Gratitude Blog # 9 (15Years)

"I've been working here for 15 years, I'm like a bad habit they can't get rid of "
Quoting myself (actual line I tell my guests on a regular basis)

August 18, 2003 was the day I started at this little hole in the wall restaurant situated between a convenience store/gas station and a liquor store. The place was originally an ice cream and frozen yogurt shop and at the beginning we kept that as part of the business while adding a semi-fine-dining menu to the mix. The chefs/owners, Kevin and AJ, were two guys in their mid twenties that had been best friends since the beginning of grade school. They worked in quite a few of the same restaurants over the years and eventually attended culinary school together while working full time jobs. Both had done pretty well for themselves and were working for the same family of restaurants, each managing a kitchen within the same company.

In 2002 the woman who owned the little strip mall and the convenience and liquor stores talked Kevin and AJ into taking over the little restaurant. As with a lot of new businesses it was a bit of a slow start but within six months we went from being lucky to have a few tables a night to filling the whole place on the weekends. There were seven people working the restaurant six days a week, including Kevin, AJ and myself. We were lucky to have a popular lunch business that carried us while the dinner menu caught on and it wasn't long before the little hole in the wall became the talk of the town.

Of course, a lot has changed since those first days. We eventually phased out the ice cream and frozen yogurt and added a full bar. We're still a little hole in the wall that everyone considered the best kept secret but now if you don't make a reservation a least a week or two in advance, you may have to settle for whatever time that might be available.

A few years ago we lost Kevin. His death rocked our little island community and the outpouring of love was something truly amazing. He was a huge character who had a heart of gold and as anyone who knew him could tell you, he knew how to have a good time. We always closed the restaurant on Sundays so a lot of the time we'd head to the bars on Saturday night after closing, with Kevin buying round after round of drinks and shots, so much so that we would have to tell the bartender to not make any more. The hangovers the next day were epic but since we were all off, we'd start with brunch and mimosas and bloody mary's and damned if we weren't bar hopping again. There were a few times I was either sneaking out when no one was looking or dragging Kevin home and putting him to bed. His antics were so legendary that someone even went as him for Halloween one time.

Kevin's altruistic side was as legendary as his partying. He could always be counted on for a donation or help with fundraising for a worthwhile charity or even a local who was suffering hard times. While opening up a second restaurant with a different vibe, he and AJ were also working on creating a training course for young people who may have an interest in the culinary arts. Sadly it didn't happen before his death but it lit a fire in AJ. Within two months, with the help of many people and businesses on the island, the first Kevin C Bar Olympics was created. The whole thing was a tongue in cheek bar crawl with drinking games and the teams represent bars and restaurants and friends of Kevin competing in olympic styled events like server relay race, beer pole vault relay, keg tossing, and lots of others. Most importantly, the whole event is a fundraiser to help with Teen Cuisine, an eight week course in the culinary arts for young people. The third annual KC Bar Olympics raised over $13,000 and about 30 teens have taken the class. AJ is still working hard with two restaurants and a new sandwich and ice cream take out place that harks back to the original business that started it all.

I'm truly thankful and proud of the business and the family we created along the way. I know Kevin is watching over us and smiling.

Thanks for letting me go on so long and I appreciate all your comments.

Peace!
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