Cosmo's Food for Thought

We had a good week!......Sales were up from the previous week and I am able to stay on my feet for longer now as the meds are helping with the pain.....The 'crew' Stan, Kiki, Trevor & Barbara have really stepped it up.......Thanks to them we are able to move forward with growing this business......Stan has taken charge of cooking when he comes in & I even went on two deliveries today while they kept things going, now that's a switch!.......I really believe that we are getting close to making the Cafe sustain itself.......If you have not been in we have an incentive....Go to:  cosmoscafe2011.com & click on 'special offers' & you can print out the page for 1/2 off your total bill!.......We would love to see & serve you....Thanks for allowing me to share and for all your prayers and support....... Stayin' alive, stayin' alive.  Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive,  Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive.

We have had a few 'bumps' again this week....Much caused by my 'meds' making me anxious & 'out of sorts'......I seem to have lost my way @ times this week & concentrating can become hard to do.....For all that, I do apologize & can only pray that I will get better soon......The pain is a constant 4 -5 & jumps to a 8-9 @ times of stress....I am trying to make the 'Cafe' pay it's way but with all that is going on with my health, it only adds to my worry & concerns.....I am convinced that we have a great menu, have reasonable prices, have a caring staff, have good food with good portions, and we will even deliver!.... Yet it is still a struggle to pay all the bills......I have always used this forum as a way to express my life's journey & also 'let it all out' with candor & honesty........This is not easy to admit my failures and 'bumps' for all to see as I move toward my ending goals......I never was much...

Well another week is coming to an end @ the 'Cafe'.....It was interesting as always......Stan has decided to move on & I wish him well in whatever new job he lands at......This has moved me back to doing most of the cooking for which I enjoy, so no problem there.....Trevor is also beginning to step up & is cooking also....This will be great because it gives me a chance to get off my feet every now and then.....Ella Mae and I went to BJ's tonight and purchased 20 new chairs for the 'Cafe'......The ones we have are all challenged to say the least.....I originally had selected a wooden chair with a fabric seat, however EM with her practicality (that's why I asked for her to come along) led me to a folding white chair with a washable surface!.....That makes much more sense as while we are a 'Cafe' we are not a 'stuffy place'!.....We cater to hard working men & women who want a good meal in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere......No 'h...

It's only Thursday but I feel the need to thank everyone who has stopped in this week already.....Sam, Stacy & Ashlyn (Stacy's beautiful daughter).....Sam & Stacy worked with me in the 'Bagel Station' how great it was to see them and for them to take time out to visit....Sam did a little bit of everything there, but he was mainly in charge of our many deliveries....Thus I always fondly refer to him as 'Sam Sam the Delivery Man'!.....He was a great front man for us and really loved 'talking us up'......Another old friend, Mike, (aka Buda) also came in today and I got to remembering my 'fruit truck' days....Seeing these folks only made me feel so privileged to have worked @ those two endeavors....New names to try to remember Nate, Anthony Nick & Gabrielle......Also lots of new faces and satisfied customers.....I really believe that we have begun to 'turn the corner'......I want to make this place a success that is built upon pr...

We sold 124 deals from our recent 'Groupon' offer!.....That should keep us busy for a while.....We are hoping that this will bring in new 'folks' who will make the 'Cafe' a place they want to come back to.... Stan is back!....We all deserve 2nd chances & I am glad to have him on board again.....Business is beginning to grow & I am confident that this next few months will get us where we need to be in sales.....'Wild' Bill stopped in yesterday, he is a good customer who really enjoys our food & 'talks' us up....I am thankful for his support.......I have been considering opening weekends & maybe extending our weekday hours a little....This is just 'putting it all out there'.....trying to relate my thoughts.....Lots of things would have to fall in place for this to happen, but I do know that standing still and not recreating yourself every now & then is not healthy in any endeavor.....Thanks for allowing me to share ...

This week we had our best week of sales!......It was all due to the efforts from our staff and the continued patronage of our great customers.......Thanks to all......I have also had a better week in the pain department & I am trying to ease myself off the meds....We also had great success with the Groupon deal and we'll be seeing lots of 'new faces' & the potential for new regulars......To make them come back we will need to continue to provide the good food & good service we are being noted for!.....I am so thankful for everyone's prayers and for you all giving us a try.......Thanks for allowing me to share......

It's mid week & I want to take time to acknowledge some visitors to the Cafe......Pastor Bob & Kathy....Mike & Sheri....Judy & her Mom....& my cousins Phyllis., Martha, Gloria & Maryanne!.....Thanks to all......

What an amazing non - Winter......Today's record 68 makes me begin to think of the coming of our outside grilling season @ the Cafe......Nothing quite like cooking & eating in the great outdoors in CNY.....We are hoping to kick it off on Monday April 30!.....Please stay tuned....We have begun our 8th month in business & are looking forward to this Spring & Summer getting us to & through our 1st anniversary.....It is still an ongoing process of building & growing the Cafe, but no lack of enthusiasm is in sight.....We have introduced a few new menu items & more salads will be offered as the temps continue to rise....Thanks for allowing me to share & for your continued support & prayers......

Well tomorrow is officially Spring.....Although for once we have been blessed with beautiful weather & temps for quite a while......We will begin our outside grillin' soon.....I hope once we start, it won't jinx it....Business has been up and down for the past couple of weeks for which I have no explanation.....One thing I do know for sure in this business, nothing is for sure!..lol....It took me many years to learn that I am really not in control of anything.....God has His plan & I have surrendered humbly and gladly to Him.....I pray each morning that all will be well according to His will and not mine......Yesterday, Pastor Mac's sermon was about our 'mission' & that spreading the 'good news' of Jesus was at the core of what and who we are....Now don't 'click off' I am not about to preach!.....I can only hope that God will use me as he pleases to impact those that I come in contact with.....I do believe that the 'Cafe' is m...

It's Thursday & this week has been better than last week for sales.....Although I should remember that nothing is a given & we can only hope that today & tomorrow's sales continue the trend.....Next week, Tuesday April 3. will be our first day with our outside food service....It is just like everything else. a work in progress.....Here is the menu.....Thanks for allowing me to share & thanks for the prayers......

Well as it sometimes goes, things don't always go as planned.....The outdoor venue for the Spring/Summer has hit a bump in the road!....We will not sell or grill outside but will still offer Hofmann hot dogs inside as well as our usual sausage sandwiches, burgers & phillys.....Logistics just wasn't in the cards...I love that word 'logistics'...lol....So we move forward.......Thanks for allowing me to share & for all your prayers......

It has been a while since I have updated my progress here @ the Cafe.....So today I will ......Business has been off these past 2 weeks & I have no explanation as to why.....I am still confident that we will turn the corner soon to profitability, but I am human & do worry that it needs to happen soon!!......Some changes will need to be made & some have already been implemented, but all are behind the scenes stuff so the 'front of the house' will all be the same......It is the same whether it's a business or home the budget needs to be reworked every now & than to keep up with the constant financial changes that occur....We are 'trimming the fat' & doing all we can to cut expenses.......As always I put this in God's hands.....Thanks for allowing me to share & for all your prayers & support.....

Well Spring is in full bloom & the flowers are amazing.....Spring is of course the season of a 'new day' a rebirth!....I was hoping for the same here @ the Cafe, but we seem to have lost our 'blooms'......How can one understand how sales can dip these past weeks when we are doing everything as always & that has gotten us 'rave' reviews in the past?...We are @ a crossroads & I can only pray that we will survive this 'wilting' process we seem to be in.....So I will say & even sing, "Where have all the flowers gone...long time passing...long time ago".....Thanks for allowing me to share & for all your prayers & support.....

The Cafe is still chugging along, only I wish it was moving forward at a little faster pace.....That's the 'instant gratification' we all seem to want......I should know better as it is in God's hands and at His pace & time......I truly do want to always give Him the praise, honor & glory, but my pride & humanness get in the way so often.......I worry & stress when He wants us to always just give it all up to Him.....I pray that I can be a better leader of my family, business & community.......A better man who is not quick to anger & can love & forgive as Jesus has set the example for us to follow........I am so thankful for God's grace & His never ending love for us all.....Without them I would be just going through the motions believing that I somehow controlled the outcomes of this journey......How cool it is to be assured that the best is yet to come!.......Thanks for allowing me to share & for all the prayers & support......

Well, it's Wednesday & the Memorial Day Weekend is now a memory.....The weather was awesome & I hope we all took at least a moment or two to remember all the military members who died in service to our country & to those who still serve.......It is also a time to remember our loved ones who have past on.....I am not the 'John Wayne' type, but I do love this country & am proud that my Dad & his 3 sons all served in the US Army......I just wish we would all focus on what America still can be & not on what was or is.....We still have to rid ourselves of prejudice, it once was felt by the Irish, Italians & so many more who came here from other places.....We all talked a little different, ate different foods & brought along habits from our own cultures....Than it was the Blacks, the Hispanics & now the Middle Eastern, Mexicans & even Chinese etc.....It is also pretty sad that our country can not find the means to get these guns out o...

 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...

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!....

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 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.....

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.......

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...