Mad Munch's First Sundowner Appearance

Getting involved with your community is a great way to not only meet people but to also help spread the word about your business endeavor.  Kate's friend, Liz worked at the Ocean Beach Main Street Association & saw a great opportunity for us.

"You guys should join the O.B.M.A.  It's a great way to network, get more people to try Mad Munch & we have these mixers- we call 'em 'Sundowners,' every month with free food & drinks," Liz said.

Kate & I talked about it & signed up Mad Munch for $80 (annual membership dues).  We figured this would be a good investment in advertising our business through word of mouth.  And, over free food & drinks!

The first Sundowner I attended was at the Ocean Villa Inn next to Dog Beach.  Kate was in Nashville with her college friends for a bachelorette party & I didn't want to go solo so I asked my other roommate, Zack if he wanted to go.

"When is it?" he asked.

"It's Thursday from 5:30-7:30," I said.  "Basically we'll go there tell people about Mad Munch, eat some free food, have a few drinks & hand out a few menus."

It was an easy sell & we biked over to the motel that night armed with a bunch bright colored Mad Munch menus that I had just modified after the Mud Caves fiasco.  We were greeted at a desk out front by Claudia, who was known as the "Mayor of OB."

"What's your name & your business name?" she asked.

"I'm Zach & this is Zack & our business is Mad Munch Grilled Cheezer Co," I said.  

She wrote our names in Sharpie on name tag stickers & handed them to us.  Both names were spelled ZACK but I didn't say anything.  

"Alright, babe here ya go," she said.  "Do you have a business card for the drawing?"

"Shoot, I don't.  What's the drawing?"

"Well, they draw a card outta the bowl & the lucky name gets a prize, usually a gift card."

"Nice, I need to print some business cards," I said.

We wandered inside the lobby where several pizza boxes lay open with giant slices.  It was Surf Rider Pizza, one of my favorite spots only a few blocks away.  There was also a two kegs of beer iced down in tubs & bottles of wine lining a small card table.  We each grabbed a beer, got in line for pizza & filled a plate like every else.

I talked to Liz, our old boss Gavin.  We mingled around introducing ourselves (which is a lot easier wearing name tags) & handed out most of the menus I brought along.

"Where are you guys located?" That was the first question when someone took a flyer.

"Well, we don't have a brick & mortar location yet.  We're actually doing our first farmers market this Saturday in Golden Hill," I told them.

"Oh.  Are you guys in the OB market?" Question #2.

"No, not yet.  But we're working on it." was my response.

That was how the night went.  Introductions were made, hands were shook, & a raffle was won.  It almost felt like a house party in college, except when it was over people were pleading with Zack & I to take pizza & drinks with us.  So, we did.

I remember thinking afterward, "Boy, Kate is gonna love these."