We were declined. Over a stupid technicality. My father lives in a state where they don't have a branch. I'm in Ohio, Michael's in Ohio, The business is in Ohio. Not good enough. What's worse is that they wasted so much of our time saying that they were going to have 'this meeting or that meeting'. Our financier wasn't answering our calls, or returning them. Michael found out the bankers info and we showed up at the bank. We got a hold of supervisors. Still, if a bank thinks that they are going to say no to you, for whatever reason, you can expect that they will not return your calls, they will drag out the timeline, make you promises and never deliver.
So, we were just going to let it go, and then the financier starts getting motivated. Before, this guy was willing to just let the banks take their course, call him at their leisure, and call us at our leisure.
I decided that I still really wanted this. I called my Dad and asked him how he would like to proceed, if he wanted to continue this. It turns out that he was prepared for such a thing and secured us a loan saving us a lot of money.
Now the transfer should go through either Monday or Tuesday, and then we will scurry about buying things.
I've been researching recipes and coffee facts for the shop. We decided that we are going to do French Press coffee instead of regular drip brew coffee. We'll use a fine mesh strainer when pouring into cups to avoid sediment, and it should afford us the best coffee around. I've spent the last two months immersing myself into coffee world.
Here is where I try to get the pulse, if any of you find the time, if you could answer the following questions, I will do my best to incorporate advice and suggestions. We have some ideas for actual location and events, but we will see that in time.
1 How often do you go to a coffee shop?
2 What do you like about them?
3. What can't you seem to find there?
4. What don't you like about them?
5. What would you like to see?
Gotta Run
Posted by hawkie at June 3, 2007 09:40 AM1 How often do you go to a coffee shop?
Maybe once every couple of weeks... I'm cheap so I buy my coffee from 7-11--refill style. When I worked retail it was nearly daily.
2 What do you like about them?
"Can I get something that will slap me in the face and call me bad names this early in the morning?"
Also, small places that can remember your name and order and if you're frequent enough, time of day you show up and they'll have your drink started even before you're at the register.
3. What can't you seem to find there?
Inexpensive caffeine enriched snacks like those caffeine chocolates, more chocolate espresso beans etc etc etc. Something with caffeine that doesn't have to be drunk.
4. What don't you like about them?
When it gets so complicated new employees hold the line up just trying to figure it out and menu boards are so big tourists spend 10 minutes trying to figure it out... impersonal.
5. What would you like to see?
More delicious caffeine snacks. Smash up no-doze into muffins if you have to ;) xoxoxox
Posted by Prism at June 3, 2007 03:25 PM1 How often do you go to a coffee shop?
Not too often - if I had more time, I'd love to go and read at one on the weekends.
2 What do you like about them?
The smell. My favorite coffee houses were artist, upbeat but not intense, natural and earthy but clean and fresh. Cool background music helps too.
3. What can't you seem to find there?
Well, it's hard to find a place like that. But if I did, I would always be there.
4. What don't you like about them?
When they're too busy, too loud, or too "fast." When they're too standardized or too monopolized.
5. What would you like to see?
Creativity, spirit, passion, authenticity, down-to-earth goodness, organic products, homemade recipes, a calm "home away from home" experience, the comfy chair you don't want to ever leave.
Love,
Liz