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The Journey Continues....


 Happy Anniversary!......No not our wedding anniversary...... Ella Mae & I do not celebrate ours until August 22 & wow, 42 years at that.....This is the Cafes, One Year Anniversary & what a year it's been.....I was working for the Phi Si fraternity on Comstock Ave up @ SU.....I had just begun the summer break when I saw an ad on craigslist for the lease of the Cafe.....I had looked at this place about 4 years earlier when it was again on the market, but I decided that it just didn't feel right back than.....This time all seemed different & I being the always 'entrepeneur' could not let it slip by this time....It was fully equipped & Diana (the proprietor) had done a great job making this truly, 'turn key'.....I did have a few reservations, one being I would be leaving a great job cooking for the guys & with summers off to boot!....A regular paycheck bi-weekly, with all the deductions taken out & even a promise of getting some health insurance the next semester......The biggest pitfall for me was finding the best 'help', people who would give this place 100% & no less......As chance would have it EM & I were about to visit my cousins Mark & Diane..... I explained my 'find' & my concerns.....They were as or even more excited than me, which is hard to be, for sure.....Well as it went, they offered their assistance & my mind was made up.....EM was also on board even though she had more concerns than me......She agreed to this for me as she knows the love I have for doing my own thing.....Ella Mae has always supported me in my many endeavors & this time it was no different......The plan was set & a soft opening was had on July 25, 2011, with the official opening one week later on August 1......Jason, Diane's son was my first employee & a great one at that......He did everything & than some & had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm & sense of humor.....So with my Cousins & Jason we hit the road running.....Those first weeks we were getting accustomed to working together as this was not something everyone had done before......There were some conflicts & disagreements which I believe are just part of this 'game'.......After some very rocky moments we all seemed to settle in & 'jelled' together.....Unfortunately stuff happens & my Cousins had to leave.....Enter Jason's friend & we were moving along nicely again......Here is where I will state, hopefully for the last time, that I am 'driven'.....My tactics seem to become personal to some when in fact my only goal is to do the job @ hand & to expedite it all as best I know....This is where business & personal stuff have to be divided, easier said than done for some.....I did not survive this first year on 'luck'......I believe that God has given me a talent & while it certainly needs refining @ times, this is who & what I am.....
Now that first couple of weeks we were open, I have to acknowledge my 'Church Family' & friends......They all supported me/us in so many ways.....Thank you....
The year 2011 went by pretty fast & again we faced the need to bring in new employees.....Enter Stan in November (he is still here with some 8 months under his belt), Kiki, was with us for about 2 months & did a great job but as sales dipped a little I had to let her go, Barbara, who worked 2-3 days a week but again had to be let go for a slump in sales......Trevour who started in January & in between his schooling is still here 3 days a week....Julie started a few weeks ago & works Tuesdays & Thursdays....Thanks to all past & present for you all were & are a part of this milestone & any 'under fire' emotions aside I hope you enjoyed your time here.....I will always be grateful to one & all......
In January I was struck down with a bout of spinal stenosis......This eventually put me in the hospital & made for a very stressful time....Again if it were not for everyone stepping up, the Cafe would not be celebrating our anniversary at all....I have alluded to this in an earlier post so I will not dwell on this again.....One year ago money was borrowed, liability insurance was purchased, a DBA was established, NYS sales tax # obtained, menus developed, my friend Andy @ Sysco was called in for our first food order, Verizon was hooked up for Internet & TV, credit card machine purchased & set up, outdoor signage purchased, website developed (by yours truly), facebook page started & so many other tasks that I do not have the space to list......To be sure praise goes to my Cousin who also repaired, cleaned & made alterations to several needed items that are still being used today & for his running the hot dog grill we had outside for a month or so......Last week was the first week that I was able to transfer any funds from the Cafe to our personal account.....We have loaned the business over $8000 above & beyond our start up loan.....I state this only as fact & not as a cry of sympathy....Anyone who has that desire to open a business, I want this to be of some guidance & info of the sacrifice it may take in money, time & patience......If you have a dream such as mine, do not be blocked by this, but first search your  heart because without that burning desire to succeed nothing else will be enough....
Thanks God for allowing me to continue this journey......Thanks to Ella Mae, my wife, lover & friend...Thanks to the local business 'folks' who have made the Cafe a part of their routine.....Thanks to our Church Family.....Thanks to our many friends who have supported us by their patronage & prayers....Thanks to Stan, Trevour, Julie & Cj (my Grandson), for all your dedication to making this place a success & for your customer service that I believe is truly 'heart felt' & second to none!....Thanks to Mike & Jackie (owners of the building) for understanding that we are all in this together & that sometimes it takes some hard choices & decisions to eventually have us all succeed....We would love to see you all come in & enjoy some homemade cake on Wednesday,Thursday & Friday!.....

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