18 NOVEMBER 2024 C harles “Chas” McClendon III spends 75-80 hours a week working to establish his retail business, and doesn’t give it a second thought. The 35-year- old entrepreneur has only lived in the Valley for three years, after moving from south side Chicago where he was raised. “My mother and brother were already here, so I packed up my whole life, my son, and off we went,” he remembers. “My first summer was insane but we’ve become accustomed to the heat.” McClendon is the owner of Pure Green in Arcadia Towne Center, a health foods store that serves everything from acai bowls to smoothies and pressed juices to handcrafted toasts and oatmeal. The extensive menu would satisfy even the most ardent health- conscious person. “I fought to have my store in that space because of the Arcadia community. Everything on our menu is organic and we use no sugar. The neighborhood has really responded to what we offer,” McClendon said. He cut his teeth in business back in the Windy City when he bought a multi-family housing unit and became a new father. He admits he faced many challenges and sacrificed much, but today calls it his proudest achievement. “There were many times I didn’t know if what I was doing was even possible, but I persevered. It taught me you can do anything if you push through,” McClendon said. He became interested in pursuing a healthier lifestyle after sustaining a serious injury when he was 25. As he was recovering, he stumbled across a Pure Green pop-up and was instantly hooked. “I started eating better with more nutrition in my diet.” McClendon has also taken over a Pure Green location in Tempe. He has franchise rights and hopes to ultimately have three stores. “I’ve learned that a successful business is all about the intangibles. Rolex sells status, not watches. Volvo sells safety, not cars. And Pure Green sells pure, clean eating. I’m selling a desired state of mind and well-being,” he said. McClendon played football at Western Illinois University where he starred as a wide receiver. But his sports hero isn’t a football player. “Given the amount of pressure Jackie Robinson faced in this country at the time he played, he accomplished a tremendous feat. He deserves his place among his peers and other greats as a real sports hero. Certainly, he’s mine,” McClendon said. He also has strong convictions about success and failure. “I don’t believe success lasts very long. After you achieve it, it instantly passes. Then it’s all about maintaining that success daily, which ultimately is the hard part. Embracing failure is also key, because you face it a lot more along the way,” he said. “If I succeeded at everything in life with zero failure, it wouldn’t be as sweet in the end.” McClendon is focused on the here and now – raising his son, Charles IV, enjoying time with family, growing as a businessman and making a positive difference in the world. It appears he is well on his way. puregreen.com Charles McClendon III If I succeeded at everything in life with zero failure, it wouldn’t be as sweet in the end. Matthew E. Nelson, DDS Complete all of your dental treatment in one day with sedation dentistry SOUTHTOWN DENTAL CARE Voted Phoenix Magazine Top Dentist for over 10 years www.SouthtownDentalCare.com 480.842.5539

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