Open a BBQ restaurant, they said. It will be fun, they said

[marubozo]

Originally Posted by ITBFQ

My wife and I will be there on Saturday for lunch... celebrating our anniversary in Harbor Country, but making a slight detour to support another brother. Looking forward to seeing you then! If you have an adult medium t-shirt, I'll take one!

I think I've got a shirt for you. And make sure you find me. I try to touch base with every customer, but when it gets busy that isn't always possible. But I'll hook you up.

[MisplacedTexan]

Wow! What a ride! Just finished reading through all of this (took me three days). Thanks for sharing your story Marubozo! I look forward to additional updates.

My wife has family in Kalamazoo and if we make it up there when we cross the pond for the Christmas holidays, we will definitely try to swing by for a vist!

[ITBFQ]

I'll do that! Thanks! We are looking forward to it!

Originally Posted by marubozo

I think I've got a shirt for you. And make sure you find me. I try to touch base with every customer, but when it gets busy that isn't always possible. But I'll hook you up.

[batboy]

Any idea when/if shirts will be available for the public? I've never visited your establishment and have no idea if I will ever make it out to Michigan, but I would gladly wear (and pay for) a 2XL.

[NukeDad]

Originally Posted by marubozo

Unfortunately I had to fire my Kate upton connection.

But tomorrow, well, later today I guess, is a new chapter. Two people are getting promoted an for the first time, somebody else is getting keys to the building. Being such a control freak this is probably the most difficult decision I've ever made. He'll, my wife doesn't even have keys to the restaurant. But once this is done I will have so much potential freedom to take care of other things that it can only be a big help.

Speaking of stress, I'll let you in on a little secret. The back of the house is fully stocked with six nerf guns and at least 100 darts. Before we open, after we close, or just taking a break outside, an impromptu nerf war puts everyone in a good mood. If you can't have fun at the place you spend the majority of your life, then you're destined to be miserable. Life is too short for that nonsense.

I used to take my servers into the walk-in, give them a shot glass of chocolate milkshake and make them scream at the top of their lungs 2 or 3 times. It did wonders for mid-shift stress relief. I like the nerf gun idea too.

[marubozo]

Originally Posted by batboy

Any idea when/if shirts will be available for the public? I've never visited your establishment and have no idea if I will ever make it out to Michigan, but I would gladly wear (and pay for) a 2XL.

I can sell a few now, in most sizes. But just don't have enough to unleash to the mass internets. But pm me and we might be able to work something out.

Originally Posted by NukeDad

I used to take my servers into the walk-in, give them a shot glass of chocolate milkshake and make them scream at the top of their lungs 2 or 3 times. It did wonders for mid-shift stress relief. I like the nerf gun idea too.

Oh yeah, the walk-in is my friend. I escape to that a few times a day. Either to scream, cool down, or just get away. I need to so that my gordon ramsay doesn't come out. When I start throwing stuff, you know it's going to be a bad night

[Pyle's BBQ]

Originally Posted by marubozo

Oh yeah, the walk-in is my friend. I escape to that a few times a day. Either to scream, cool down, or just get away. I need to so that my gordon ramsay doesn't come out. When I start throwing stuff, you know it's going to be a bad night

Wow, and I thought I was the only one that did stuff like that. Good to hear things are still going strong.

[marubozo]

Originally Posted by Pyle's BBQ

Wow, and I thought I was the only one that did stuff like that. Good to hear things are still going strong.

I've never been one to have a temper and most people have always been amazed at how calm and patient I am. But I'll tell you what, when you begin to see repeated stupid mistakes that people are making that negatively impacts you and your livelihood, it doesn't take much to transform into a raging ahole.

Still considering hanging a heavy bag out in the storage shed.

[Toni1948]

Your thread is inspiring, and I joined this forum because of it. You really should be published. I'll never own a restaurant, but your journey is an excellent read, and an education for many of us.

Many principles and lessons you've learned can be applied to other types of businesses. Thank you for sharing.

Take time to smell the flowers.

[marubozo]

Originally Posted by Toni1948

Your thread is inspiring, and I joined this forum because of it. You really should be published. I'll never own a restaurant, but your journey is an excellent read, and an education for many of us.

Many principles and lessons you've learned can be applied to other types of businesses. Thank you for sharing.

Take time to smell the flowers.

Thanks. It is a bit ironic, but before jumping into this my profession was as a writer. Maybe some day I can turn this experience into a book or other educational material.

[Toni1948]

Originally Posted by marubozo

Thanks. It is a bit ironic, but before jumping into this my profession was as a writer. Maybe some day I can turn this experience into a book or other educational material.

If you just record it, and transcribe it at another time, it would help. This thread is gold!! There have been times in my profession where I was so busy reacting to situations, and being overcome by events, that I didn't have time to think about how to do a better job.

I hope you have time. There are so many people, who are cheering for you to succeed. I'm praying for you.

[smokinbutts]

Originally Posted by marubozo

Thanks. It is a bit ironic, but before jumping into this my profession was as a writer. Maybe some day I can turn this experience into a book or other educational material.

I have mentioned this previous in the thread and I really think you should!

This is an awesome story although there were some downs you kept your head up and kept going. It should be in every non-chain restaurant so when it gets tough they can read your challenges and get back into it!

[insaneh]

Originally Posted by marubozo

I've never been one to have a temper and most people have always been amazed at how calm and patient I am. But I'll tell you what, when you begin to see repeated stupid mistakes that people are making that negatively impacts you and your livelihood, it doesn't take much to transform into a raging ahole.

Still considering hanging a heavy bag out in the storage shed.

Going through a bout of that now at my machine shop. It's not easy controlling your temper in the face of blatant stupidity.

[crb478]

Originally Posted by marubozo

I've never been one to have a temper and most people have always been amazed at how calm and patient I am. But I'll tell you what, when you begin to see repeated stupid mistakes that people are making that negatively impacts you and your livelihood, it doesn't take much to transform into a raging ahole.

Still considering hanging a heavy bag out in the storage shed.

You can't fix stupid All you can do is figure out if they have other strengths and play to those, or replace them with more qualified people. The right group of workers will take pressure off you and make you look better at the same time.

[THoey1963]

Some would say your story is documented here, but I have seen issues where a forum looses it's posts (not here). I would suggest getting a copy downloaded so that you have a back up in case the unthinkable happens...

It would make a great book...