Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Two years later........... Our saga continues
Hello friends! Can you believe that we are still here? Still open at 46 West Fifth Street. Still plugging away at our lil corner of heaven lovingly known as the People's Coffeehouse aka Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar.
Since I last checked in so much has happened. Some good, some bad, some sad, but by the grace of God we still stand despite what ever challenges faced.
On December 22 we closed Third Perk Express :-( It was a hard decision to make but it needed to be done. Honestly it just was not working for us. This is due to many reasons. Number One libraries are built for people to come in to receive free services. Many patrons of the library could not afford a cup of premium coffee. Number two we simply could not support two struggling businesses. I found myself splitting resources that really could be dedicated to one space. Our full service café had more earning potential so we decided to refocus on growing the downtown store and put the library to sleep.
Do not fret. We plan to grow again very soon and we will keep you posted on just how we will make this happen, so stay tuned.
We expanded our food and beverage selections. To make sure your experience is top notched, we now have a bar which offers wines and spirits. Our customers go crazy over our signature cocktails. We are now open on Sundays and we serve a great brunch. We have rave reviews on our fried green tomatoes and salmon patties. Come check us out. We are now open on Sundays from noon till 4pm.
We have new additions to our family since I last checked in. My family tree continues to grow. As you know I am proudly called G by my grandchildren. Speaking of my grandchildren I am actively trying to get more time in with my grandchildren. Kids grow up so fast and I am missing so much. I am working hard at gaining more balance between work, business and family.
And as for me. I can now admit that I have lost a piece of myself over the past three years. I am working towards getting back to me. Spending time just with me. Taking time to take care of me. On this journey I can now recognize that those folks that I love mean the world to me and I miss them like crazy.
I would not change walking this path, but as I walk this path I have to remember to stop to love; stop to rest and practice self care; stop to laugh; stop to live; and to stop to give thanks. I am so very grateful today. I just thought I would share. Juanita-Michelle
Since I last checked in so much has happened. Some good, some bad, some sad, but by the grace of God we still stand despite what ever challenges faced.
On December 22 we closed Third Perk Express :-( It was a hard decision to make but it needed to be done. Honestly it just was not working for us. This is due to many reasons. Number One libraries are built for people to come in to receive free services. Many patrons of the library could not afford a cup of premium coffee. Number two we simply could not support two struggling businesses. I found myself splitting resources that really could be dedicated to one space. Our full service café had more earning potential so we decided to refocus on growing the downtown store and put the library to sleep.
Do not fret. We plan to grow again very soon and we will keep you posted on just how we will make this happen, so stay tuned.
We expanded our food and beverage selections. To make sure your experience is top notched, we now have a bar which offers wines and spirits. Our customers go crazy over our signature cocktails. We are now open on Sundays and we serve a great brunch. We have rave reviews on our fried green tomatoes and salmon patties. Come check us out. We are now open on Sundays from noon till 4pm.
We have new additions to our family since I last checked in. My family tree continues to grow. As you know I am proudly called G by my grandchildren. Speaking of my grandchildren I am actively trying to get more time in with my grandchildren. Kids grow up so fast and I am missing so much. I am working hard at gaining more balance between work, business and family.
And as for me. I can now admit that I have lost a piece of myself over the past three years. I am working towards getting back to me. Spending time just with me. Taking time to take care of me. On this journey I can now recognize that those folks that I love mean the world to me and I miss them like crazy.
I would not change walking this path, but as I walk this path I have to remember to stop to love; stop to rest and practice self care; stop to laugh; stop to live; and to stop to give thanks. I am so very grateful today. I just thought I would share. Juanita-Michelle
Sunday, June 12, 2016
This time last year.........
This time last year I was getting geared up to have my new hire orientation. I was busy printing materials out, formatting the evening, making sure that everything for the day was on point. I was excited, nervous and full of anticipation of creating the team that would make Third Perk the best coffeehouse in Dayton. As Becca, Courtney, Alyssa, Will, AJ, LaChelle and LaSada worked to jell as a team and craft their skills as barista, I sweated over when the construction would be done. That seems so long ago.
Today Third Perk is only left with one survivor of the original crew. Will is a awesome barista and he offers great customer service. I am thankful that he is still hanging in their. For many reasons our original crew moved on, and they are missed terribly, but we have a new staff that is fit and ready to serve.
Jamieka is the new Assistant Manager. She has come in with a mission of taking most of the load of my plate. Yes I prayed for her and I hope she can hold it up, my plate is heavy. Jamieka over the course of a few weeks have really gotten to know customers and the way that we do business. She has really taken ownership of the café. She is determined to be the best and to make Third Perk a top notched café. I really appreciate her and her great energy.
Ellen is a seasoned barista/resident artist. There is Shay who is our shy kitchen assistant who doubles as an inspiring barista. Rounding out our new additions is Chef Anthony, recent graduate of Sinclair Community College. He has organized the kitchen, created a wonderful tapas menu and is growing as leader at Third Perk.
Who knows what the next 12 month will lead to with the Third Perk team........
Today Third Perk is only left with one survivor of the original crew. Will is a awesome barista and he offers great customer service. I am thankful that he is still hanging in their. For many reasons our original crew moved on, and they are missed terribly, but we have a new staff that is fit and ready to serve.
Jamieka is the new Assistant Manager. She has come in with a mission of taking most of the load of my plate. Yes I prayed for her and I hope she can hold it up, my plate is heavy. Jamieka over the course of a few weeks have really gotten to know customers and the way that we do business. She has really taken ownership of the café. She is determined to be the best and to make Third Perk a top notched café. I really appreciate her and her great energy.
Ellen is a seasoned barista/resident artist. There is Shay who is our shy kitchen assistant who doubles as an inspiring barista. Rounding out our new additions is Chef Anthony, recent graduate of Sinclair Community College. He has organized the kitchen, created a wonderful tapas menu and is growing as leader at Third Perk.
Who knows what the next 12 month will lead to with the Third Perk team........
June 16, 2015................ 12 Months Later
This Thursday I will celebrate, along with my wonderful employees, family, friends and customers one year of business at 46 West Fifth Street in beautiful downtown Dayton. I would say that it has been like a flash before my eyes but that would be less than the truth.
This year has been filled with great success, followed by amazing praise and wonderful times at Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar. But this adventure has also included its challenges, set backs, disappointments and tears. Through it all, I don't think I would trade it for anything else. The lessons learned over the past 12 months have allowed me to become a better business woman, to expect the unexpected and to believe in the unbelievable. I have learned that dreams come true and they even inspire others to dream.
Just this week as we prepare for our anniversary we opened our second location, Third Perk Express! @ the Northwest Branch Library. We are the first to have a cafe in the Dayton Montgomery Library system. This is an amazing accomplishment for us and we hope to serve the residents of Northwest Dayton well with amazing coffee products.
Yesterday was the kick off to our week long anniversary celebration. It was a wonderful out pour of the community coming by purchasing their favorite beverages and enjoying music by my very talented husband Robert Sanae.
The afternoon also included the support of participating vendors: LeKeisha Nicole, Charlynda and Francine Cummings. They shared the event with Third Perk offering a great selection of foods, art and publications. It was a wonderful afternoon. It was a constant stream of love and support of the business.
I look forward to opening the doors to Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar this coming Thursday. Our first 10 customers will receive a $10 Third Perk gift card. Twelve months ago I opened the doors to the public and there was no one waiting to come. :-) Not one person. How wonderful would it be for there to be a line waiting outside the door at 7:00am. It's possible. A girl can dream can't she!
This year has been filled with great success, followed by amazing praise and wonderful times at Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar. But this adventure has also included its challenges, set backs, disappointments and tears. Through it all, I don't think I would trade it for anything else. The lessons learned over the past 12 months have allowed me to become a better business woman, to expect the unexpected and to believe in the unbelievable. I have learned that dreams come true and they even inspire others to dream.
Just this week as we prepare for our anniversary we opened our second location, Third Perk Express! @ the Northwest Branch Library. We are the first to have a cafe in the Dayton Montgomery Library system. This is an amazing accomplishment for us and we hope to serve the residents of Northwest Dayton well with amazing coffee products.
Yesterday was the kick off to our week long anniversary celebration. It was a wonderful out pour of the community coming by purchasing their favorite beverages and enjoying music by my very talented husband Robert Sanae.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Third Perk is branching out!
It has been a while since I have made a post. It is not because I had little to say. It is simply because since June 16 I have been running ever since. I cannot believe that this journey has placed me on a thread mill that has not stop button. I am not sure if I had the stamina in the beginning to keep up. I am not sure if I have it now. I would be a liar if I said that the work has been easy. IT HAS NOT!
BUT, I would not trade one moment for the world.
I have met so many great people. I mean I thought I knew people, but Dayton has shown me different. Third Perk has proven to be such a melting pot. I can never predict who will walk through the doors, who will sit down and have a conversation, what plans are being built as a result from being here at Third Perk.
I have heard a few say, "this space is special", "I feel protected here", "I get such a good feeling being in here". I am blessed just knowing that Third Perk has met the objectives that I set out for it to make. It is sophisticated; it is safe; it has great products with excellent customer service. So although I have worked very hard (harder than I would have ever imagined) it was worth every swore limb and all the sleep lost. I would do it again.
Before we opened our doors I submitted a proposal to become a vendor at the new library opening. It promised to be a mega complex and something that our are had never seen. This is a picture of the library under construction:
I will have a coffee shop! I felt that it should be me. I applied, I interviewed, I won the opportunity!
Oh wait. I have exhausted all me resources to make the first cafe happen. BUT. This location could sustain the downtown cafe. The library would be a great advertisement for our full service location.
The picture above is a cart similar to what we will use at the library. That cart is pretty pricey. It is going to cost between 25,000-40,000 including the equipment. But how cool is it going to be?
After knowing that commercial funding was not an option for me. I have looked again towards alternative means to make this project happen. I launched an Indiegogo Campaign on December 16. (It needs help, I think it has grown stale). I have a gala planned for January 16, The Dreamer's Gala. It will be an interactive evening filled with fun, an auction, great food and a room full of beautifully dressed people. The Dreamer's Gala will live on after this year. I am going to use the Dreamer's Gala as an avenue to grow capital for entrepreneurs in the City of Dayton looking to build businesses in the City of Dayton. I will be the change that I long to see. I will provide funding for new businesses, but not without help.
I hope that you feel compelled to help me in my new project. You can donate by clicking the following link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/third-perk-branching-out#/
If you are so inclined to get gussied up and support us through attending the Dreamer's Gala you can purchase a ticket at Eventbrite by clicking on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-dreamers-gala-third-perk-tickets-19825401309?aff=es2
Here is a sample of some of the amazing art work that will be auctioned off that evening:
BUT, I would not trade one moment for the world.
I have met so many great people. I mean I thought I knew people, but Dayton has shown me different. Third Perk has proven to be such a melting pot. I can never predict who will walk through the doors, who will sit down and have a conversation, what plans are being built as a result from being here at Third Perk.
I have heard a few say, "this space is special", "I feel protected here", "I get such a good feeling being in here". I am blessed just knowing that Third Perk has met the objectives that I set out for it to make. It is sophisticated; it is safe; it has great products with excellent customer service. So although I have worked very hard (harder than I would have ever imagined) it was worth every swore limb and all the sleep lost. I would do it again.
Before we opened our doors I submitted a proposal to become a vendor at the new library opening. It promised to be a mega complex and something that our are had never seen. This is a picture of the library under construction:
I will have a coffee shop! I felt that it should be me. I applied, I interviewed, I won the opportunity!
Oh wait. I have exhausted all me resources to make the first cafe happen. BUT. This location could sustain the downtown cafe. The library would be a great advertisement for our full service location.
The picture above is a cart similar to what we will use at the library. That cart is pretty pricey. It is going to cost between 25,000-40,000 including the equipment. But how cool is it going to be?
After knowing that commercial funding was not an option for me. I have looked again towards alternative means to make this project happen. I launched an Indiegogo Campaign on December 16. (It needs help, I think it has grown stale). I have a gala planned for January 16, The Dreamer's Gala. It will be an interactive evening filled with fun, an auction, great food and a room full of beautifully dressed people. The Dreamer's Gala will live on after this year. I am going to use the Dreamer's Gala as an avenue to grow capital for entrepreneurs in the City of Dayton looking to build businesses in the City of Dayton. I will be the change that I long to see. I will provide funding for new businesses, but not without help.
I hope that you feel compelled to help me in my new project. You can donate by clicking the following link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/third-perk-branching-out#/
If you are so inclined to get gussied up and support us through attending the Dreamer's Gala you can purchase a ticket at Eventbrite by clicking on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-dreamers-gala-third-perk-tickets-19825401309?aff=es2
Here is a sample of some of the amazing art work that will be auctioned off that evening:
Sunday, August 2, 2015
So if you have not heard...........................
Third Perk Coffeehouse and Wine Bar is now open for those of you who have not yet heard. We opened on June 16 serving about 60 people of that first day. The first customer was a complete stranger and so was the last customer of that day. They just mozied into the space like hundreds of other guest have done over the past few weeks. It was amazing the people who have walked through the doors over the last 40 days. Musicians, politicians, educators, coffee lovers, curious-minded individuals looking to see what was behind the paper. We are 40 days old and what an amazing 40 days it has been.
This is a bittersweet moment, taking down that paper that I was so excited about placing on the windows. In January I could not wait to start the mystery about what was coming. I wanted people to scratch their heads and wonder what was going on behind that paper. Months later I wanted to the sun to shine again throw all the beautiful windows and on June 15 I was able to make that happen. What followed on that day was a glowing thumbs up by the health department.
We had a mini-media blitz. Here are the articles that have highlighted Third Perk! News Articles:
If you have not made your way down to beautiful downtown Dayton to see us at Third Perk Coffeehouse & Wine Bar, the door is open and we are waiting to serve you. Come on in!
Monday, June 8, 2015
So so close, you can taste what's cooking!
So yesterday I spent my day working on perfecting the recipes for Third Perk so that I can prepare my kitchen staff to make you happy! For me presentation is EVERYTHING. It will make or break a plate. I have enjoyed some ugly food before, but it was something that I prepared myself and I gave myself a pass (I know what was in it, I knew it was safe). LOL. But really my guest at Third Perk deserve pretty food that makes a smile appear on your face. Looks good....... Taste good. Both elements are equally as important, but if the look ain't right, it might not make it to your mouth.
I invited a few folks over to have a taste. Both were persons I would call a "FOODIE". I also sent my husband to work with two take a boxes: one for him and one for a fellow co-worker. The feedback was very encouraging! I know that you are going to also be delighted with what is to come.
Take a look at two of the items that we will serve you soon:
I invited a few folks over to have a taste. Both were persons I would call a "FOODIE". I also sent my husband to work with two take a boxes: one for him and one for a fellow co-worker. The feedback was very encouraging! I know that you are going to also be delighted with what is to come.
Take a look at two of the items that we will serve you soon:
So this is a toasted flat bread with our Third Perk oil mix
(olive oil, Parmesan cheese and fresh black pepper)
Simple and very tasty!
Citrus Salad
Mandarin oranges, Craisins, candied walnuts, goat cheese on a bed of mixed greens, served with our in house made citrus dressing (fresh squeezed oranges, lemons, limes with olive oil seasoned with salt and pepper).
A party in your mouth. Perfect for the summer!
We look forward to dazzling you with our tasty treats soon. Keep your eyes on our blog to find out our opening day. It will be here before you know it. Juanita-Michelle
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