I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time.
Coffee by Thirty isn’t going to happen. There will be a coffee house, but the 30 part is dwindling.
Coffee by Thirty came very, very close to happening back in January. Had the timing been a little different or the sun shone a little brighter, you would be enjoying a coconut mocha in the corner of my shop while I stood behind the bar, portafilter in hand, with a smug look of satisfaction on my face.
For any variety of reasons, someone, somewhere along the financial path said no toppling everything set up for the coffee house, one domino of planning after another. Within days, everything I had worked for lay in rubble at my feet.
The Hard Price of Almost
I lost a lot of time and resources chasing the fallen shop location. Shop funds dwindle under the weight of lawyers, paperwork and government interests. My own career has taken a significant hit, and with it, a toll on the family life. A second chance on a loan is very low at this state, and there are no foreseeable locations in my area. With little ground to stand the shop on, choices needed to be made.
I’m returning to the work force. Most likely until after I turn thirty years old.
But you know what? That’s okay. I haven’t quit the coffee house, nor do I have any plans to. Yes, I’ll be older than thirty when my coffee house opens, but that’s life. Anybody that claims life went as planned never had any plans to begin with. I took a risk and got bit. Hard. But that’s always been part of the game. Without a risk, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.
Some people will tell me I failed. Or gave up too soon. I’ve already had people tell me I still have time if I try hard enough. Maybe I can, but at what cost? I’m at the point where something will be sacrificed. The location won’t be perfect, or the decor will be wrong. Maybe I’ll have to skimp on bean quality or order a few less tables. That’s not what I want. I would much rather have my ideal Coffee by Forty than a half-assed Coffee by Thirty.
I’m still here. The site’s still here. The business is still here. It’ll just take a little longer to sell lattes. I’ll build some more equity, get better at coffee, and maybe take a vacation or two. That makes me happy.
Ultimately, happy is what this whole project is about.