Broken
The coffee shop startup continues to dominate my days. And, indeed, last week was the best week ever by any measure - people - coffee - sales - you name it. The week was not without a dark cloud, however, as the baking oven died Thursday morning.
When my trusty thermal probe indicated the sourdough loafs were done (internal temperature of 203°F), they were burned on top and spongy wet on the bottom as a result of the bottom heating element not working. Having called around I managed to find an appliance repair store in Elkin that would stay open until after 5:00 for me. Having made a mad dash down the mountain I was told by the, well, let's just say interesting shop owner that "there ain't nutin' wrong wid your heatin' element". I brought back a used one anyhow. Seems he was right. After much circuit tracing, the fault was found in a relay contact that powers the heating element in the control unit. Brumfield & Potter 9003. Probably cost about 35¢ when General Electric bought it new. I could buy a replacement for it and the control unit attached to it for $350. Time for Plan B ... again.
OK. In a coffee shop the essential piece of equipment is an espresso machine. In a bakery the essential piece of equipment is an oven. I had already learned my lesson with a used espresso machine and was now relearning it with a used oven. So, I began calling around.
Folks, there is a recession going on and stores that sell oven have reduced their stock to zero. Lowe's. Home Depot. HHGreg. Sears. Nada one. Zippo. They could order one and have it here next something or the other.
Once again Craig's List came to the rescue and I found a good used one (wrong color) for $250 in Winston-Salem but could not pick it up until Sunday afternoon. Another made dash was made down the mountain and the new used was was installed by 8:00 pm. Problem was that customers had already eaten every morsel I had back earlier in the week and all but a few of the items I purchased at the grocery store bakery to get me through Saturday. So it was that I baked until 11:00 to be ready for today. Lemon squares, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, banana-pecan bread.
I opened today and make oatmeal-raisin cookies and sourdough cranberry scones. The last two customer arrived at 5:00 pm and bought smoothies and one of the loaves of banana-pecan bread. I was ready to go home and guard the couch.
When I got to the Jeep I was met by a Sparta policeman who was looking inside my car. Someone had reported that two dogs had been in a Jeep on North Main Street all day. I assured him that it was their choice.
And that's when I noticed that the right front tire was flat ...
When my trusty thermal probe indicated the sourdough loafs were done (internal temperature of 203°F), they were burned on top and spongy wet on the bottom as a result of the bottom heating element not working. Having called around I managed to find an appliance repair store in Elkin that would stay open until after 5:00 for me. Having made a mad dash down the mountain I was told by the, well, let's just say interesting shop owner that "there ain't nutin' wrong wid your heatin' element". I brought back a used one anyhow. Seems he was right. After much circuit tracing, the fault was found in a relay contact that powers the heating element in the control unit. Brumfield & Potter 9003. Probably cost about 35¢ when General Electric bought it new. I could buy a replacement for it and the control unit attached to it for $350. Time for Plan B ... again.
OK. In a coffee shop the essential piece of equipment is an espresso machine. In a bakery the essential piece of equipment is an oven. I had already learned my lesson with a used espresso machine and was now relearning it with a used oven. So, I began calling around.
Folks, there is a recession going on and stores that sell oven have reduced their stock to zero. Lowe's. Home Depot. HHGreg. Sears. Nada one. Zippo. They could order one and have it here next something or the other.
Once again Craig's List came to the rescue and I found a good used one (wrong color) for $250 in Winston-Salem but could not pick it up until Sunday afternoon. Another made dash was made down the mountain and the new used was was installed by 8:00 pm. Problem was that customers had already eaten every morsel I had back earlier in the week and all but a few of the items I purchased at the grocery store bakery to get me through Saturday. So it was that I baked until 11:00 to be ready for today. Lemon squares, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, banana-pecan bread.
I opened today and make oatmeal-raisin cookies and sourdough cranberry scones. The last two customer arrived at 5:00 pm and bought smoothies and one of the loaves of banana-pecan bread. I was ready to go home and guard the couch.
When I got to the Jeep I was met by a Sparta policeman who was looking inside my car. Someone had reported that two dogs had been in a Jeep on North Main Street all day. I assured him that it was their choice.
And that's when I noticed that the right front tire was flat ...
Comments
Post a Comment