Segway Santa Cruz closes, plans to start nonprofit

After seven years in business, Santa Cruz Segway has closed up shop. “I was ready to make a change,” said co-owner Chappell McPherson, 76. McPherson ran Segway Santa Cruz with her daughter Tami Buttenhoff. They had no other employees. At 302 Pacific Ave., Segway Santa Cruz was open seven days per week year round since it opened in May 2012. It closed June 20. McPherson said she was ready to retire and felt burnt-out. But for Buttenhoff, who still loved the business, it “took a minute to let go.” “I’m like an entertainer,” Buttenhoff said. “And I love doing tours because I loved entertaining them…and I gave them time and I worked with them. And I made it meet that full experience.” Timing with the property owner, Robert Griffin, also worked out. Griffin wanted to sell the property, according to McPherson. Segway Santa Cruz’s lease was close to being up, too, she said. Griffin also owns Coast Motors, which is next door to Segway Santa Cruz.