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Wednesday, December 31, 2003

BROWN...everything is brown now...walls, ceiling, tile, grout. But, not for long. We painted the walls brown as a base coat for the faux painting (they will really be deep red and gold). The tiles and grout will stay that color. What a job that was, laying the tile was easy compared to grouting it....six people one full day!

» posted by Tom | link

Sunday, December 28, 2003

We got a plethera done this weekend, with the help of many friends and family: finished the quary tile in the kitchen and service area, the bathroom floor tile, second coat of paint on the ceiling (see picture), and taping the wall between Query Booksellers and Wilde Roast Cafe.

» posted by Tom | link

Wednesday, December 24, 2003

We are finally painting! Yesterday Dean and I (yes, I am spending my whole 2 wk break at the Wilde Roast Cafe...NOT in Mexico) painted the ceiling a rich espresso color. Stephen came by and helped us pick the dark red color that will be painted and stenciled on over the fireplace and service area.

» posted by Tom | link

Monday, December 22, 2003

Firstly, let me say "sorry" to our friends who had holiday parties that we missed. We have been tired and wanted to do nothing but rest at night. We will be better after the Wilde Roast Cafe opens. Many friends ask if they can help work on the build out. Well, everyone is welcome to come and work with us, we have jobs for any skill level, just call and let us know you are coming. Without Dave Russell and Dave Creglow we would be weeks behind. THANKS GUYS!

» posted by Tom | link

Thursday, December 18, 2003

Starting our first business I guess we REALLY made an error and under estimated the amount of time it would take for the build-out. So now, looking realistically at the timeline, and things to get done, we won't be opening until late January. The big holdup is the facade of the building. The door to the old hotel needs to be poured and framed before the stucco can start. Well, the concrete people have been set back a week or two....which delays everything. We are disappointed. Mostly, we feel embarrassed about advertising a projected opening and not meeting that date (many times). I guess that is our first major lesson. Thanks for your patience.

» posted by Tom | link

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

We made our first dollar! Actually, our first $200. Our friend Duane bought Wilde Roast Cafe gift cards. They are the plastic gift cards, like the ones you can get at Target or Home Depot, with the amount encoded electronically.

» posted by Tom | link

Sunday, December 14, 2003

With the help of many friends (Wana, Theresa, Tony, Dave C, Sarah and Jeff) today was a big work day. Thanks guys! Dean and I were getting worried that we wouldn't open until Feburary, a lot of work for Dean and a little help from me. But, today got us back on track for an early (cross fingers) January opening. We got the kitchen and office painted. Much of the first coat of taping was done. And, the place got a good cleaning from our friend Lee.

» posted by Tom | link

Friday, December 12, 2003

We have HEAT! Yes, we had heat before but it was a very loud portable heater. Today our new heating unit was hooked up. It is warm and quiet. The wall between Query and the 4th space is going up. The wall between the Wilde Roast Cafe and Query was framed this week, it includes a cool reused wall from Bauer Brothers Reuse Center. We have started to paint the kitchen and bathrooms. The main area still needs to be taped. With some help over the weekend we hope to finish....busy?

» posted by Tom | link

Thursday, December 11, 2003

The windows and doors are done! This is important to us because now the stucco can start (the exterior is brick and stucco). We got the wall up between the Wilde Roast Cafe and Query Booksellers, part of this wall is from a reuse center. Tile will be coming today and the laying of it should start tomorrow, still busy taping the sheetrock. Still trying to be open in December, but it may be January.

» posted by Tom | link

Monday, December 08, 2003

Last Thursday I went to the Talking Volumes presentation of author Augusten Burroughs. Talking Volumes is a joining of MPR, The Loft, and the Star Tribune. Augusten is the author of "Dry" and "Running with Scissors." When I was looking around I thought of The Wilde Roast Cafe. I think I have the "marketing curse." You know, when you start seeing everyone as a customer. Seriously, I spoke to the owner of Query Booksellers and we are trying to tie into Talking Volumes. The hood got installed today, as did our espresso counter. Dean is taping the sheetrock (anyone want to help?), and the job is huge. We are having 6000 lbs of tile delivered on Thursday; this is for the bathrooms and service area. The rest of the concrete floor will be stained and waxed.

» posted by Tom | link

Thursday, December 04, 2003

Things are on light speed (that is 186,000 miles per second) now for poor Dean. Long days with a lot getting done. We are to the taping point with the walls, and should be painting next week. For the paint colors we hired my brother's friend Stephen to help. He is an expert in this field and does it for a living. What he is doing is taking our ideas and making sure they will all work together (floor stain, wall colors, fabrics)...a BIG picture guy. As for the building: windows and doors will be done this week, stucco might start on Friday, the heating and cooling unit is on the roof and vents are being installed. The wall between us and Query Booksellers should be up be weeks end....WHEW!

» posted by Tom | link

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