The tax man cometh. I can’t wait!! Blog #36

Hello everyone. Hope you’re enjoying the nicer weather. As a visual man I need to see things progressing. As an impatient man it’s hard to sit back and wait. As a man with a lot sitting on his shoulders, I can’t just sit back and wait.

So we talked about Tuesday in the last blog. Wednesday was a bit of a downer.  I’m noticing a trend of Tuesday’s being busy and Wednesday not so. Thursday was much better and Friday was good and Saturday was unreal. We had 22 walk-ins. Amazing!  We’re getting busier and comments are quite positive. Wine is starting to flow and more importantly the Green Fairy is making more appearances throughout the days and even several times during a night. But this absinthe saga is pure mind-draining. The LCBO doesn’t seem too eager to help me out. Not sure why because the more I buy; the more they make, no? So I’ve contacted the suppliers myself. I’m working on one company who has apparently sent me 12 bottles but I’m not sure where they are located. I’ve contacted private ordering. The lady I talked with was very helpful in getting me connections with Ontario reps of certain absinthe companies. I’ve contacted them as well, but they have yet to contact me. Very frustrating!

We’re starting to get ppl in the Resto that know and understand Absinthe. It would be nice to give them a variety and some higher-end absinthes.

I’m also frustrated with my dishes. I ordered my dishes well over a month ago and was told they would take 2-3 days to come in. It’s been over a month and I’m still waiting on side plates, coffee presses, wine glasses and a few other things. It’s hard to stand there in front of a customer explaining why their bread is served on a saucer and why coffee is served like it is in a diner. Also on the menu, is my Caeser salad with a twist. Everyone asks what it is? Well, it is suppose to be done the “Gueridon” service way. But alas, I’m waiting on the trolley to do that with. But through all the adversity, we’re still pressing forward and it’s only due to the staff. These ppl are good and professional and sell the product. And I feel we’re winning. In fact I know we are. There’s a restaurant in town that has already started rumours about me stealing their ideas and saying that I’m running an illegal business by selling absinthe. A group of their staff came in to the Resto, sat for a while then told the waitress they weren’t eating because they didn’t like my menu. But if I stole their menu, what does that say about them? Hon Hon Hon. It’s clearly a joke. Why are they threatened? I have no idea. I‘ve said many times in the past, and been documented in interviews as saying, “I don’t believe in competition, there’s enough room for everyone.” I just want to do my thing. I want to make ppl happy and make a decent living. My Dad has told me for years to “look after the dimes and nickels; the dollars will look after themselves.” And he’s bang on. We haven’t even been opened a month and we’re already turning a profit. I have two other companies begging me to run their establishments and I’m turning them away, at this point, to focus on LBM.  I was also asked to judge a baking competition on Saturday. Brilliance, I tell you; pure brilliance. So ppl can say what they want about me. They can try to razzle me but it is really to no avail because I don’t really. I just focus on my own thing. When I’m perfect, I’ll start attacking other ppl (joke). Until then, I’ll attack myself and push myself to do a little bit better than yesterday.

Having said that, I need to work on getting more brands of absinthe, finish my wine list and get it printed. I’m also retiring from cooking………………… made you think! Hon hon hon! To be the best owner I can be, I feel I need to work all sides. I need to see what the front of the house goes through. So this week, I’m planning on donning on a suit and working the front of the house (at least Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). I want to see the front of the house “work” so that I have an understanding of what Grace tells me. I’ll be out of my element and I’m a tad nervous. But as Paul Stanley said when doing the phantom of the opera; “You get too comfortable in what you do. Its nice to do something, once and a while, that scares you”.

As you know I went over-budget on my spending for the Resto. So, I’m actually waiting for early April to do my taxes. A lot of money was spent in 2010 with no profits. I am hoping that a high return is inevitable. It will help with the cash flow. I’m just a tad behind since you have to spend a lot for start up. It will take a few months to get into a rhythm.

Have a great week and enjoy the warm weather.

Le Commis, Glenn Chemise.