The new me!

Well I was scolded today for being too negative.  I don't think that I was being too negative, just honest.  I guess I need to learn some political correctness.  I should have went with my first name for this blog "Not PC in PC". (Just kidding???)

I am a little negative right now.  Things Downtown are not going very good.  There is very little traffic and less business.  I am not the only one feeling this way.  I talk to many business owners in Downtown and we all have the same story, business is very slow and it is only the first of October.  None of us know what is coming. Maybe scared of failing is a more appropriate description of how I am feeling.

That brings me to the subject of Common Grounds Coffee and Deli.  Things are going very well here.  We have been serving new customers everyday.  We have a lot of room for improvement but we are constantly trying.  We have been adding some new items, we have a daily lunch specials and are certainly open to any suggestions that you have.  We are trying some new coffees from various small Ohio roasters.  Coffee is very similiar to wine, depending on the growing area and weather you get very different flavors.  I am going to try learn as much as I can about coffee and what makes it good or what makes it bad.  I had someone tell me once that they didn't know good coffee but they surely knew a bad cup of coffee.  Let's hope you never have a bad cup of coffee at Common Grounds.

We need to hear from you, the customer.  We want Common Grounds to become your coffee shop.
Keep reading this blog and I will keep you informed about upcoming events.  Staying POSITIVE.

Please post your thoughts, I really need know that at least someone is reading.

John

End of the Season

Good Morning everyone,

Well it has happened, the summer season has ended and with the end comes the slooooowwwwwwwwww days on Port Clinton.  Were do the residence of PC and Ottawa County go in the off season?  It is almost a ghost town.  Plenty of free parking Downtown.  The streets are deserted.  The seats are empty.  The cash resgister is NOT ringing and we business owners are trying to decide how bad is it going to get this winter.

As business owners, we need to look forward and see the future.  Well I for one have a very cloudy crystal ball.  I cannot see the future but I have guesses that this winter is going to be very very slim.  Many of us will not make it through.  It cost businesses so much to just open, pay employees and hope that customers choose us.  In the restaurant business the franchises and pizza places have taken over the market.  We can offer better food, better service and the capability of making change without the use of a calculator but since people are "lazy" or "too busy", they choose drive thru's and delivery.

I hope that everyone realizes that when the local businesses are gone so is the community.

I will conitnue this rant at a later time.   BUY LOCAL

New Hours and Daily Specials

Well it has been a few days since I have written.  I have to get into the habit of thinking every morning.
The coffee shop - Common Grounds Coffee and Deli is going through some growing pains.  We have had to change some of the employees and we are now closed on Sunday.  We will open again if our customer base grows but for now Sundays will be a day of rest.

We have been doing daily specials and they seem to be going over very well.  Yesterday we did a fajita salad or fajita panini and it was very well received.  Today is still up in the air.  The creativity waves aren't going to well this morning.

This Sunday we are hosting  the Black Swamp Bird Observatory for a breakfast buffet before they go on a butterfly watching expadition.  I hope they have a good time.

If you are thinking of hosting a holiday party or need a space for a meeting, give us a call we can open the coffee shop at any time for your function.  The room is free if you need food or small fee it you just need a really great place to meet.

Please feel free to write me with your opinions and suggestions.  We can only improve if we know what needs improvement.

Thanks for reading

John

Networking?

Next Wednesday (the 18th) there will be a new "networking" event at Common Grounds from 6:45am to 8:00am.  Please join us for a good cup of coffee and hopefully some good company.

Now what exactly "networking"?  When I grew up there was no such thing.  Then along came computers and you were asked to log on to a network.  Now a group of professional people will get together to network.  I bet if I went down to Port Clinton Fish and asked what network was they would have an entirely different definition..  Then there is CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox, these are all networks yet they do not join together to trade ideas or socialize.  If I am channel surfing does this mean I am "networking"?  Is eating dinner with my family some sort of networking?  Every morning in the coffee shop we "network" with other people.

Wait a minute-it sounds to me that networking is very similiar to human interaction, hasn't this been around since the beginning of time.  Why can't we call it COMMUNICATION not some new word that sounds very inanimate?  Just an idea.  Please join us for a morning of communication and dialogue and interaction.

P to the Fourth Festival

It has been a long day/weekend.  The Diner was very busy and I have been tending the food at the Peach, Perch, Pierogi and Polka Festival.  I am amazed at the number of people that like good food and good music!

I am tired and ready to call it a day however we have 6 more hours to go.  It has been very successful again this year.

The coffee shop Common Grounds is closed tomorrow.  We open on Tuesday, however the Second Street Diner is open at 7:00am for the areas best breakfast.  I better keep going, if not I will fall asleep.

A break in the weather

Good Morning to all,

What a wonderful morning, the temperature has finally cooled to a refreshing degree.  I have been working this weekend at a local festival in Port Clinton, OH.  The PEACH, PERCH, PIEROGI AND POLKA FESTIVAL.  What a wonderful day yesterday.  We served about a 1000 perch dinners and sandwiches.

The bands were awesome and the crowd wonderful. If anyone is in the area, stop by and have a beer, dance a polka and eat some terrific festival food.

I have to run but will post updates about the festival and upcoming events and specials at COMMON GROUNDS COFFEE AND DELI, Port Clinton, Ohio.