2022 - The Year of Big Changes

     There's almost too much to report and there has been so much that has happened this year that I hardly know where to start.  Most everyone has probably heard that we had one of those catastrophic water leaks that forced an almost-4 month shutdown - boooo.  But we got an almost brand new kitchen - yeah!
     I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to thank a few folks who not only saved my sanity but also saved the coffeehouse, quite literally.  First, if it had not been for the quick thinking and incredibly knowledgeable Adam Moulton who sprang in to action as soon as we called, I dare not think where we would be.  Don't laugh but I really thought that after a few days of drying out that we should be good to go.  I know you're laughing and I'm so much wiser now but Adam had the restoration folks with their big fans at the coffeehouse within 24 hours of my call and it took almost 2 weeks just to dry it out.  (So not a few days!)  It was Adam who coordinated all the payments and even ensured that my amazing staff remained paid during our shutdown.  When I despaired at the amount of time passing by, he calmed me down.  When I was frustrated, he answered my questions and made me understand the process.  Adam made it easier for me to endure the long months of shutdown.
     Next came the work of putting us back together - no small feat as you can imagine.  Dave Mazeika of DAM Plumbing & Heating was there immediately to stem the leak and complete the repairs in between his other work.  Think about the supply issues happening right now.   We needed a whole new furnace, along with everything else, and he somehow made it happen on schedule!  
     For all the kitchen repairs, you will see from the pictures there were many.  We needed a whole new ceiling, all new counters, a new platform for the 2 commercial fridges, complete floor refinishing, all the walls repainted and all the work coordinated on schedule.  I knew who I had wanted to ask to handle the renovation but I knew how incredibly busy they were.   They had done such amazing work on the original buildout of the coffeehouse that they were the perfect group to do it again.   I finally mustered the courage to ask Matt Keddy and couldn't believe it when he said he would do his best to fit me in to their schedule.  The Keddy's are the best, and I was willing to wait for them to fit me in.  They did everything right on time and with delivery of all my new appliances and equipment, it all came together like a perfectly choreographed ballet.
     I am so grateful to have this group to have gotten us back on our feet but where would I have been without my Emily. She has been my rock through COVID and its shutdown and then the Pipes and its shutdown, and now it's time to say goodbye.  I've been so lucky to have had such amazing women at the helm of the coffeehouse these last 5 years, and Emily was special.  She has such a head for business and she started her own successful flower business that is really taking off.  I have so enjoyed watching her these last few years really blossom (I couldn't resist) and grow into this amazing person.  She is fearless in ways I wish I were.  She knows things naturally that would take me years to learn and while she isn't going far, I wish her every success and can't wait to see what she does next because it will be amazing!  I hope you stop in and support her.
     The beauty of Emily is that she is generous with her knowledge and Megan Jolin is our new General Manager, and has been working with Emily for almost 2 years.  Meg ran the fair last summer almost single-handedly.  She has some awesome ideas and is ready to take the coffeehouse in amazing new directions.  Stop in and say hello.  Try a new drink because she loves to experiment with new flavor combinations.  
     We are so happy to open again.  Stop in and see the new kitchen.  We missed you while we were closed