“Reinvented”

When you look at the title, it literally doesn’t make sense. Invented means “create or design something that has not existed before” Doesn’t that preclude any re-do or alteration?

But, having said that, I ended my first installment of Bob, and Joan’s business ownership odyssey with … “It would be 11 more years (2002) before we would “re-invent” ourselves by becoming owners of a Great Harvest Bread Store”, so I’ll stick with “reinvent”.

We had just relocated to Milwaukee, and had learned in 1992, that the “cute little bakery” that we had found and fell in love with in Kansas City back in 1987 was actually a franchised business. Our attraction to Great Harvest never faded. In 2002, the corporate level job which brought me to Milwaukee in 1992 was eliminated. However, I was assured that I would be allowed to “work” in an empty facility until I reached retirement age.

I’m not wired for doing nothing. Consequently, I resigned. Money isn’t everything. I actually believe this and, I was not going to sit and do nothing for 3 years waiting for full retirement benefits. I left and began the process of becoming a “small business owner”. Actually, I became “the owner of a small business”. Any of you who have followed this blog, know that I prefer correct grammar. I was the same height after I bought the business as I was before our purchase of the business.

Our odyssey began in June of 2002. We would be moving from Wisconsin to North Carolina in July, 2002. Throughout our lives at that time we had relocated from one state to another 5 times, courtesy of my employer. However, this time, huge difference, we were on our own. All expenses, scheduling, packing up, renting the truck, hauling a boat, lodging arrangements —– was all on our shoulders.

We, Joan and I, thankfully, were not alone. Our daughter insisted that she and her entire family accompany us from Wisconsin to North Carolina. I’m convinced to this day that we would have never made it without them traveling with us. And, here’s why;

The drive to Chapel Hill, NC took 3 days. We began day 3 just outside of Ashville, NC. The first order of business at dawn of that day was fueling up all 3 vehicles in our caravan. The boat was hitched to the rental truck. As we were about to leave the gas station, my son-in-law noticed that the tongue connecting the boat trailer to the rental truck was severely bent. It would never have held up on the freeway.

As bad as our circumstances looked at this point, just about everything from here going forward, went in our favor:

… We found a boat storage business located less than 1/2 of mile from the gas station. … Despite the fact that it’s early Sunday morning, the owner agreed to immediately come and open his facility so we could leave the boat and finish our trip. … The owner also did repairs and agreed to getting the trailer ready for travel. … The owner also agreed to haul the boat to Chapel Hill for $100.00 after the repairs were complete.

Now, we’re on the road for the final leg of the journey.

However, to paraphrase The Carpenters, ” We’ve only just begun ……”.

to be continued:

“We Knead Your Dough”. (Previous Episode Published Feb. 12th, 2023)

Where do I start? 

At the beginning? 

O.K.

It all started in Kansas City in 1987. Just another week-end jaunt down Ward Boulevard with 2 teen-age kids in tow aimlessly wandering the shopping mall(s) to find ways of disposing of our disposable income. 

Having no idea how that this would be a watershed decision for our future, we stopped at a bakery. Not your average bakery, this place was making everything from scratch. Whole grain breads, sourdough, whole grain cookies, and sweet breads.

The store itself was “cute” and the very small lobby was full of waiting customers. Every part of the store appeared to be cramped.

Classic upbeat rock-n-roll, playing just a tad too loud, spiced up the environment.  

Behind the counter, employees were shoulder to shoulder serving customers. 

Further back behind these people, the processing area was defined by a large butcher block table (the kneading table) surrounded by hundreds of large and small baking tools. 5 or 6 employees were stationed around this “breadboard” kneading individual lumps of dough into oval shaped loaves.

And, in the “way” back sat the largest commercial oven (about 15 feet wide) we had ever seen. 

For all of the unique features and vibrant environment of this bakery, the lasting impact of the experience was the aroma, that unfreakinforgetable, addictive aroma. 

In about 20 minutes the olfactory factor had hooked my wife and I. 

Fast forward to 1991 – – – – A job transfer takes our family back to our roots in Wisconsin. We’ve been doing well financially for several years. 

Hence, we are meandering around a trendy suburban village, again, looking for ways to dispose of our income. And what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a cute little bakery by the same name as the one we knew in K.C. 
The name , Great Harvest, was the only similarity to the one in K.C The layout, marketing materials, and product offerings in the Wisconsin store were completely different. It’s there that we learned that Great Harvest is a franchise! 

At the time, the thought of buying into it never crossed our minds. We had no need or desire to invest in and run our own business. 

It would be 11 more years before we would “re-invent” ourselves by becoming owners of a Great Harvest Bread Store.

To be continued ————-