Cosmo's Food for Thought

Well its Saturday & the Cafe is of course closed on weekends, so a perfect time to share some thoughts & events of the past week......I am waiting for Kevin to stop by & pick up a lunch that we prepared @ the Cafe for 8 or so sales peeps @ Romano Chrysler.....We have had this arrangement for almost a year & nearly every week.....Sometimes I will deliver, other times we would meet up @ our 7 am Men's Group @ church (we are now on a summer break) & other times, like today he is coming to our apartment to retrieve it before heading to work.....I am not sure that Kevin knows how much this means to me.....His loyalty & friendship & willingness to support my business is most gratifying & humbling....I will forever remember this act of a friend helping a friend.....Thank you Kevin & to all your staff for allowing this to happen..... This coming week will be another interesting one as with the 4th falling mid-week, I am thinking this can n

A new addition to our 'crew' Julie, she is now on board & very grateful for her help......She has the personality & enthusiasm that will fit in nicely with Stan, Trevor & myself.....Her hours are from 10:30 - 1:30 on Monday, Tuesday & Thursday.......We had some free 'play' in the Syracuse papers storefront column this past Friday....... How cool is that?!......It gives me hope that the 'little guy' is still relevant.......As always thanks for allowing me to share & for all your prayers & support.......

It's Hot!... Now that we have that out of the way......lol....I just had my 2nd customer of the morning & he asks "how long have we been here"?......I reply "almost a year".....He replies "Yes I did see the signs that you were open, last year".....He asks for doughnuts which we do not carry & settles on a bagel with butter.....I ask him "to take some menus back to his workplace".....He replies " Oh I bring my lunch & eat breakfast @ home, but did not today"......"But, yeah some of the guys do order out" @ which time he did take some......I thanked him for supporting the little guy.....Please forgive me but I think I was a little sarcastic.......Amazing what a struggle it is to get 'folks' in here!......It can be like pulling teeth!....Not an easy or inviting procedure for sure.....The 5th customer made the morning all worth it!....Cheryl one of my best friends sisters came in & what a surprise..

Well today is my birthday aka born 63 years ago.....I am older but not sure any wiser!.....I sometimes just operate on enthusiasm, adrenaline & a wing & a prayer!.....The prayer part is the most important & the most useful for sure I have discovered of late.....The Cafe had a normal sales day today for which I am very thankful, however I am always hoping we can achieve more & I know we can......Our lunch box special is becoming very popular: 1/2 Deli Sandwich - Chips - Beverage & Choc Chip Cookie all boxed up to travel for $5.95! ...... New staff member tomorrow, Julie, she will work Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:30 - 1:30 & will be a great addition.....Stan is on all day everyday & Trevor is here from 9 - 1:30 on Mon - Wed & Friday......I am very blessed to have this 'crew'......Summer arrives this week & our 1 year anniversary is right behind!.....Thanks for allowing me to share & for your support & especially for the prayers.....

It's Tuesday morning & Monday was a good day @ the Cafe......We had offered a Groupon deal a few months back where a $7.50 online payment allowed for $15.00 worth of purchasing power here @ the Cafe......The coupon expires on June 15, so we have been getting many 'folks' in redeeming them these past couple of weeks.....The idea is to build a customer base & I do believe that this will help tremendously.....Everyone seems to be 'blown away' by our food & service!......Thanks to all who have been in & we all hope you will return.....Still trying to turn the corner to making a profit, but feel very confident that we are nearing the end of our 'infancy' phase & heading to the next level......I love operating this place & even with all the setbacks & stressful situations, I would not trade places with the richest of men.....If my health holds out (back) than I plan on staying on until I fall over dead in a pot of soup..lol...or chili!.

 We had a good week @ the Cafe this week.....Some regulars & a lot of new faces!.....I pray this is the start of a 'new beginning' for this business & that it is turning the corner to profitability & longevity.....To those out there that have never run a business & in particular a food establishment, this may seem unrealistic that after 10 months, zero dollars have come out & much more have had to be induced to keep it afloat.....This is not a business for the dreamer or faint of heart, it takes a lot of hard work, experience & the will to succeed.....I came into this location with eyes wide open & never expected this to be easy.....I will say though that even I have found this Cafe to be an immense challenge & more difficult than even I anticipated....The location, the past history of many owners coming & going & a building that is 1/2 occupied & in much need of updating were all detours to be encountered...... The goo