May 2008 Archives
Switching over to the new platform has made me realize one of the reasons we started the blog and how we have moved away from it. When Mikey, Daniel, Robin and I met over pot stickers at the Phoenix lounge, we discussed starting a blog about the ins and outs of running a small business. In some ways we have done that in other ways we have not. So I am hoping with this blog, to catch you up a bit and perhaps get back to telling the stories of the epoch battle of making people happy.
In the last month I have lost three employee's, two by firing, one due to quiting. I have hired a new manager for the Acorn and have relatively now time or ability to train her, leaving her to be trained by employees which feel threatened by her arrival. I am up to my ass in paperwork and still can't seem to figure out payroll although I have done it correctly in the past. My soup making skills are lackluster, my energy level is low and it seems like I am constantly battling the beverage cooler as it dispenses drinks faster than I can fill it.
Everything needs to be painted. The lights, cooler doors, dish sink and slicer are all broken. Someone keeps stealing my newspapers, the table legs are shot and I cannot not seem to keep the kitsch stocked on the general store peg boards.The crazy folks have been coming in so frequently that I seem to be kicking someone out every day.
But, not to make this a pity blog, let me tell you the good.
New outdoor tables, painting the bathroom, concentrating on sandwiches, new art curator and some truly awesome employees which mean more than just a a worker bee in my hive. But the thing I think I love the most are the customers. The Half and Half has always had the fortune of having regular folks. It has never been the shop of people with complexes serving people with attitudes. It, especially of late, is the coffee shop which serves the doormen of hotels, the customers of Powell's, the owner of the pizza place, some architects, the poor and the construction worker.
I felt bad for much of last year, and the press we were getting and the tragically hip which overran our place with ungratefulness. We became very busy and lost a lot of our regulars. So I would like to give a heartfelt apology to those regulars we lost during those trying times. And to those new everyday folks and to those who remain, i thank you for making the half and half so very, very precious and giving me faith that there can still be a sense of community in the downtown area.
Some halfy flickr pics here.
Biggy