Tammy wanted to give the kids of Yoakum something to do to keep them out of trouble. “Before the theater, everybody went out of town for activities. There was nothing to do in Yoakum,” says Tammy.
“For thirteen years I would dream of owning The Grand, and I still can’t believe it has happened. I am a great believer that dreams can become reality. What I didn’t reckon on was what a game changer The Grand would be for Yoakum—the community, as well as the kids.”
The journey had many challenges for Tammy. She worried the theater wouldn’t do well, so she took to Facebook and documented The Grand’s transformation. The excitement spread and reassured Tammy.
She went to a theater convention in search of a POS system but wasn’t happy with anything she saw. “When we opened, we used our ‘dinosaur’ registers. I stuck with them because I was like… ‘I don’t want to pay fees or sign up to something I can’t get out of’. I don’t trust salesmen; they always tell you want what you want to hear”.
Two years later she met the team from Veezi at another convention. “There was something about Veezi. I believed in them!”
“Veezi is so self-explanatory. If my twelve-year-old daughter can learn it in a day, then it’s very easy. Now I am able to throw a new person on the register at a busy time, and they pick it up real fast. It used to take weeks before I would roster them on a busy night. I absolutely love Veezi and their amazing support. They have lived up to their promise to me… and some. I will not be using anything else… ever!”
And the locals love The Grand. It’s been really good for the kids, and, unexpectedly, the older generation are coming back and sharing their memories. One customer proudly pointed out the exact seat she sat in when her husband kissed her for the first time. Of course, it’s not the exact seat, because they are all new, but Tammy didn’t tell her.
Local businesses have benefited, as customers often combine dining at nearby restaurants with watching a movie. Restaurant sales have increased by 30%, and the streets are lined with cars and pedestrians. Recently, The Grand won the state’s Best Economic Game Changer recognition award. Other towns are asking if Tammy can do the same for them, but her heart is with Yoakum and the kids.
It makes Tammy feel good. “What I have is actually bigger than what I thought it would be. And the support from everyone, including the Veezi team, has been amazing. I am so happy I ran into them at the conference.”
