09/22/2017
Almost 3 yrs. ago I decided to provide Paw Paw with a hometown coffee shop. Having only been in a coffee shop twice in my life left me with a lot to learn about the business. I have so many people to thank for helping me get started. My newly acquired neighbor and now lifelong friend, Terrie Simpkins, helped me with the business end of it and how to try and deal with the village. I will always be indebted to you Terrie. Thank you to Wyatt Larcinese for teaching me how to be a barista. Couldn’t have done it without you.
We grew from the little shop downtown and moved into the bigger shop by the winery. The move was a lot of work but my friends, Dave and Rich and my brother Alan and my friends Gail and Ritchie Derhammer made the move seam easy. The move was great. We had more room and business almost doubled in six months and we were quite successful.
The people of Paw Paw supported me emphatically and the compliments were both overwhelming and humbling. Most business owners call their customers patrons. All came into my shop as patrons but most left as friends. I am very fortunate for that. What a wonderful venture to have been involved in. Thank you to my regulars, guys and gals, who filled my shop with laughs and wonderful conversation. I will miss that the most. Also, a big thank you to all the young men and women who worked for me as baristas.
I guess you know by now just where I am going with this. Yes, I am moving on and closing the Paw Paw Blend. As much as it saddens me to go I look forward to new endeavors and learning how to be a grandpa. (Or Pawpaw). This was a great adventure and I have come into contact with so many wonderful people and made so many new friends that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Made it all worthwhile.
With two, big box store, big name coffee shops moving in on each side of me, there is no way I can compete with them when they are undercutting prices by 75%. I guess they will do that until I leave. By the way, there is a third shop opening up next year across the street so you will have plenty of choices. Just not that hometown feel. Maybe “hometown feel” is a thing of the past.
Any way I wanted to thank you all again for supporting me over the years and especially Gail Davis who put up with me and helped me through all my stressful times. I know it wasn’t easy. :-)
I will be open next week in the mornings selling tables and chairs and pictures and anything else that you might want from 8-11 AM till all gone.
Greg
