Extended Hours & Pop-Ins

After we opened the store, naturally all of our friends wanted to come & check out our new digs.  I guess that's why most new businesses do a "soft opening?"  I don't know, but we got so slammed on our opening day, May 29, 2019, that we didn't plan another opening ceremony.     

No, it was full speed ahead for Kate & I.  We went from little (1-2 lunches a week selling Cheezers) to no work to being open 6 days a week.   We were trying to make up for lost time & all of those lost sales in April & May.  

At first, our hours were 11-8pm on Saturday & Sundays & 2-8pm Tuesday-Friday.  We were so wrapped up in it that we missed the obvious.

"You guys should be open for lunch during the week," a lady told me one of the first days we were open.  

That was pretty much all it took.  Sometimes your customers can see the obvious things that you've overlooked.

So, that was the end of the 2-8 weekday hours.  Kate & I threw ourselves into an 11-8pm operating schedule with Mondays off.  

That's really the best way to get good at something & gain experience- just throw yourself into 110%.  

Of course, our friends became curious, because they didn't see us around as often.  When you spend a good 54+ hours a week taking care of our business, you don't really feel like hanging out as often after hours.  So, they came to where they knew we'd be, at Mad Munch.

Kate was usually up front taking orders & I'd be back on the griddle when people would show up, "Just to say 'hi,'" & make their way to the back of house.  This was long before I built a cart for trash & recycling to extend the front counter all the way to the wall.  And, one of the main reasons that I did so.

"Wow, that goes really far back," a friend would say, & "your kitchen is huge!"

And, it was partly our fault, allowing people to go behind the scenes, but Kate & I were new to the whole scene also & it was exciting for everyone.

Now, when people "pop in" on a busy Saturday afternoon, a few drinks in, just to say, "hi," I often think of a Seinfeld episode where an annoying heckler ruins Jerry's comedy set.

"Wouldn't that be the ultimate comedian's revenge- to go down to their office & heckle them," Jerry said. 

And, I agree.  That would be satisfying, to stop by someone's cubicle on a Monday, of all days, a few drinks in, just to say "hi."  I might as well comment on how large their office is, too.

Maybe, one day, I'll get around to it.  When I'm not working so much.