Thank You & Happy New Year!
My journey and experiences....
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We are 1/2 way through the week and have already endured some new challenges and opportunities!.........When my leg pain heals I will even be more 'ready to roll' into the new year!........We will be off and running with our new team and with more opportunities and all be equipped to hit the challenges head on!....With all the trials of running a small business this is still my passion.....We will continue to grow this 'Cafe' and make it a profitable and a worthy place to come and enjoy a meal for all....... We will introduce a new breakfast special that is a$1. savings off the regular menu price and we will feature it.... All Day...Everyday! This new 'Everyday Breakfast Special' will begin the first week of January... 'Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich' ...
December got off to a little rough start.....My back problem (spinal stenosis) kicked in and it has made for a very painful week....Trying to get our new team working together and preparing for the Cafe's first catered event this past Saturday was stressful.....Thanks to Ella Mae, who made the chocolate chip cookies and coffee cakes and stayed with me to set up and take down, all went well.....She has always been there for me and this time it was no different......I love her for all she does to support me even when she has her own set of responsibilities.... I need to thank Stan, Barbara & Kiki for 'hanging in' with me.....We had some very busy mornings & they proved they could withstand the pressure!.......We have new owners who have purchased the 'Pickard Building'......I don't know many details, but I can only hope that this will have a positive effect for us all......This business is still a 'work in progress' and while we have made some g...
Well we have a new team in place and I thank God for answered prayers.....Stan, Barbara and Kiki are our new 'faces'......I believe that we have begun a new phase in the continuation of building this 'Cafe'....As the quote goes "the help can make or break you"....We have been very fortunate to have had a staff that were all 'makers' and these new 'guys' are going to keep that going!.......This is the perfect time to build on all the efforts of those past and the ideas and enthusiasm of those present...... Some new names of our customers that I now have entered into my 'memory bank' Jim, Bruce, Doug, Frank, Rich, Tony, Paul, Vicky, Mark and Lenny....Thanks to all for allowing me to share and for all your support and prayers......Happy Thanksgiving.....
If you are a 'regular reader' of this blog than you won't be shocked to see that 'GOD' is part of me and I am not ashamed to proclaim my love to HIM when I write.....We sang a song in church today (which is one my favorites) 'How He Loves' and it is all about His love for us!.....It is unconditional and gives me 'goose bumps' to know that this love is bigger than any we can feel towards one another.....Now think about that......Bigger than a love for our spouse, Bigger than our love for our children, Bigger than our love for our Mother and Father, our Grand Children, Grand Parents and all of that love pushed together is still just a teaspoon in God's ocean of love!.....Wow, how can we not be humbled and joyful?.....The sermon today was from Romans and how God will never forsake us and even when the storms come, and they will, we can always be assured that He is with us and Loves us, All.....and......Always.....Thank you for that promise for now ...
We had a great sales day today, (Friday 11/4) our best so far!....We sold out of fish & mac & cheese... Thanks to all.....All things must come to an end and so goes our '$2. Breakfast Special'....The last day of the year we will bid it adieu.....We believe we have a great breakfast menu @ great prices & hope that this 'special' led people to try us out and will keep them coming back.....A business can not offer a 'loss leader' forever and survive and so we must move on.....This Saturday was our final Men's Meeting @ the Cafe and next week we will return to our church, Liverpool Community......It has been a good time of Men's fellowship and sharing and learning about what God has for us.... Now we move on to the winter season and more challenges.....Hopefully our free delivery will get 'folks' to order in!....We have some coupons now in the 'Clipper Magazine' and have already gotten some new customers through them....I am ver...
Well it's almost Halloween & we are hoping the rest of the year provides more 'treats' than 'tricks'!.... This has been an interesting run here @ the Cafe....Every time we think we are gaining we seem to fall back again....It is very discouraging @ times, but I do have faith that this 'place' will eventually sustain it self....We are building a brand and a client base, but we can not seem to get the consistency of weekly sales that we need.....Please don't get me wrong with this all said, it only makes the challenges a little harder and hopefully the rewards will be even greater.....I continually pray that God will bring us through these rough first months and that we will become a success.....It will always be to His glory and His will be done no matter the outcome.....This week we will offer an Italian bread pepperoni pizza as a special which will include chicken wings & a beverage!.....Our soups are starting to 'catch on' as the wea...
Some new names to say thank you to.....Will, Joe, Margaret, Debbie, Rick, Terry, Justin, Darryl, and more that I need to see again, to recall their names.....lol.... Have to say a special thank you to Diane L. and let her know that while we did not always see eye to eye on all things, we always had each other's back and I will miss her......Prayers for a complete healing and a deserved rest......We are still evolving and having fun along the way for which I am very happy about.....The Men's Ministry which will continue to meet here on Saturday's through November 5th has been averaging 12 guys and what a blessing they are.....Any man is welcome and we even provide some breakfast to enjoy....We are now offering delivery starting @ 8 am and running through lunch until 2 pm.... We hope that this service will help to get our food out to more & more of the local businesses.....We are still offering our '$2. Breakfast Special' - 2 Eggs, Home Fries & Toast!... Thi...
The Cafe has now been open 10 weeks and all is well....The initial growing pains are easing and my crew and I have really become, One.....We are also doing better each Friday with our fish fry.....and starting this week we will offer a different homemade soup everyday and add some more 'comfort food' specials.....Our breakfast special is also becoming a favorite and why not when you can get 2 eggs, home fries and toast all for $2!....We have also begun to offer free delivery and when the weather really gets nasty this should be a plus for those not wanting to venture out for breakfast or lunch.....I need to once again thank all those who have supported us with prayers.....It is comforting to know that 'folks' are asking God to make this place a success and that helps to remind me to thank God everyday for them and that I honor Him with all we do here.....Thanks for allowing me to share........
Well Friday started out a little weird!...We are now offering a 'Breakfast Special' from 7 - 10: 2 eggs, Home Fries & Toast all for $2......You would think that that offer could cause nothing but happiness in Cafeland....Well always expect the unexpected, for sure...A couple came in @ around 8:15 or so and the man orders a decaf & regular coffee and 2 orders of scrambled, one with wheat and the other with white toast....So far so good....I prepare 2 'specials' and am pleased by the results......Jay delivers them and 'life is good', except when the Man comes to the register to pay and protests that he would never come in our Cafe again because he did not order Home Fries!.....When I explained that that was part of the 'special' and I assumed that is what they wanted, since a non- special 2 egg & toast breakfast was also $2. and he lost nothing!....Well this only infuriated him more and let's just say it became very heated and he even want...
We had a good week @ the Cafe....Had some old & new folks stop in....We are now offering free delivery in the local area and this week we have some lunch specials which will even include Lindsay's desserts, how cool is that.... You can check out our complete menu and specials @ www.cosmoscafe2011.com....... If you have been in and would like to leave a review please log in to www.yelp.com ....Once we receive some reviews we can offer a great 50% off deal on www.livingsocial.com ....These deals are a great way to save money and get to try more of our items off our menu.....Remember we always offer homemade soup & chili and now 'Fish Fry Fridays'....It's getting close to kickoff of the SU vs USC game & wow it is an underdog against a superpower which is like this Cafe vs the other 'Big Guys' hey we are a "Diamond in the Rough" and can match up with the best of them....Go SU & Go to Cosmo's Cafe when you want to enjoy some 'home ...
Let's face it the economy is still not good and folks are finding it tough to make ends meet.....We believe we have great food and ample portions @ very reasonable prices....Here are this weeks offerings...Tomorrow @ syracuse.com they will offer the 'Deal of the Day' for $20. worth of purchasing power for only $10. to be used in our Cafe.....This is a great way to make your dollar go further and enjoy a great breakfast or lunch....Thanks for allowing me to share and thanks to all who have supported us........
A new week begins @ the Cafe...I hope the fall kicks us off to a great run....We have a very good team & menu in place and are ready to roll....On Wednesday we will be featured in the 'Deal of the Day' on syracuse.com .....$20 of purchasing power for only $10!.....We believe we have an awesome 1/2 Pound Burger, Frittata, Philly Cheesesteak and now, on Fridays, Fried Haddock Sandwich w/Diane's amazing Cole Slaw & our own Mac & Cheese....I hope this will be a great incentive to come on in and try us out....The Men's Group sponsored by Liverpool Community Church is now on, starting Saturday September 24 from 7 - 8 am.....All men are welcome & a light breakfast fare will be offered....Thanks for allowing me to share & Thanks for all your support......
Friday we will offer a fish sandwich (haddock) & coleslaw for $6......Mac & cheese with a dinner roll 1/2 order $3.50 or full order $6.......We will also have broccoli cheddar soup & chili @ a cup for $2.25 or bowl for $4. and both are always homemade...We had some new and repeat visitors today, Vince, Peter, Angela & Kevin and some of Mark & Diane's friends.....Also had some help from a new friend, Dino......Dino was a great asset and I hope we can have him back soon...The rest of the 'troops' did awesome and I thank them for dealing with the good, bad and ugly that 'is' all part of operating a small business....The economy is definitely having an effect on some of our customers and we will have to continue to 'hang in' because there is always an upswing after a down one......I pray that God will grant me patience and humility as we grow this Cafe.....As always thanks for allowing me to share and thanks for all the support & prayers...
Well another week @ the 'Cafe' & we are all still standing....Every day brings on some new challenges but all is good....My team and I are still a 'work in progress' but hey we have never worked together before so I am confident that time will heal all the bruises.....I am very thankful for them all and for all the customers who have made this 'their' place....New fall/winter menu begins on Tuesday with only a few minor changes and updates...Homemade soups and chili everyday and with some more upcoming 'comfort food' specials....The bottom line is 'I love what I do and I do what I love'...How cool is that!....Thank you LORD for all your provisions.....I am so thankful for HIS grace and I do pray that I can be more tolerable of people and that they would return in kind.....Our Men's Group from Liverpool Community Church will begin meeting on Saturdays starting September 17 @ the Cafe....We will have some coffee, juice and some lite breakfa...
The Cafe is moving along nicely....It is still a 'work in progress' and keeps evolving as we get to know our customers and our local business neighbors....The menu seems to now be tweaked and the results are very favorable....I still have a ways to go with my not trying to micro manage every move that my able staff makes....It is hard because I am attempting to get a flow going but what ends up happening is that I frustrate and confuse them....My apologies to them and my promise to do better.....We are now giving a $1. off coupon for any purchase, when we get your email address and permission to send you our daily specials...Most folks will find this very helpful and an easy way to plan their food choices for the day..... We had one interesting occurrence today as a lady came in ordered a meal than said she needed to go back to her car to get the money.....Well food cooked, but no lady, I guess what she didn't tell us was that her car was parked in Buffalo and she was just ...
The outside grill that we started on Tuesday seems to be a positive move....Each day has gotten to be better than the next....Stop by and see Mark, he is enjoying himself and is offering 2 meal deals for only $5. each: Two Hofmann Dogs w/Chips & Drink or Italian Sausage Onion & Pepper Sub w/ Drink ....Inside the 'Cafe' things are running smoother as we believe we have a good operating plan and we are all much more efficient in all the needed tasks...When the weather gets a little cooler we will offer some more 'hardy' specials that will stick to your ribs and fill you up....This weeks specials can be found at: cosmoscafe2011.com This is our new web address and our old one will still direct you to it automatically... Can not forget to thank everyone for their support and prayers and thanks for letting me share....
A few new items added to the menu this week plus the launch of our outside grill on Tuesday, for hot dogs and sausage should make for an exciting week....The weeks specials are posted now on the website: http://cosmoscafe2011.com ....This gives our customers a chance to see the entire weeks fare and hopefully help make their decisions a little easier.....I must again thank all those who have supported us....My church family, my neighbors, my family (including immediate and extended), our friends and all the local 'folks' who have become customers gives me pause to count my blessings....This might be a good place for me to explain that I am always trying to improve this business and most importantly my personal walk with God....Now I do not want anyone to misunderstand that while I am a Christian it does not mean that I won't falter....The difference is that I am now aware of these faults and failures and am always trying to become a better man in God's eyes....Today wa...
Week 3 and very encouraged by the results....We have a ways to go but all signs point to a successful and l o n g run....This week my brother Pat & sister in law, Tina were up from Florida and their good friends, Nick & Jill from Syracuse joined them...Rick & Cindy came in today and I forgot to give them a 10% discount as Rick is in the Air Force, (all military in uniform receive that when in uniform) I will give them their change when I see them at church....Still seeing some new faces and 'regulars' which makes me feel like we are on the right track....'The Three Amigos' were in today, and lets just say that if a pulpit were available the 'Good News' would have flowed along with the hash and eggs....Paul & Michelle also had breakfast (more church family) and Paul is becoming a 'regular' himself, how cool....I had to ask one customer to please not sit and 'surf the web' for 4 hours a day.....I was hoping that he would understand...
Starting Tuesday August 16, we will begin offering Hofmann hot dogs & sausage sandwiches outside in the front of the building (weather permitting). I am hoping to appeal to the 'folks' who have very little time to eat or are just want something good, fast and easy.....This is also a way for us to market ourselves and help to advertise our presence. If this is a success I plan on making it a regular venue during our fair weather days of spring, summer and fall. I need to continue grow the business and use what is available for us to do so. We have a new everyday special ...
Paul stopped in again, he either likes our food or is hiding out.....or maybe both....lol....Dick & Sandy, my neighbors came in for lunch as did my friends Todd & Josh.....We will begin this coming week to get more menus out to the nearby businesses and I am hoping that more and more of the Military men & women will stop in....Many thanks to my 'crew', I believe we have finally got a rhythm going...Can't believe that I am doing my own thing again....Please if this is a dream the 'do not disturb' sign is up, let me enjoy this as long as possible....This will be my first business venture that Ella Mae will not join me ...I miss her but we have become a little wiser and she has major responsibilities of her own @ Pi Phi and ATO.....This week we will begin posting our daily specials for the entire week on our website: http://cosmoscafe.vzwebsites.com ........Thanks for allowing me to share and thanks to all for you patronage.....
Today, Thursday was once again a day when many of my 'church family' came to show their support.... Words are not enough to convey my thanks to all.....So I thank God for placing these awesome folks in my life and I ask for a blessing on each and every one....Kevin, Sheri and parents & Mike, Marissa & Matt...Marrissa is due any time and glowing..... My Godson, Rick, Stacy and Matthew also visited....I still need to 'chill' a little but with this Italian blood it is sometimes a reach....I do want to make this a success of course but I need to remind myself that it will take some time and to not get ahead of myself or God....hello!.....Tomorrow will only be 10 days in......I have learned one undeniable truth, that this is not of my doing, but of God's....I used to behave as if any successes were of my making, how 'silly' of me, now I understand!....Thanks for allowing me to share.........
Today was another good day with more friends stopping in including Pete & Lynn & Pastor Mac & Vickey.....Mac got his favorite, Hash with eggs sunny side up and Italian toast.....That would be my choice also if I was ordering for myself.....You know great minds think alike and all that.....lol....We are postponing the outside grilling until Monday August 15, don't want to spread ourselves to thin....We need to do one thing well first.....More names for the memory bank....Tino, Leah, John and Daryl......Thanks to all for coming in......Specials for tomorrow are posted on the website, which can be accessed from the top right of this blog......I was much calmer today and I am trying to 'chill' & not try to control or orchestrate every move, it worked and the intensity level was down.....My goal is to make everyone feel at home, enjoy the food and service....Thanks to Sarah for sending in her friends and thank you all for letting me share........
Well tomorrow begins our 2nd week @ the Cafe....It can't be said enough how much I appreciate the many who have supported me, either with a helping hand, by coming in or with a prayer for our success. Pastor Justin gave the sermon today @ our church (Liverpool Community) and he pulled apart the 63rd Psalm which was written by David. I won't go into any detail here as I certainly do not have Justin's abilities and knowledge, and let me add he is an awesome deliver of the 'word', but I would like to share why David was so special to God. David was in another lonely place (the wilderness) but yet he still realized that praising God was the right thing to do. No matter our circumstance or 'storm' there is always hope in the Lord, period.....I say this because I believe it! I fervently pray that I will always do the same, no matter what 'wilderness' I land in......These are good, fun and exiting days right now for me, but when a storm does come and I...
Well we made it through week # 1!....Thanks to all my friends, neighbors, family and the working 'folk' who helped make this happen. I am exhausted, but in a good way. Today Paul (from church) stopped in and how nice that he would spend some of his morning with us. More names that I learned are Annette, Margo and Chuck.....Lets hope my memory can store them all...Already can't wait for Monday and what new people we will meet and hopefully make happy by serving them. I made up some new menus tonight with some minor changes. All of life is evolving and changing and this is no different, I am always looking for ways to improve. The table menus are now in color which I think makes them easier to read and of course more eye appealing. We hope to have an outside grill in operation on Monday August 8th. We will offer Hofmann hot dogs, sausage - pepper & onion sandwiches and both @ meal deal prices! This will make getting lunch a lot ea...
Wow, day three was fun and different, for sure! We had a 'mini rush' this morning and in the heat of it, we ran out of eggs!! That was a first for me. I had, what I guess was an out of body experience...lol... I was stunned to put it mildly and after the shock wore off, Jay was off and running to find a store that was close by and sold eggs. Thankfully there was a Nice & Easy within 4 miles and after some stalling tactics in the Cafe, we were back in business....Many Thanks to the group of Liverpool Community Church leaders for supporting us by stopping in for breakfast this morning, Pastor Mac, Pastor Chris, Pastor Justin, Karen and Alexis. Also Bea & Chip and Bill & Rosemarie our good friends also surprised us today. It is so humbling to have all these 'folks' take time out to say hello, wish us well and to do business with us. The best part of the day was when Pastor Mac lead us all in prayer as we all huddled in the small kitch...
Thanks to all for making this 'soft opening' so satisfying...We served a good selection of our menu items and comments that were both solicited and not, were favorable.....We had a visit from Pastor Chris, Sarah and Easton (who remained sound asleep from his zoo trip earlier in the day) or was he playing possum....lol.....Thanks to you 'guys' for supporting us it was very much appreciated. I am so happy to be doing my own thing again and serving 'folks', how cool is that!....Some customer names that I learned today were: Eugene, Big G, Ron, Joyce, Thomas, Gordon and many that I already forgot, but will work hard to remember from here on out. Soon we will offer grilled Hot Dogs & Sausage Sandwiches outside for those in a hurry, plus it will help to get people to know we are here. Tomorrow, Tuesday our specials will be: 3 Egg Cheese Omelet W/ your choice of 3 fillings and Home Fries plus Toast or Bagel - $5. ...
Well here we go, the doors are opening! The Cafe will begin operation on Monday, July 25, 2011 @ 7 am...... Many thanks to Ella Mae for her continued patience with me during this past week, she always has my back, which by the way has been aching and causing me much pain as this project has progressed. I also have to acknowledge my cousin Mark, who has stepped up to get more things repaired and operator friendly than I could ever have hoped for. He truly has his Dad's desire to help out anyone but most especially Family.... There are also many others who lets just say liked working behind the scenes, 'Thank You" to all... The one thing you must be aware of before becoming self employed is that you don't call in, there is no one there to answer.....!"The show must go on"and all that stuff seem appropriate here as well... So backache or any other illness or injury 'man up' and get going, that's why it's called a Sole Proprietorship!....lol...
If you have been following this story, the 'hill' years for me are over and even though I may be considered 'over the hill' by some, I'm not finished just yet!....A seed was set long ago that drives me to continually keep this entrepreneurial spirit alive. Every time I do settle into a normal employment routine, I get restless and am always looking for a new opportunity. I loved my last cooking job for Phi Kappa Psi and it was a very difficult decision to leave. The 'brothers' were a class act and I will always remember my brief but enjoyable time there. I thank God for allowing me to travel this new path and I pray that I will always be faithful to His will. My goal is to bring this Cafe back to life, kind of like Gordon on Kitchen Nightmares...lol The past owner I believe, gave it her all and did the best that she could with her abilities. I would like to build on that foundation and take this to another level. The "food = love" formula is...
It is now fall 2006 and Ella Mae and I continue with our unique duties. We have dinner together, (but not alone) whenever possible, in the dinning room filled with lots of activity and chatter. The ladies are catching up on each others studies, their latest love and even taking a momentary bite of food. I really am loving the energy and all the constant coming and going. College classes can run late into the night, so there is this continuing motion and sometimes, controlled chaos. I am feeling pretty satisfied and proud because I am responsible for this very meal. EM has just left her house where she has cooked for the 'boys', and we both are feeling good about that. We do worry sometimes, because you never know if tonight's dinner is a home run or not. In EM's case she will find out the next morning, but I have the pleasure or displeasure of instant analysis. The rage now is these new TV food shows, where the cooks compete to...
Well here we are Ella Mae is a house mom/cook and I am a cook/house dad. It's our first night in the apartment and we are about to be abruptly initiated into college life. If you remember this is mid January and colder than a you know what and we decide to take a stroll down M street. We are immediately shocked to have a streaker run past us, than after reaching the end of the street, turn around so we can now say we have seen him coming and going and I really mean see, him! If anyone remembers the George moment in a Seinfeld episode, shrinkage, should come to mind! So we now realized we were not in Kansas anymore. Oh how appropriate it was to have our inaugural night start this way, even if it was just a small thing. In Pi Phi we were very fortunate to have a no alcohol policy. Since this was a dry house the only drinks being served were the ones at the local pubs or the many frat parties that ran most every weekend. This ma...
Well it's now August of 2004 and Ella Mae is cooking at ATO and I am in my second year as the cook at Pi Beta Phi. I am, however having a difficult time with the 'house mom' who began to work there that previous semester after replacing the live-in grad student I originally started with. We seem to clash more with every passing day and the fun of this job seems to be fading with each conflict. I do however continue to work well with Donna who is the 'housekeeper'. She and I seem to have hit it off immediately and we always try to assist one another whenever needed. I would always have the radio on and sometimes we could be heard breaking out in song for which the 'girls' must have thought someone was in their final moments of a horrible and agonizing death and those sounds were coming from the kitchen no less! This association and our occasional laughing spells helped to relieve the stress of the continuing battles, which now seemed to be heading to a...
After EM and I sold the restaurant she stayed on for a while as an employee and I began the Archway cookie route. The route was from Rome, NY, all the way to Raquette Lake, which is 22 miles north of Old Forge! We housed the cases of cookies in a rented storage unit just outside of Vernon. Every morning at 6 AM I would start out to make the deliveries. The concept of being a distributor was that you purchased the product and you placed them in your stores and if and when they sold you made your profit. I say when they were sold because If you haven't checked lately, there are a lot of cookies in that snack aisle and with 'big boy company brands' to boot who could really market and have great sales. My route consisted of the few small 'mom and pop' stores that were still hanging on and the ones they were hanging on against such as Walmart, Price Chopper and P&C. Also the many gas station - convenience stores that dotted the area, such as Nice...
Wow, this latest stop on our journey was proving to be a winner! EM and I had both begun to develop relationships with the many patrons that came to the shop. We each used our own unique style and manner and make friends we did. We still can sit and recall some of their faces and even still be able to put a name with it, which is a challenge since it is now almost 14 years ago. My Mom also helped out and she and Dad now lived in an apartment right next door. It was getting more and more difficult for her to care for my Dad alone, so we moved them here. This gave Mom some freedom to enjoy her second love, people. She was a 'rock star' unto herself and it didn't take long for the 'folks' to know she was a ball of fire with a personality to match. I believe it was in those last days of her working at the shop, just before we sold, that the first signs of her memory loss could be seen. Today she now has that horrible decease, Alzheimer's, and ...