Sorry for the delay...

I wish I had better news, but we are still looking for a place to rent to open our café.  We are definitely happy we didn't get into the other place, but it has been stressful to think of the things we would have faced if we had sign with them.  On the other hand, there are a couple of places that are actually better, with better locations...  We just need to find that place that matches our budget and allow us to do what we want.

In the meantime, summer is hot in NYC, and one early morning I got some nice view... my AC was not working and getting out was the best thing I did...

That Gut feeling

You know when you have that "gut" feeling that tells you not to do something???  Well, I got it when I finally got the lease document.  Just opening it I saw already 3 mistakes that are really bad ones, starting with the name of our business: we are defining it as "Café and Bakery", because the bakery products are a very strong point and basically the reason we started this project.
I later found out that there was a strong reason behind leaving out that part of the name:  turns out that buried down on page 35 of Appendix G there is a little line that stipulates that the Landlord can not lease to anyone selling packaged or fresh bakery products for off-site consumption...  so basically it is telling us that we can make your wedding cake, but you'll have to eat it at our café!
Right away I called Ralph and told him.  He already was complaining about other mistakes he found in the document.
So, we called our leasing agent and told him about that detail.  We were not even going to send the document to our lawyer to check it out.  The leasing agent told us that he would try to get a waiver for that, but that was the last drop.  I asked Ralph what was his gut feeling, because I didn't want to be the pessimistic one, but we all are on the same page.  This doesn't feel good!!

So basically after few months of dealing with this, we are looking for another place, and preparing for other plans.  This means that most likely I'll be spending the summer in NY...

Like dealing with a used-car salesman....

Well, things are very uncertain at this point.  To open the café we need to get a place that is appropriate.  I think we found it, We've been planning around the place, we've been there few times taking pictures, measurements, we've chosen the paint color for the walls, the fabric for the chairs, the color for the carpet... we've been negotiating the lease, we talked and talked, been back and forth, and we still don't know for sure if we will be approved to take the lease!  What we negotiated at some point is now being knocked out by new little details.  It feels like we are buying a used car at one of those dealers that makes you feel you are getting a great deal on the price, and then turns out that there a million charges that were not on the initial price.

I remember a comedian explaining about a $2,000 car with leather seats, AM/FM Stereo, CD Player, Antilock Breaks, powered doors and windows, and really great smell of "new"... but he had to pay $12,000 extra if he actually wanted the car to go around, because the $2,000 model did not include steering wheel, motor, tires or mirrors... those were "extras"...

So, as much as we want to open the cafe and move forward, we still don't know when will this happen.  Everything is still in waiting.  I'm glad I haven't rent a place in Richmond yet.

Waiting, again...

Well, I sent all the documents that the leasing company required, we are "ready to go" on our side, but we haven't heard from them yet if we are approved or not.  We are thinking in a positive way, since we are guessing that they rather have us than nobody renting their space, but until there is a definitive answer, we can't be too sure of that!
In the mean time, we continue preparations.  We have already collected few resumes that look promising. Some are impressive, but I don't think we'll be able to afford those people. At least not now.  Maybe later when we open a high scale restaurant!  But there is still enough time for that.
Other than that, I spent Memorial Day at a friend's house for BBQ.  We had a pretty good time.  I thought that by now I would be already in Richmond getting ready for opening day...

A Sea of Pizza!

Ralph made this pizza and it was sooo good! I told him he should do it for a living!
Also, we are waiting for the registration of our business to become a reality...  soon I'll be moving down to Richmond for good.
I'm looking for an apartment, but I'm not too worried, because there are plenty of places to choose from, even though some are too expensive for my taste.  I found apartmentrating.com and it is been very helpful!  A place that is cheaper than the others, has only a 25% positive reports.  But I guess like everything, there is something good and something bad in every place...

Here I am in Richmond...

Things are looking good.  I arrived on Sunday, we met the lawyer on Tuesday, and we just came from having diner with the guy from the property managment company.  We want to get things done faster, there is such a great potential all around!  After diner we went driving around and then I wanted to have something sweet.  The only real option was Gelato, which it was very good, but I didn't feel like Gelato.  I wanted have more of an option, and I think that is the real niche that we will fill up around this area:  great desserts in a nice atmosphere, other than what you can get at every restaurant. 
Very soon, as soon as we get our name registered, I'll be able to publish it here.  We are now working with the logo, with the ideas around it.
Also, we are deciding about how to paint the place (besides the bathroom), and the palets that will be more to our place.  Ina has very good ideas, so it will be a matter of just getting there and start doing it!
It is a good feeling!

To Richmond!

I'll be on my way to Richmond tomorrow.  We'll meet with the lawyer next week, to form the company and to finally get all legal to do the next steps...  I've been sick and busy, but mostly sick.
I'm certainly looking forward to this adventure.

Some interesting cakes!

I've been sick in the last few days, so we haven't done anything that we were supposed to...  but it will be done soon.

In the mean time, I got few pictures on an email that I needed to share with you... we do birthday, wedding, and special occasion cakes, and we can do divorce cakes too! Enjoy!

Nail biting wait

This week we have someone coming to the place we want to lease to tell us from the "experienced" point of view what do we need to do to bring it up to code.  Since we have limited resources, this is definitely a "do or die" situation.  If it is more expensive than we plan, then we can't do it.  We can't just go and open the place without enough money to back us up for few months until we are actually making money to cover all our expenses.
Although I'm very optimistic that we can succeed with our new café, it is hard not to feel nervous thinking what is going to happen.  So, basically this is decision week.  I guess by next weekend I'll know for sure what we'll be doing.
I would be biting my nails if I did that when I get nervous.  Instead, I'm watching movies on Hulu.

I am right about the toilette!

And here's the proof!

I took this image from my desktop while I was watching "The View" on Hulu, and ultra famous  legendary journalist Barbara Walters  showed this picture of her  while traveling in New Zealand, where apparently one of the attractions is ...  THE BATHROOM!

I am a firm believer that just having an interesting and out of the ordinary kind of bathroom at the café, will be a way of "word of mouth" marketing.  I'm very much looking forward for people to say...  "yes, I went to this café, and the cakes were amazing! And you gotta go and check out the bathroom!"
So far I have so many ideas, I guess I'll be changing it every 6 months or so.  I told Ina last night about that, and she laughed about it, but she likes the idea so far.

I am so looking forward to get the lease signed and starting to do all the things we have planned!

Happy Easter

Went to a friend's house for lunch with her extended family.  It was fun.  I tried their coffee, which it supposed to be what a typical american drinks at home... It is hard for me to drink coffee, and this was not bad, but I think I had others that tasted better.  I am not sure if I'll be able to define what is good or not, but I'm still on the quest for finding the right kind of coffee.
This week that comes up should be a decisive week on the business, at least for the starting point.  We also have to take the classes and test for the Food Handlers Certificate.  There is so much we gotta do!!!  At least I found a couple of websites that explain the process and we can do the training online and the tests offline.  

Looking forward!

There is a list of things to do.  We need to get permits, licenses, certifications, estimates, revisions, check ups, legalizations, and everything else that anyone needs to get the ball rolling and open the café...  so far, things are looking good.  We need first to get the "OK" from an expert in restaurants to approve or tell us what do we need to do extra to the place we found, to bring it up to code.  Every time I talk so someone, they ask me other things, like for example: "is your menu already done?" ...  I mean, we have a very detailed lineup for what we'll have on the menu, but it is something that can change slightly and will change according to the demands of Richmond's clientele.  I am a firm believer that each place has its own identity, and my experience is more "New York" based... I'm very much looking forward to find out Richmond's own!

Obsessed with the bathroom

Perhaps not the most clever title, but I've been thinking about how to decorate the bathrooms for the café for some time now.  Ever since I thought that I wanted to open a bar, many years ago, I always wanted to have an interesting bathroom.  Something that people would have to talk about! Something unique, some concept that would be totally unexpected.  Just to have people commenting on that, would bring clients to the place...  Anyway, I remember a bathroom a saw somewhere on line, it was the door for an ice cream parlor somewhere in Florida, I think, the door was clear glass, and when you locked the door from the inside, then the glass would frost giving you complete privacy.  Of course, when you are on your way to the bathroom, perhaps the initial shock of finding a glass door would eliminate whatever physiological need you had at that moment!

So, I'm dreaming of a great bathroom...  in the meantime, here is the "before" picture of something that has so many possibilities!!!

Is you have suggestions, please, don't hesitate and leave a comment.  Thank you!

 

What brand of coffee is the best?

OK, so I tried some cups of coffee these last few days.  Basically the main "change" on each style is the amount of milk for each.  Expresso's is finely ground against the little bigger coffee for the regular coffee makers.  My problem is that I am too "new" at this to actually identify the acidity amount on each.  I'll have to find out the best blend to use it as the "house blend"...  but when I go to the supermarket and face all those brands, I feel lost!
Somebody told me that Arabica coffee is better because it is not too acid, and works well with everything.  I am a firm believer that we need to offer something of high quality, something that people would enjoy very much, and would match to have with some good dessert.
Again, many details of so many thing dancing in my head...  The lease dealing is going well, but we are not done yet.  

Adventure in Baking

I am not precisely a good cook.  I think I can make a couple of things to taste very good.  Guacamole for example is one of the things that I believe is pretty good.  I also make a pasta with tomato sauce that is really good.  According to my nephews, I'm the queen of the spaghetti.  And then, there is my "recycling" food.  I had some dried and old french bread, milk, sugar, eggs, and bought some white cheese.  Well, that became the cake I baked just now.  It looks Ok and it tastes  good too, but is is not as sweet as I hoped. I guess it needs more sugar...  so, what name should I give to this thing??  Any suggestions?  I guess "recycled cake" is not exactly too appealing.  I was going to take a picture, but the batteries are dead.  

Anyway, I'll take a picture of the next one I bake, but Ina is the one that is really good at this baking thing. 

Feeling sick

I feel awful!  Perhaps is the fact that I hate my job more and more everyday...  I am so looking forward to get to RIchmond and start the new café...  There are a million things that I rather be doing, like getting in contact with companies and people that will be useful to us on the new café!  As one of the most important things, we need a cleaning company that has special high power cleaning, to make sure everything is as clean as it will ever be. I do have the "before" pictures, but I'm really looking forward to the "after the cleaning" pictures.  there are so many things that have to be done!
Still no coffee yet...  I woke up late.

The Cheesecake Factory

Yesterday I went to visit a friend in Long Island, and we went for a late lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  The food was pretty good, but the portions were way too big!  I couldn't finish my Caesar's Salad, even though My intention was to eat not too heavy so I could try the desserts.  I tried their "special", which was 2 red velvet layers, 2 layers of their classical cheesecake with creme cheese icing and white chocolate shavings, served with a very good whipped creme.  I regret not taking my camera with me, so I could show you, but in any case, you can check it out at their website.
That was pretty good...  but I have to admit, last week I had an incredibly good cheesecake at a local diner, and honestly I have to become friends with the manager to find out where do they make it.  If it is not made "in house" then I have to find out who makes it and bring it to Richmond to our place!  It is really really good!
And continuing with the lease of the place, we are getting a pretty good deal, but before we sign anything, we are bringing the Health Inspector to check out the place and tell us in what condition it is to run it as we want.  We think that everything needs a very deep great cleaning, but of course we are not experts on all the necessary details  to bring it up to "code".   Everyday I see so many things to do!!!  But we are very optimistic, I'm sure we'll do a good thing.
Update on the coffee: Since I work at home, I can't really go out while I'm on my shift, so, no coffee today.  And 2 of my visitors told me that Starbucks is not all what people say...  I'll keep you informed.

Mastering Coffee

 
Ok, here's the deal...  apparently I make a pretty good coffee, or so they have told me.  I don't know, because I don't drink coffee, I don't like it.  But I think I need to learn about coffee, and taste the difference between every style.  So, starting tomorrow, I'm hunting down the closest Starbucks, and tasting their over priced variations.
Coffee is going to be an important part in our place.  People like desserts and coffee, and just grabbing a cup of coffee at any moment, might get people to buy something else too.
That and the fact that Ina told me that I would be in charge of the coffee, is something that I am definitely looking forward to do.  But I need to find out those differences in between every style.

Friends and pizza night

Went out with the idea of trying a "ladies night" at Z One, but we ended up staying at home, ordering pizza and watching The Real Housewives of New York...  I guess it would've been more interesting to see other places and get ideas for our café, but we were all a bit tired, and the kids were home.  I gotta admit, the choice of TV show to watch was very much criticized by the men that were there, but it is like watching an accident: you know it is an awful thing, but you can't stop looking at it.  I'm wondering if it is possible to get some sort of "cultural activity" at the cafe, like watching some decadent show and just have fun! I remember many years ago at "Meow Mix" in New York City, they had Sunday afternoons with Xena the Warrior Princess.  The place was packed with people that were huge fans of the show, basically lesbians, and even some with experience in Xena Conventions (the kind of Star Trek fame).
Anyway, that is one of the ideas for our place.
Still reading the Richmond blogs... there are so many different things to read about! I am certainly looking forward to get there soon.
On the business front, first call of negotiating the lease was not a negative answer, which gave me hope because I see that we can get a better deal and save some money on the deal.
Last night with my lawyer friend was a very good experience.  She asked me so many questions that made me see things under another perspective.  Best of all, I felt secure, I knew all the answers and I could explain the plan in detail.  Saturday will be an encounter with the parents of another friend who have great experience on another topic that feels a little squeamish, but it is a hard reality in the restaurant business:  they service restaurants on their extermination needs, and their business is really good!  My only objection, I don't want to hear about the places they serve and deemed as the worst, just in case it happens to be one of my favorite places.  In New York City, it is almost impossible not to think of some sort of weird stories related with extermination.  Late night, it is time to go to bed.

Meeting legality

I'm on my way to see my friend who is a lawyer, I need to ask her a couple of questions about the business.  I don't know if she'll be able to help me too much, since she is a criminal lawyer.  But I guess she'll tell me what would be a crime!
It is an exciting thing we are doing.  I got an answer and this blog is in the Richmond VIrginia Blogs.  I totally believe that bloggers have the inside scoop of many things related to the city they write from.  I already read some of them and I liked them.  I have to explore more.

Getting serious

The dream is taking the form or reality, basically the form of a paper called "proposal" for the lease.  It looks  like a very good deal, we'll have a good grace period before the commencement of the rent, and it will definitely help us with the opening, with getting the place up to code and applying to all the necessary permits.
Honesty, it is a little scary.  As much as I want to do it, signing the lease is a compromise for 5 years! it'll be longer than many of my relationships have been.  On the other hand, I am willing to do this for at least 15 years.
So, I want to show you an example of the cakes that motivated this dream of having a cafe...

The thing is not only they look good, but they taste really good!  What do you think?
I would love to hear your comments.

Money money money money... money!!!

I'm thinking that if I write it enough times, it will materialize right in front on my eyes!  But no, that is not happening!  At least I have already 37.5% of the total amount we would like to have to open the cafe... But I think we need to wait to have at least 50% of the money.

On the other hand, we already talked to the guy that is in charge of the lease.  I already gave me my info for my credit check.  I am sure I'll pass, but until they tell me anything, then I will not know for sure.
This makes me nervous.  What if we don't get approved for the lease?  Then all our dreams will be pretty much crushed., at least for the moment...  we can always look for other places, but this location hat we are looking at, would be the perfect for us, big enough and versatile enough to do so many things...
Well, we'll see how it goes.
 

Every journey starts with a single step

Here I was, in my bed thinking... I really hate my job!  I need to do something different! I've been talking to Ina many times, about having a café where she can sell her cakes, (which by the way are incredible), and as always, I would end up saying "just let me win the lottery and we'll do it".
Turns out that winning the lottery requires a lot more than 1 dollar and a dream.  Dreams are very cheap, and very abundant when you are making very little money for a job that you don't enjoy anymore.
So, one night without even buying my regular Mega Millions ticket, I started to write down a menu for the cafe, how much would cost, and how much would I need to sell to be able to pay the rent and have some money too.  I spent the night awake, thinking of possible expenses, of what would I need to do, or better, what would "we" need to do to make the dream a reality.
The next morning I called Ina and we talked about it.  Let's open a cafe, where we can have some light menu, something like soup, salads, sandwiches and pizza, and make the desserts the highlight of the meal... because, again, I was just thinking of a way to sell Ina's cakes.
That was the first step! The moment we talked about it, the dream started to take shape, a shared dream with different visions, different colors and taste.
After that conversation, I spent the first $25 for the business in a couple of books I ordered from Amazon.com:  "Running a Restaurant for Dummies" and "Starting a Small Restaurant, Revised Edition"
That was on February 6th.