Someone asked me yesterday (apparently, I looked pretty tired) if I was still glad I had opened a cafe. The answer is yes. Like any new business owner (especially one who is like a fish out of water), I have struggles, set backs (losing lots of food to the power outage was not great :( , and times I feel extremely exhausted. However, the good times always outweigh the bad times. Whenever I am told how much someone enjoyed their food; someone tells me "Mebane needed a place like this"; or a customer gives me a hug upon leaving because they were "so happy" during their time at Karma; I realize how fortunate I am. "You have the best coffee", "This food is out of this world", "We came from Raleigh to eat here again", and "Where did you find such great chefs"-are all music to my ears!!! We are lucky!! We have wonderful customers, great chefs, and this week TWICE -my lot was so full at lunch time, I had no place to park, after I came back from an errand (a good problem to have!). So, yes I am tired, but I have made lots of new friends, reconnected with some old ones, and being tired because you are busy is not at all a bad problem to have. Anything worth while entails lots of work, patience and a sense of humor (when you come by, ask me about the "smoothie explosion" or going around in circles at the coffee roasters, only to find out I had driven a half hour around the same area!! Both happened in the same day!! our smoothie mix is awesome, but I did not want to smell like a peach all day!!! The company promises they will pack it better next time, since the entire box fell apart and all over me-I was already late for the roaster appointment, got lost... you get it!!). So what is the Most Important Part of Karma (Since the heading states that, I better fill you in)?
People!! The people I get to work with everyday, like Sherry, who puts her heart into everything she bakes. She takes such pride in all her creations. One of the staff asked about a "day old pastry shelf"-Sherry responded "if it is not good enough to sell for the regular price, we need to discard it! We don't sell second rate things!" Sherry will stay and work for hours making things to perfection and when we have staff cancel, she will never leave me alone with the problem, she just stays and does her magic (I love you Sherry!!). Paul has been here from the start and he is an awesome chef and a great friend. Who else in a small town like Mebane has two chefs from the best culinary school in the country? Paul's cheese cake is so popular that we have people waiting for him to make it (everyone tells me it is 10 times better than the famous brand one) -the same with Sherry's brownies. Their soups are the same way!!! Made...gone!
Our customers and friends are equally important (most are "customer friends" now!)-we love seeing people enjoy our food, relaxing and visiting with each other and with us. Many of our customers have become our friends and that to me is most excellent. Carolyn, who comes in with her wonderful husband all the time (oh my gosh, how sweet was it for him to go home and get me an elixir for my swollen feet!! It works, (he is a doctor) and I feel better!! You are both beyond awesome); Tom who comes every day to visit and have a bite to eat; Margo, my new dear friend; Mary, who brings her sweet granddaughter in for a treat; Paul, who is still the mayor of 4 square and my best evening coffee customer; and Lee, who we have missed this week (he has been away, but Jennifer, my awesome hairdresser and his wife has had several of her turkey wraps), Lauren, who comes in for her vanilla latte and brings her girls in for lunch (so cute!!), Dixie and the Wednesday Lunch Group, Pat and the Mayor...I could go on, but I love all our customers and their great spirits and encouragement!
People!! The people I get to work with everyday, like Sherry, who puts her heart into everything she bakes. She takes such pride in all her creations. One of the staff asked about a "day old pastry shelf"-Sherry responded "if it is not good enough to sell for the regular price, we need to discard it! We don't sell second rate things!" Sherry will stay and work for hours making things to perfection and when we have staff cancel, she will never leave me alone with the problem, she just stays and does her magic (I love you Sherry!!). Paul has been here from the start and he is an awesome chef and a great friend. Who else in a small town like Mebane has two chefs from the best culinary school in the country? Paul's cheese cake is so popular that we have people waiting for him to make it (everyone tells me it is 10 times better than the famous brand one) -the same with Sherry's brownies. Their soups are the same way!!! Made...gone!
Our customers and friends are equally important (most are "customer friends" now!)-we love seeing people enjoy our food, relaxing and visiting with each other and with us. Many of our customers have become our friends and that to me is most excellent. Carolyn, who comes in with her wonderful husband all the time (oh my gosh, how sweet was it for him to go home and get me an elixir for my swollen feet!! It works, (he is a doctor) and I feel better!! You are both beyond awesome); Tom who comes every day to visit and have a bite to eat; Margo, my new dear friend; Mary, who brings her sweet granddaughter in for a treat; Paul, who is still the mayor of 4 square and my best evening coffee customer; and Lee, who we have missed this week (he has been away, but Jennifer, my awesome hairdresser and his wife has had several of her turkey wraps), Lauren, who comes in for her vanilla latte and brings her girls in for lunch (so cute!!), Dixie and the Wednesday Lunch Group, Pat and the Mayor...I could go on, but I love all our customers and their great spirits and encouragement!
Okay, I AM wordy, I love you all and I have to be at Karma in 30 minutes!!! Hugs, Lorna
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