located in Tecumseh, MI and in the summer of 2007 built a putt-putt called Stone Mountain Family Fun Center next door. On Monday November 2 Amy opened up Stone Mountain Family Pizzeria next to Family Frosty. “I think that we just need to find our niche,” DeJohnghe says after responding to if she thinks it’ll be hard to compete with other pizza places in Tecumseh.
“Both of my kids are in college now so it gives me the chance to put 150% into my business. There have been instances where the business has interfered with spending time with my family, but that’s what happens when you own your own business,” DeJohnghe said after hanging up after the phone rang again.
DeJohnghe relies a lot on Michelle Hardy who is a manager at Family Frosty. “I try to make sure to make a lot of small decisions for Amy to take some stress out of her life,” Hardy said. Hardy goes on to explain that even though that making those decisions can be stressful that she really enjoys the challenge. “It’s fun to make decisions. Especially when I know my boss is going to stand behind me because she’s so understanding.”
I asked Hardy if it’s also difficult for her to find time to spend with her own family when she’s busy working between 30 and 40 hours a week. “It’s a little hard. They usually just want me there when they get home from school, but you have to remember that any job takes time away from family. It really helps that I enjoy my job.”
I asked DeJohnghe a question that I wasn’t sure about asking. I asked her if she ever regretted getting into opening a business that requires her constant attention. She laughed and answered “Do I have to tell the truth? Really though, I think that with any profession you sometimes ask yourself ‘Why am I doing this?’, but 90% I really enjoy what I do.”
You can tell that Amy relies a lot on her family to help her through some tough decisions that she might have to make. You can also tell though that Amy DeJohnghe really enjoys being involved in her business. I walked out of the interview to hearing the phone ring once again.

(Picture from left to right are managers Cindy Rosas, Owner Amy DeJohnghe, Managers Cassie Hollenbeck and Michelle Hardy)