Four businesses open in Guam as the year comes to an end

BY SKYLER OBISPO
Journal Staff

As 2024 comes to a close, four businesses have set up shop in Guam, bringing specialized services and offerings to the island community.

Salt + Light Home is a furnishing and design studio that opened its doors on Nov. 7 in Tamuning, which allows clients to furnish their homes with handpicked pieces by its designers.

The studio is run by Lissa Talavera, CEO and principal designer and Shine Walker, chief creative officer and principal designer. Walker had originally envisioned the idea of the business as a five-year project when launching Salt + Light Realty in 2022, but credited the inclusion of Talavera as the driving force to open it sooner.

When she opened the real estate business, Walker said she felt that she was missing something to drive the design studio section, but when she met with Talavera - who had her own vision of opening a design studio - she found what was needed.

“It was never even a question of whether we should do it together, it was more like when are we going to do it,” she said.

Talavera and Walker discovered that their vision for a design studio fit perfectly with each other and opened the studio after seven months.

The studio’s collection embodies a lot of earthy tones and muted colors. Walker said the goal was to emulate nature’s “enduring” aesthetic with evergreen pieces that do not fall out of fashion, while mixing in modern design elements. Talavera said the pieces they curated are designed to work cohesively and blend well with one another, as well as being appropriate for families.

Walker told the Journal that the vision behind Salt + Light Home is “creating spaces of intentional and beautiful living.” “We want you to use the furniture,” she said. “At the same time as being a high design piece — or high design pieces — it’s also very family friendly. It’s spill-proof, dirt-proof, oil-proof, all the proof that you can think of is on our pieces.”

According to Talavera and Walker, Salt + Light Home’s focus is on its design studio service more than its retail space, an aspect unique to the furniture industry on the island, with the items in the collection being there to complement the design recommendations.

Talavera and Walker want customers to see the brand as a one-stop-shop solution for finding and furnishing their homes.

Salt + Light Home has roughly 20 staff members, with some working on the realty side of the Salt + Light brand. On top of its design services and showroom, Salt + Light Home can deliver and assemble pieces at the residence also. 

Talavera said in the near future the studio plans on expanding to full-service property development and introducing more products to the collection.

Provisions Wine and Cheese is a wine boutique that sells French, Italian, Spanish, Australian, New Zealand, and American style wines as well as gourmet cheeses and groceries.

The shop opened on Nov. 8 in Hagåtña and is a part of Crave Group, which operates Lone Star Steakhouse and Crust Pizzeria Napoletana.

The group’s CEO, Brian Artero, said that he got the idea for Provisions in 2022, and was inspired by his travels across Italy and the United States. 

“Wine has been a fixture [at] the table at many gatherings and many negotiations and many dealings for thousands of years,” he said.

Moreover, he told the Journal that his decision to open Provisions in Hagåtña was purposeful and based on the type of local businesses in the area.

“[The Hagåtña local scene] is complemented by so many different concepts that are eclectic and cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” he said. “It feels very organic in this area.”

Cara Cruz, who is the manager at Provisions, said the business wants wine to become more accessible to people who are curious about the beverage and the culture.

“We strive to create a space for them to discover something new,” she said. “Whether someone is just beginning their journey with wine or they’re a wine enthusiast, there’s a bottle for everyone.”

What sets Provisions apart from other wine retailers is its ability to provide a number of services beyond its retail component.

Artero said the business can supply wines and charcuterie boards to parties and weddings, as well as serve ready to eat salads and soon to be launched sandwiches. Artero also helped develop Public Law 37-128, which adds a new instructional tasting licence for alcoholic beverages.

This will allow Provisions and other retailers of alcoholic beverages to permit customers to sample small portions of products on offer and host private events outside of regular operating hours.

Provisions has a staff of five and more than 500 bottles of wine on hand, which Artero said is one of the largest wine collections on the island. The category it's selling the most of is its red wines with many customers' interests lying in its Italian selection.

The shop will have a menu of its offerings by late December or early January and will start hosting events and tastings soon. Additionally, it will launch a corporate gifting service for businesses to send bottles to clients as gifts.      
      
Sentinel Security Solutions is a locally owned security service provider that was founded by Jarred Suba and his brother-in-law, Camilo Lorenzo.

It offers unarmed security guard services which can include on-site patrols, site access control and surveillance, loss prevention, and event security.

Suba has a background in cyber security but has a close connection to public safety through his father. His father is former Guam Police Department Chief, Paul Suba, who he said “inspired me to value service, discipline, and resilience.”

Suba and Lorenzo opened Sentinel Security Solutions on Jan. 5, with Suba telling the Journal that Lorenzo’s business experience was vital to its opening.

“Camilo’s determination to rise above challenges and his education in business have made [this] experience invaluable as we navigate the business side of our company.” Lorenzo also works as an account executive with Matson Navigation Co. and is Suba’s brother-in-law.

Suba said Sentinel Security Solutions was formed to address rising crime and the shortage of police officers on the island.

The business has already secured contracts with several local businesses and organizations, Suba told the Journal. He said he and Lorenzo are committed to the continued growth of the company and are eager to continue providing services that not only keep people safe, but also support their clients’ successes, because according to Suba it is more than just a service. He said, “Our motto, ‘Securing Your Success! Your Trusted Local Security Service,’ reflects our commitment to offering more than just a service — we offer a partnership.”

McDonalds of Guam and Saipan has added a new restaurant in Mangilao.

The franchise held a soft opening on Dec. 3, with Jose and Marcia Ayuyu, their son Joe Jr. and daughter Ashley welcoming patrons to the new location. The location is the seventh in Guam for the franchise, which also has two restaurants in Saipan. McDonald’s renovated its restaurants in Hagatna and Harmon in 2023, according to Journal files.

A grand opening is scheduled for Dec. 14 with a VIP night to be held Dec. 11. mbj