Laff Factory changes hands, new cell phone company opens

The rumors have been flying regarding the transition of Heath’s Laff Factory and Heath Campbell said on his Facebook page that they are true, however, the broad-based statement didn’t cover any of the details.

First of all, Campbell said the business, located on Frontage Road across from Albertson’s, isn’t closing, it’s just changing hands. The restaurant has been sold to Craig Smith, a friend of Campbell’s and a local farrier.

Smith said, “Both Heath and I want to do something different. The subject of the restaurant came up in a conversation and here we are.” Campbell said his last day at the Laff Factory will be Jan. 25.

For those who love the Mexican/American menu available at Heath’s Laff Factory, don’t be concerned. Only the name will change. Smith said new signs will go up soon for “El Vaquero,” or The Cowboy.

He assured the Pahrump Valley Times that the menu isn’t going to change and everyone at the restaurant will retain their employment. “It’s just a name change. We’re going to be successful because of the staff.”

Smith said a soft reopening is about three weeks away.

Campbell said he is on to other adventures.

Another business on Frontage Road, Papa Murphy’s, is no longer in business. The take-and-bake pizza shop, in business here for about seven years, closed its doors at the end of 2012.

However, change has come to the suite right next door to the closed business. It has been leased as a store front for Salome Wireless, a new cell phone provider.

The business, located at 141 S. Frontage Road, Unit B, opened Jan. 8 and is the area’s exclusive Boost Mobile dealer. Boost Mobile is the brand name which offers not only its cell phone plans but that of Virgin Mobile and Pay Lo Mobile under the brand. None of the plans require a contract.

Owner Jose Salome said he offers three plans for each of the providers. Boost Mobile plans all have unlimited talk, text and web browsing and range in price from $5 to $55 per month. Virgin Mobile plans range from $30 to $40 a month and Pay Lo starts at $20 per month and goes to $40 per month.

There is a bonus to paying your Boost Mobile bill on time. Salome said there is a “shrinking payment plan.” If clients pay their cell phone bills on time for six months, the monthly payment drops $5. The program covers a discount every six months for a total of 18 months.

The store also carries phones for each of the plans and range in price from $15 to $400 for smart phones. There is an inventory of cases and pouches, chargers, headphones, Blu-tooth hands-free phones and other items.

Clients may sign up for services with no contract and no credit check.

Salome Wireless is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.