Full Transcript for Deb McCluskey: From Lil’s Cafe to 7 Restaurants | Ep. 71 Beyond The Plate Podcast

00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:12.229 Hut. And we were meeting one day and 00:03:12.239 --> 00:03:13.750 he's like, "So, how's the new job?" And 00:03:13.760 --> 00:03:16.869 I was like, "I left. I like I actually 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:18.790 have an interview this afternoon at I 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.030 can't even remember where it was." And 00:03:21.040 --> 00:03:23.030 he said, "Well, we might have an opening 00:03:23.040 --> 00:03:25.662 here at LIS." And I was like, "I'm in." 00:03:25.672 --> 00:03:26.309 [laughter] 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:28.550 And so, I worked there for 6 years, 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:31.589 started out as cafe manager, moved up to 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:34.070 general manager, and just before COVID 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:35.910 hit, we started talking about me 00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:37.750 purchasing Lils. 00:03:37.760 --> 00:03:40.390 >> Cuz I mean, 2021, you're right in the 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.750 right in the thick of it. And 00:03:41.760 --> 00:03:44.789 fortunately, he wanted to make sure that 00:03:44.799 --> 00:03:47.509 Lil succeeded and that I was successful. 00:03:47.519 --> 00:03:50.309 So, he said, "Let's get through co." I 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.550 learned a lot in that year because our 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:54.630 whole business um pivoted. 00:03:54.640 --> 00:03:55.030 >> Yes. 00:03:55.040 --> 00:03:55.990 >> To be able to stay open. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.429 >> If you didn't pivot, you didn't make it. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:58.869 Correct. You know, and a lot of people I 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.110 I say they sometimes use that as an 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:02.710 excuse. Yes. You know, it's like, "Oh, 00:04:02.720 --> 00:04:04.470 it was easy just to say, "Forget it. I'm 00:04:04.480 --> 00:04:06.710 done." And you know, blame it on co. But 00:04:06.720 --> 00:04:08.149 you're right. So, you pivoted. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.350 >> Exly. Um, and I learned a lot and really 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:13.589 he really empowered me to really kind of 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.069 take the reigns and run with it and I 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:17.430 was like, "This is what I want to do." 00:04:17.440 --> 00:04:20.069 So, he kind of was helping you along the 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:20.390 way. 00:04:20.400 --> 00:04:23.749 >> He really was. Yes. Yep. And then, you 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.189 know, when it came time to get serious 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.070 about it, I asked my son, Michael, if he 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:29.990 wanted to go in on it with me. He also 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:31.350 worked for the previous owner at 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.270 Robert's. I mean, he had been working at 00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:35.189 LIS actually directly with Michael 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:36.710 Langarten, the previous owner, not 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:38.950 necessarily at LIS, learning the back 00:04:38.960 --> 00:04:40.310 end of things. Okay. 00:04:40.320 --> 00:04:42.950 >> So, he really prepared us to be 00:04:42.960 --> 00:04:45.189 successful owners and it was just great 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:46.870 and fell in love with it. 00:04:46.880 --> 00:04:48.310 >> Let's talk about Michael for a little 00:04:48.320 --> 00:04:49.909 bit. So, it sounds like you yourself 00:04:49.919 --> 00:04:51.590 probably gravitate a little bit more to 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:53.510 front of house and and Michael to back 00:04:53.520 --> 00:04:55.430 house. So, you balance each other very 00:04:55.440 --> 00:04:55.909 nicely. 00:04:55.919 --> 00:04:58.310 >> We really do. And he has a full-time job 00:04:58.320 --> 00:05:01.030 outside of owning businesses. Yes. Um, 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:03.270 but he's very much behind the scenes, 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:04.950 the numbers, the marketing, the 00:05:04.960 --> 00:05:07.990 branding, what does the story say, that 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.510 type of thing. He went to school for 00:05:09.520 --> 00:05:11.670 that, for marketing and accounting. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.909 >> You can definitely a business degree. 00:05:13.919 --> 00:05:16.790 And so he that's his skill set. He can 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:18.870 also cook. He could find any ingredients 00:05:18.880 --> 00:05:20.469 in your refrigerator and whip you up a 00:05:20.479 --> 00:05:23.029 meal that you would be blown away by, 00:05:23.039 --> 00:05:25.830 you know, but his big skill set for the 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.990 businesses are behind the scenes 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.310 >> marketing and all that numbers and which 00:05:30.320 --> 00:05:32.310 is so important in a business of course. 00:05:32.320 --> 00:05:35.189 >> So if someone shadowed you like on a 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.909 random Tuesday, let's talk about that. 00:05:37.919 --> 00:05:41.270 >> Oh boy. So none of my days are ever the 00:05:41.280 --> 00:05:44.070 same. I could start any of the seven 00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:47.189 places just trying to pick up loose ends 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.029 for everybody. So, I like to support 00:05:49.039 --> 00:05:51.749 each of them in whichever way they need 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:54.710 support, you know. Um maybe it's, oh, 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:56.550 there's nobody to do the ordering at 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:58.870 Salty's this morning, so I'll go over 00:05:58.880 --> 00:06:01.590 and do the ordering. Um or it might be 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.270 we're short, somebody in the front of 00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:04.550 the house, we don't have a register 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:05.909 person, so I might go jump on the 00:06:05.919 --> 00:06:08.309 register for a little bit. Um, it could 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:10.629 be just going and just being there 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:11.990 because I haven't been there for a 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:12.870 couple of days. Do 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:15.189 >> you like gravitate to a certain one 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:16.070 more? 00:06:16.080 --> 00:06:19.029 >> Um, well, I have an office above

Liil's 00:06:19.039 --> 00:06:22.150 so I tend to gravitate more there. Plus, 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:24.309 now having three right here makes it 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:24.950 very easy. 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:25.749 >> It's crazy. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.350 >> It is. It is very crazy. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:30.309 >> When I came on Sunday, Yeah. I met Tyler 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:33.270 here Sunday morning and we went to Lils 00:06:33.280 --> 00:06:35.350 and all of a sudden I'm sitting and I 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:37.430 was waiting for them and I'm like 00:06:37.440 --> 00:06:38.889 >> is that Dudley's like right across 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:41.590 [laughter] Yes. I'm like, "Oh my gosh." 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.510 >> And then down the, you know, down the 00:06:43.520 --> 00:06:46.309 ways here, Salty. So, yeah. How cool is 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:46.710 that? 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:49.670 >> It is really cool. I I love it. This 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.150 little area has grown so much. I moved 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:55.350 to the Kery about 21 years ago, and 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.469 there wasn't a whole lot down here. 00:06:56.479 --> 00:06:58.390 Anakah Jans was down here. Tulsi was 00:06:58.400 --> 00:07:01.029 down here in the corner pub, which has 00:07:01.039 --> 00:07:02.870 changed hands a few times since, but 00:07:02.880 --> 00:07:04.710 there wasn't much else that attracted 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:06.629 people to this area. And now it's this 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:08.950 great little walkable community. You 00:07:08.960 --> 00:07:10.790 know, you've got the dance hall, the art 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.830 association. It's very amazing. And I 00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:15.510 tell everybody like we all need each 00:07:15.520 --> 00:07:17.270 other down here. You know, everyone's 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:18.469 like, "Well, Li is so busy." I'm like, 00:07:18.479 --> 00:07:20.550 "It doesn't matter if there's not a gift 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.990 shop or the art association or anything. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.309 It needs to balance. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.589 each other and I just love it. I love 00:07:29.599 --> 00:07:33.510 being able to walk around just, you 00:07:33.520 --> 00:07:35.749 know, pop into one of the gift shops for 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.029 a few minutes and be like, "Hey, how you 00:07:37.039 --> 00:07:38.550 doing?" Like we we all know each other. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.309 We we all support each other. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:40.790 >> Yes. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.629 >> I never realized the history like here, 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:45.909 >> you know, like when you're talking like 00:07:45.919 --> 00:07:48.870 the old owners of Lills and and Roberts 00:07:48.880 --> 00:07:51.029 and I mean it's there's like lots of 00:07:51.039 --> 00:07:51.589 history. 00:07:51.599 --> 00:07:54.309 >> There is. Yes. Yeah. A lot of history. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.589 So following you around it could be any 00:07:57.599 --> 00:07:59.029 you really could just you know you pop 00:07:59.039 --> 00:08:00.550 up wherever you're needed. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:01.189 >> Yep. 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:03.749 >> Yep. For a long time I live not far from 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:06.070 Henry's. So for a long time Henry's was 00:08:06.080 --> 00:08:08.070 homebased when Henry's was first opening 00:08:08.080 --> 00:08:09.510 and it was close and it was like the 00:08:09.520 --> 00:08:11.749 place I stopped at every morning. Now 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:13.589 they're, you know, they're doing fine on 00:08:13.599 --> 00:08:15.189 their own. They don't need as much 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.749 dayto-day support or they still need 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.029 day-to-day support. You know what I 00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:21.270 mean? I know. I know. Be there all day 00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:23.749 because there's very competent people um 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.029 in place running things. 00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:26.790 >> You have your people in place and 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:27.749 they're doing 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:29.430 >> what they're supposed to doing for the 00:08:29.440 --> 00:08:31.909 most part. Yes. Yes. Of course. Of 00:08:31.919 --> 00:08:32.709 course. 00:08:32.719 --> 00:08:35.029 >> So, whose idea was it to go from Okay. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.709 So, you have Lilis 00:08:36.719 --> 00:08:38.949 >> and whose idea was it to do the next 00:08:38.959 --> 00:08:39.269 one? 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:42.630 >> I would say that's was mostly me. I tend 00:08:42.640 --> 00:08:44.949 to be more of a risk taker than Michael. 00:08:44.959 --> 00:08:47.670 Michael tends to be very conservative 00:08:47.680 --> 00:08:50.310 and I have to kind of push him a little 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:52.070 bit and then once we do it he's great 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.230 you know it's just that oh should we 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.670 type of thing I'm like yes we should 00:08:55.680 --> 00:08:58.710 let's why not let's try it um the 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.190 islander yeah the islander was actually 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:03.590 open for 6 months when we bought it was 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.949 a regular guest of lils that opened the 00:09:06.959 --> 00:09:09.509 islander he owns the great island in his 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.590 name's Doug he wanted a place for his 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:14.230 guests to go it's right next door right 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:17.110 >> and Then I remember one day he said to 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:18.389 me, "I really just have no business 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.310 owning a restaurant. Like I'm a hotel 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:23.670 guy and I think you guys should buy 00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:25.509 this." And you know, we hemmed and 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.269 hawed. It's Newcastle. It didn't seem 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:29.990 like it was going to be busy enough or, 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:30.230 you know, 00:09:30.240 -->

00:09:31.190 >> so busy. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.310 >> So busy. Newcastle is such a great 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:35.110 little community. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:35.910 >> So cute. 00:09:35.920 --> 00:09:38.470 >> Yes. And that community just really 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:39.990 welcomed us. And a lot of those people 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:43.030 that live in Newcastle were Lil's guests 00:09:43.040 --> 00:09:45.190 as well. you know, they'd come. It's not 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:46.870 that far of a drive really. It's 10 00:09:46.880 --> 00:09:49.190 minutes, 12 minutes maybe. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:51.750 >> So, they would come to LIS, but once 00:09:51.760 --> 00:09:54.470 once the Islander was a little more 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.470 established, it takes Doug did a great 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.430 job the first 6 months, just he was only 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:01.509 able to be open 5 days a week and and 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.030 things like that. So once we got it open 00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:04.790 seven days a week and we were able to 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:07.430 expand the menu a little bit and you 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.190 know hire a few people because we had a 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.190 little more of a bandwidth than he did, 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:14.150 they just took the Islander and just 00:10:14.160 --> 00:10:15.910 made it this amazing place. You know, 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:18.069 they're telling everybody and but also 00:10:18.079 --> 00:10:19.350 wanting to keep it to themselves, you 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:21.670 know, like their little island um 00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:24.470 >> place and just Oh, it's so fun over 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.150 there. You know, it's was teeny tin 00:10:26.160 --> 00:10:28.949 Well, it is teeny tiny. Um, but it's 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:31.190 charming and I mean just the outside 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:33.350 building even. It's just so cute. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:35.590 >> Yes. That just went under a m major 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.949 renovation 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:39.430 >> recently. I think it just finished 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:42.230 >> maybe back in the early spring. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.870 >> I think the renovation was finished. 00:10:44.880 --> 00:10:47.110 >> Yeah. But he did a nice job. So it's 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:49.430 Doug. He he owns the building next door, 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:51.030 which is the original Great Island Inn, 00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:52.949 and then he bought the Islander building 00:10:52.959 --> 00:10:55.190 a few years ago when it was for sale, 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.509 >> and redid it as an inn, and then allowed 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.590 us to stay in the the restaurant space 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:01.030 downstairs. So, 00:11:01.040 --> 00:11:01.350 >> yeah. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.030 >> For those of you that may be just tuning 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:05.829 in, I am sitting with Deb McCcluskey. 00:11:05.839 --> 00:11:07.750 She is co-owner with her and her son 00:11:07.760 --> 00:11:11.910 Michael of seven places in the Kery and 00:11:11.920 --> 00:11:13.750 surrounding areas. Really? They're all 00:11:13.760 --> 00:11:16.230 within what, like 8, 10, eight? 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.389 >> Yeah. Jun is the furthest one which is 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.550 in New Market. So, you know, that's 00:11:20.560 --> 00:11:22.870 about a 30inut drive but fairly close, 00:11:22.880 --> 00:11:24.870 >> you know, close. So, if you haven't 00:11:24.880 --> 00:11:26.550 checked it out, make sure you you come 00:11:26.560 --> 00:11:27.670 check it out. We're going to go through 00:11:27.680 --> 00:11:29.430 each one of these. We're going to first 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.670 start with Lil's. And what I want to say 00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:34.630 first also, you know, as I was going 00:11:34.640 --> 00:11:36.710 through like each one and go looking at 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.389 the menus and you know, you talked about 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.509 what Michael his specialty is. It really 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:45.110 shows because you know, each one is 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:46.230 different, 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:47.590 >> but yet 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:49.990 >> they're almost similar like but it seems 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.509 like each one and that's why I kind of 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:53.350 want to just pick apart each one. They 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.630 kind of seem like they might have their 00:11:54.640 --> 00:11:56.389 own little specialty but then they share 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.190 things too. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.910 >> Yes. And so let's start with LIS cuz I 00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:02.470 think is LIS the one that's mainly known 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.230 for the crawler. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:05.110 >> They sure are 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:07.590 >> great. And I had a maple one on Sunday. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.310 >> Oh, very nice. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:10.323 >> I got in the scale the next day. 00:12:10.333 --> 00:12:11.269 [laughter] Yeah. I'm like 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.670 >> there's no calories on Sundays. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:16.629 >> Oh, so good. Just so I mean when I was 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:18.150 standing in line, I'm just like looking 00:12:18.160 --> 00:12:19.910 at everything in the case and it's just 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.550 amazing. 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:22.069 >> Yeah. Yeah, we have some very talented 00:12:22.079 --> 00:12:25.350 bakers and other kitchen folks that just 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:27.910 they put it all out there for everything 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:29.110 that's in that pastry case. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:31.350 >> So, was crawlers already part of the 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.910 menu there? It was. Yes. So, the 00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:36.629 original head baker brought that recipe. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.150 She had worked in New York and then came 00:12:38.160 -->

00:12:40.230 here and she brought that recipe with 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:43.430 her and tweaked it slightly, but that 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.670 has been the recipe that has been used 00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:47.990 since day one. So all the recipes got 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:51.110 passed over to you obviously and um 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:53.509 >> Okay. So what else about Lilis makes it 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:55.670 a little bit more unique than the other 00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:56.069 ones? 00:12:56.079 --> 00:12:57.670 >> Yeah. Well, you know, we have an amazing 00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:59.750 bread program. I did see the bread. 00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:02.069 >> You know, we have our sourdoughs, our 00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:05.670 multigrain, and again another just they 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.829 pour so much into that to make sure that 00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:10.069 it's right every time. And you know, 00:13:10.079 --> 00:13:11.430 coming up with different flavors, 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.269 specials for the week. I think, you 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.990 know, our coffee program has come a long 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.389 ways. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.829 >> That's all Tyler talks about [laughter] 00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:18.790 is your coffee. 00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:21.350 >> Yeah. He does the cold brew at Henry's. 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:21.990 Yes. Yeah. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.350 >> So, we'll get to that one. But 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.069 >> Yeah. 00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:25.990 >> But the coffee program has come a long 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.910 ways in the time that I've been there. 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:30.949 I've been at Lil since 2015. So, about 00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:33.430 11 years. And just amazing to see the 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:36.310 growth and the consistency. You know, 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.230 people want to go in on Monday and have 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:39.910 the same thing on Thursday and have have 00:13:39.920 --> 00:13:41.110 it taste the same way. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.949 >> Yeah. I have four diners. I know 00:13:42.959 --> 00:13:44.949 exactly. You know, they want everything 00:13:44.959 --> 00:13:47.269 and that's quite a thing to do, you 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.990 know, not only at at one place, but, you 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.150 know, to be able to to do it, you know, 00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:53.990 in all the the different places. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.710 >> Yeah. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.069 >> So, I think, you know, it's just very 00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:58.150 important. We've had an amazing uh 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:00.949 general manager for the past 5 years. 00:14:00.959 --> 00:14:02.870 She took over as general manager when I 00:14:02.880 --> 00:14:05.030 took over as owner, and she's just 00:14:05.040 --> 00:14:06.710 really done a great job leading the team 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:09.430 with, you know, front and back. her her 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.790 skill set is

more front of the house, 00:14:10.800 --> 00:14:12.389 but she's learned the back of the house. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:14.790 Um, and I think that's really unique 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.710 that somebody who's so front of the 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:20.310 house focused can also shift and learn. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.069 I mean, she was mixing colors yesterday, 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:22.949 you know, 00:14:22.959 --> 00:14:24.389 >> because that's what was needed, you 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.430 know, and it's just 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.829 >> that trickles down to everybody wanting 00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:29.750 to be able to pitch in and and do what 00:14:29.760 --> 00:14:32.069 they can to make things work. Well, 00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:35.110 >> is LIS's also is it commissary at all? 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:37.110 Is it commissary? They do do 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.550 >> you have it downstairs? I mean, when I 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.670 went to the bathroom, which I just 00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:41.590 thought was like the coolest thing ever. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.949 It's kind of like when you go to the red 00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:45.509 arrow, the main my original one, you 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.790 have to go to the bathroom in the 00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:49.189 kitchen. Yes. People just love that. I 00:14:49.199 --> 00:14:50.470 was feeling like that when I was walking 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.590 down the stairs and I looked to the 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:54.150 left. I'm like, "Oh my gosh, like this 00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:54.870 is so cool." 00:14:54.880 --> 00:14:57.030 >> Yeah. So, there's a great big kitchen. 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:59.509 >> They pump out a lot of stuff for Lils. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.829 They also have a couple of wholesale 00:15:01.839 --> 00:15:04.230 bread clients, but they do all the 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:06.550 pastries for the Islander. As you know, 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:08.870 the Islander has a very tiny space. 00:15:08.880 --> 00:15:09.590 >> Very tiny. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.750 >> So, yes. So, we have a delivery driver 00:15:11.760 --> 00:15:13.590 that brings the pastries over every 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:17.430 morning. They also do all the bread for 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:19.990 um Stella's and most of the bread for 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:21.509 Junes. So, 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:24.310 >> Wow. They do do some commissary, but 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:27.189 it's not, you know, not a huge chunk of 00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:28.389 what they do down there. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.829 >> Yeah. Well, they looks like they're 00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:31.030 pretty busy. I mean, when I was standing 00:15:31.040 --> 00:15:32.310 I was telling Autumn when I was standing 00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:34.310 in line this morning, I'm looking at all 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.230 the product in the case and I'm like, 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.910 "How are they going to the line wasn't 00:15:37.920 -->

00:15:39.430 too too bad then?" 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.269 >> I'm like, "They're going to go through 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.189 that." And then by the time she came and 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:45.670 I'm sitting it was like looped around 00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:48.150 and I'm like, "Oh my gosh, it's just 00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:48.710 crazy." 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.150 >> Yeah. And they've they've done a good 00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:52.470 job. They, you know, we build a like a a 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.389 build two sheet. like we want to have 96 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.710 blueberry muffins today and then we have 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.230 a leftover sheet at the end of the day 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:01.269 and we watch the patterns and so they 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:03.350 are able to see the weather sometimes 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.430 the weather, you know, it all factors. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:09.189 >> Yes. And they are pretty spot-on and you 00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:10.629 know we want to have some leftovers cuz 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:12.150 we don't want somebody coming in 10 00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:13.910 minutes before closing and there's one 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:15.910 blueberry muffin left, you know, so we 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:17.749 we like to have some leftovers. We then 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:20.150 donate those to the secos fridge or 00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:23.110 gather or footprints. So, you know, but 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:25.110 they just do an amazing job and they 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.430 keep pick up those patterns so easily. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:27.990 >> Love it. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.189 >> Make sure that there's enough to get 00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:30.310 through the day. And sometimes we're 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.230 doing a second bake or sometimes a third 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.389 bake. Like, oh my gosh, somebody came in 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.430 and bought all the chocolate chip 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.829 cookies. So, now we're making another 00:16:37.839 --> 00:16:40.389 two doz. Yeah. You know, and 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.550 >> they have to stop and, you know, refocus 00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:44.069 on something else. But 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.749 >> what about the records? 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:47.269 >> Oh, the records. That is just 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.629 >> I mean, my son kept saying, "You got to 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.990 go around the corner. You got to go see 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.749 the record store." And I'm like, 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.189 >> "What are you talking about, a record 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:55.189 store?" You know, and I'm like, "Oh my 00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:55.749 gosh." Like, 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.670 >> yeah. So, that is in what used to be the 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:59.430 bank vault. I don't know if you noticed 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.350 the big vault door when you were walking 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.629 through it.

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.549 >> He told me that. I noticed it when we 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.909 were sitting at the table. I saw like 00:17:05.919 --> 00:17:08.470 the counter all the drawers like I think 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.230 on those are those. And he's like, 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.990 "Those are the same." I'm like, "Oh, 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:14.390 with a bank." And then very cool. So, 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.549 the vinyl vault is actually So, Michael 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.150 Agarten, the previous owner, very much 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.549 into music. had a band back in his early 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:23.270 days, good friends with a man named Mark 00:17:23.280 --> 00:17:25.990 who owns Gary's Guitars and so he sells 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:29.669 records there and also um we allow him 00:17:29.679 --> 00:17:31.990 to use that space to sell his records. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.270 It's just kind of a cool thing that goes 00:17:33.280 --> 00:17:35.590 with coffee shops. Awesome. It's unique 00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:37.350 and it's different. I mean, you know, 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:39.029 it's funky. I love that funky. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.549 >> Yeah. So, you know, he comes in and he 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.270 refreshes them maybe monthly, maybe 00:17:43.280 --> 00:17:45.750 every six weeks or so. come in and make 00:17:45.760 --> 00:17:47.590 sure there's enough in there and refresh 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:49.270 the, you know, there's some up on the 00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:50.789 wall that that are displayed. He'll 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.270 refresh those and yeah, it's just kind 00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:55.350 of a cool little thing, a cool little 00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:57.350 spin. [laughter] 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.390 >> No pun intended. 00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:01.510 >> So, the next one, um, we've talked a 00:18:01.520 --> 00:18:03.990 little bit already about Islander. That 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.430 was your second one. And you know what? 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.510 I do need to make note too, listeners 00:18:07.520 --> 00:18:09.990 and watchers and and all, all these 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.310 restaurants are open seven days a week. 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:14.549 >> They are. Like I'm looking at all the 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.990 hours and I'm writing them down. You see 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.950 I have them all written down cuz I'm 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:18.230 like they all can't be open seven day. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:20.789 They just can't be. And I kept going. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.789 I'm like I they're all open seven days a 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:23.110 week. 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:25.350 >> They are. Yeah. It takes a little bit to 00:18:25.360 --> 00:18:27.110 get there. You know, you have to find 00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:29.669 the right staffing and then you know 00:18:29.679 --> 00:18:31.510 then you have to build that clientele. 00:18:31.520 --> 00:18:33.190 >> One shift though with most of them. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.230 >> Most of them are one shift. 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:36.390 >> Oh nice. I mean I got three shifts. I'm 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.590 open 24/7. 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:40.390 >> Oh yeah. That's so hard. So hard. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.470 >> Yeah. A little bit more. And that's why 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.830 some of the hours are a little 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:45.590 different, you know, like we we do have 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:47.510 >> I did notice that too, but it goes with 00:18:47.520 --> 00:18:49.430 the region too. Sometimes people, you 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.789 know, they don't get up early over here 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.029 or they do over here and they they're so 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.310 I get that when I was reading that and 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:55.510 seeing that I'm like, well, that makes 00:18:55.520 --> 00:18:57.669 sense because, you know, totally makes 00:18:57.679 --> 00:19:00.630 sense. So, was that did they have like 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.070 the the Dutch baby there? 00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:03.669 >> They did. Okay. Yes. 00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:06.950 >> Um, so Tim, who was the original cook 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:10.230 chef there, he's still there today. He 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.909 did that. He wanted to have the Dutch 00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:14.070 baby. Um, so it kind of became their 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:15.350 signature thing over there. 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:15.669 >> Yeah. 00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:17.029 >> I'm always like, "Oh, why do you want 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.510 that oven on all day, [laughter] 00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:21.973 >> but people love it and you know 00:19:21.983 --> 00:19:23.350 [clears throat] it sells it sells year 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:24.549 round." Yeah. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:26.870 >> And he changes the toppings on it. He's 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:29.510 really he and um Dan, who's the other um 00:19:29.520 --> 00:19:31.110 cook over there, they really control the 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.630 menu. You know, they come up with the 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.190 specials. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.310 >> I think they were both there this 00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:34.710 morning. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.190 >> They probably were. It's kind of There 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.789 was like two guys over. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.350 >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. So, yeah, I think so. 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.549 >> They're great. So, 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:44.070 >> I was a little upset when Tyler 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:45.830 surprised me there this morning. Yeah. 00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:47.909 >> And cuz I kind of wanted to sit and like 00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:49.750 really watch and look and take my 00:19:49.760 --> 00:19:52.103 picture. Oh my goodness. I had the baby. 00:19:52.113 --> 00:19:52.630 [laughter] 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:55.029 Oh, yeah. It's hard to not not pay 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.549 attention to

that baby. Oh my gosh, 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.590 she's so cute. [clears throat] 00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:59.990 >> Yeah. But um but yeah. No, it was really 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.390 good. All right. So, Islander, Dutch 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.310 Baby stands out a little bit with the 00:20:04.320 --> 00:20:06.310 Islander. That's kind of one of their 00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:08.150 their kind of claim to fame. They're 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.909 also their breakfast sandwich over 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:11.590 there. They sell breakfast sandwiches 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:13.750 all day long. And it's, you know, they 00:20:13.760 --> 00:20:15.830 we have it either on the homemade 00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:17.590 biscuit or their homemade English 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.390 muffin. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.669 >> And I think it's homemade English 00:20:19.679 --> 00:20:20.230 muffin. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.230 >> Yes. Yes. So Lis makes the English 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:24.230 muffins for over there. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.310 >> I think it's the zesty sauce and like 00:20:26.320 --> 00:20:28.950 the fried egg. And it's just people just 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.230 love it over there and 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.870 >> Oh my gosh, 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.750 >> they make so many of them. Sometimes I'm 00:20:33.760 --> 00:20:35.510 blown away by the number of breakfast 00:20:35.520 --> 00:20:37.669 sandwiches they made in one day. But 00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:38.070 >> wow. 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:39.510 >> I would say the breakfast sandwich and 00:20:39.520 --> 00:20:41.350 the Dutch baby. Are their two big things 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:41.750 over there? 00:20:41.760 --> 00:20:42.630 >> Big things over there. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.029 >> Yeah. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:45.270 >> Okay. So, now you have two places. 00:20:45.280 --> 00:20:47.990 >> Yeah. How did Stella's come about? 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.870 >> Oh, 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.950 >> and it was your idea, I'm assuming, not 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.549 Michael's. Michael was probably like 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.070 >> Michael actually sent me the listing. 00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:56.230 There used to be a a restaurant there, a 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:58.470 small cafe. It was two women that owned 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:01.110 it. They didn't have many employees and, 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.390 you know, their hours were kind of 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:05.510 inconsistent and just wasn't working for 00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:08.390 them. So, they had listed their business 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.909 assets, you know, and they're saying 00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:12.070 that that they still had a lease and 00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:13.510 everything. And Michael sent me the 00:21:13.520 --> 00:21:15.270 listing for it. I was like, "Oh, let's 00:21:15.280 --> 00:21:17.270 go for it." Like, "We have two. What's 00:21:17.280 --> 00:21:19.110 one more?" You know, [laughter] it's 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:20.390 kind of like when I had kids, I was 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.830 like, "Ah, I can have four. No big 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:24.870 deal." You know? So, he was like, "Oh, I 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:25.830 don't know." I'm like, "Oh, let's just 00:21:25.840 --> 00:21:27.430 go look at it. Like, what's the big 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.110 deal? You know, what's the harm in 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.950 looking?" So, we went and looked at it. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.789 My brain's going, "Oh, yeah. Yeah." and 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:34.630 they had this event space which I have a 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:36.789 lot of background in events. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:39.590 >> So I was just you know the ideas were 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:43.270 just running through my head and so you 00:21:43.280 --> 00:21:45.029 know we were able to negotiate a good 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:47.590 deal with the previous people that were 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:51.510 there and with the landlord and it just 00:21:51.520 --> 00:21:55.510 became this phenomenal little cafe. I 00:21:55.520 --> 00:21:57.510 was worried at the beginning. We opened 00:21:57.520 --> 00:22:00.230 for the summer and Dober sometimes is a 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.310 little sleepy in the summer because 00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.909 everybody's on the sea coast coming to 00:22:03.919 --> 00:22:05.190 the beach. You know, if it's a really 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.029 nice, beautiful beachy summer, that's 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.710 where everybody wants to do it. So, you 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.149 know, we're kind of twiddling our thumbs 00:22:10.159 --> 00:22:11.909 that first summer. And I was like, "Oh, 00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:14.070 I I might have made a mistake here. I 00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:17.830 don't know." And now we have doubled the 00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:19.350 size of the kitchen. We took over a 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:21.190 whole additional space in the back. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:23.430 We've put in a walk-in. they're going to 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.870 start doing croissants there because 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.470 they've they're getting a proofer and 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.630 they have a laminator and you know it's 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.510 just amazing to see in two years the 00:22:31.520 --> 00:22:33.750 growth that they have had and I'm just 00:22:33.760 --> 00:22:36.310 so thankful. I just you know it's it was 00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:38.310 kind of we we joked it Stella's was 00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:41.830 going to be like Stella is Lil's middle 00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:45.430 name. So Lillian who LIS was named after 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.870 her middle name was Stella. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.350 >> Okay. 00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.950 >> So that's how we came up with the name 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.830 and we joked 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:51.830 >> so it wasn't Stella's before. No, no, 00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:53.750 no, no, no.

Totally different branding 00:22:53.760 --> 00:22:55.590 and everything. So, we joked like 00:22:55.600 --> 00:22:58.070 Stella's was going to be the broke Liil, 00:22:58.080 --> 00:23:01.990 like the young hippie, broke college 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.390 version of Liil, right? [laughter] 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.830 And for a while it was. And I was like, 00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:07.669 "Oh man, we jinxed this place." But then 00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:10.630 it just all of a sudden Dover just 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.909 embraced us and here we are, you know, 00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:16.630 like I said, expanding and the event 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.750 space is booked almost every weekend and 00:23:19.760 --> 00:23:22.149 sometimes during the week and you know, 00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:24.149 it's it's small. It only holds about 50 00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:26.149 people, but it's perfect for a bridal 00:23:26.159 --> 00:23:28.950 shower, baby shower. Um, we did a 90th 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.270 birthday party a couple of weeks ago 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:34.070 >> and like even that menu has evolved so 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:36.549 much and it's just been a lot of fun. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.750 You know, that was something that 00:23:37.760 --> 00:23:39.830 Michael and I really kind of created on 00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:42.630 our own with the help of our team. But 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:44.710 it wasn't like the Islander, we just 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.630 bought and took over. LIS, we bought and 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.630 took over. LIS, I had been there for 6 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.830 years. So, 00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:51.750 >> you know, it wasn't like, oh, this is 00:23:51.760 --> 00:23:52.950 ours, 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.430 >> completely ours. our ideas, our 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.710 branding. Yeah. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:58.630 >> You know, we completely renovated the 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:01.990 space and we had to really think about 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.070 kind of all those business steps that 00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:06.470 you need to open your own place, you 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.430 know, like 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.669 >> how much it the cost and, you know, what 00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:11.830 equipment you need and each place is 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:13.190 different. So, it's not like you can 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:16.470 just take Lils and drop everything over 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.830 at Stella's, you know, it just doesn't 00:24:17.840 --> 00:24:18.950 work that way cuz the space is 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.149 different, the people are different, the 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:22.549 product, the team, and all of that. So, 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:24.549 it was pretty exciting to see and then 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:27.190 it just took off and it's been great. 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.830 So, 00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:29.590 >> you know, I find it just so fascinating. 00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:31.830

I mean, even in Manchester where I live, 00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:35.350 cafes are all over the place. Why do you 00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:36.070 think that is? 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:39.590 >> I I think it's just people like to be 00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:41.990 social for the most part. and that 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.789 coffee shop cafe vibe. You can be 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:46.310 social, but you don't have to talk to 00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:50.230 anybody, you know, like you and so they 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:52.070 want to be social, but they may not want 00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.909 to go and sit down and have a dinner and 00:24:53.919 --> 00:24:56.149 have a server come over and talk to them 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.990 and ask them all these things, you know, 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.430 like a cafe. They just go in, it's 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.350 quick, they get that little bit of 00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.789 interaction, and then they can sit down 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.950 and and kind of just be to themselves if 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:07.110 they want. I just think that's the way 00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:10.149 society has become over, you know, the 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:12.149 last 20 years or so with, 00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:13.909 >> you know, we have Instagram and Facebook 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:16.950 and texting and emailing and, you know, 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:19.669 there's not a lot of personto person um 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.470 contact. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:20.789 >> Sure. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.870 >> And I think, you know, that's just the 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:24.549 generation now. That's what they like. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.470 They they like to have a little bit 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:29.669 >> but then let me kind of have my space. 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:32.470 And I think that's what's nice about, 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.990 you know, being having a coffee shop or 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.669 a cafe is that you can do that. You 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:37.110 know, it's quick serve. You go up to a 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:38.950 counter, you order, you go sit down, 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.710 >> and then nobody's bothering you while 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.149 you're eating their work. 00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:44.310 >> And and obviously they 00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.909 >> people love them because, you know, they 00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:47.909 were open up like right and left on Elm 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:49.430 Street in Manchester. I'm like, how are 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.630 they all going to survive? 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.269 >> Right. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.070 >> But they are. 00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:52.549 >> Yes. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:54.710 >> Like they are. It's very popular. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.470 >> It is very popular. It kind of seemed 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:58.789 like when co, you know, CO happened, you 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.549 had a lot of like the the restaurants 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:02.390 downtown, I'm talking Manchester right 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:04.230 now, that were, you know, they were all 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.909 open for lunches, then they closed 00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:07.430 lunches. They really didn't, some of 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.029 them didn't even come back for lunch. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.510 >> So sad. 00:26:09.520 --> 00:26:10.870 >> But then it kind of got replaced with 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.590 cafes. 00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:12.149 >> Yes. 00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:14.230 >> Is kind of the way that I I I kind of 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:16.310 see it. And obviously, it's working, you 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:17.990 know. So, and then I think a lot of 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:20.630 people with co they were out of the 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.830 offices. 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:23.269 >> They're home with their laptop. Well, 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.710 they get bored at home with the laptop. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.710 So they go sit in a cafe and have a 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.710 coffee and breakfast sandwich and you 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.590 know so yeah it it definitely works. All 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:33.430 right so then Junes 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:33.830 >> June 00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:35.830 >> and this is all we're talking within I 00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:39.269 mean we're talking 2021 to 2026 like 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.390 that is a lot. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:43.669 >> It is a lot. It is a lot June. So we 00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:46.149 bought that building in November of 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:48.310 2024. It was used to be the Horseshoe 00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:50.549 Cafe. I don't know if you ever followed 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:53.669 them or not. I for some reason I was 00:26:53.679 --> 00:26:55.510 following them on Facebook and I was, 00:26:55.520 --> 00:26:56.710 you know, reading about their story and 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:59.190 it was this husband and wife and she 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:01.190 would do all the cooking and the baking 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:03.110 and he roasted coffee and like they had 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:05.350 this great following and just it was 00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:08.710 really cool to see another like family 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.549 dynamic running a business, you know. So 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.990 I felt connected to them even though I'd 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.430 never met them before. I'd never been 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.990 there before. Just, you know, felt a 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:17.430 little bit of a connection to them. So, 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.190 I followed them and the husband was from 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:21.269 Japan and so they decided they were 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.789 going to move to Japan and they put the 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:25.110 building on the market and it sat on the 00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:28.149 market for a while because prior to a 00:27:28.159 -->

00:27:29.909 couple years I think before um I 00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:31.110 actually bought it and then they took it 00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:32.230 off and they put it back on again and 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.430 they're like, "We're moving to Japan. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.789 We've got to sell the building, got to 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.950 sell the business, all of that." I said 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:39.029 to my son, I said, "You know, we've got 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:41.909 a lot of restaurants, three, right? 00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:43.430 Maybe we should get into real estate. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.190 maybe, you know, you know, everyone 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.789 says, "Oh, you need to own your own 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.430 building." 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.230 >> Yeah, definitely. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:50.630 >> So, here's our opportunity. 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.630 >> Let's buy this building. And he's like, 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:56.149 "Mom, this building is like 130 years 00:27:56.159 --> 00:27:58.870 old." Like, it's got so much charm. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.070 You're like, I'm coming up with all the 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.830 positives, right? It's got a parking 00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:04.310 lot. It's already got a cafe in it. It's 00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.990 got an apartment upstairs. Like, we can 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.510 rent the apartment out. We could make 00:28:07.520 --> 00:28:09.909 this backyard beautiful. 00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:11.830 And he's like, "H, I don't know. It just 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:13.110 sounds like a lot of work. it's far 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:15.190 away. I'm like, it's 32 minutes from 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.590 home and you know, we live closer to 00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:19.750 York than we were in Kery, but closer to 00:28:19.760 --> 00:28:21.909 York. And I'm like, it's not that far. 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:23.590 Like, let's let's just do it. And he 00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:26.149 hemmed and hawed and and we went back 00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:28.630 and forth. And then we made them an 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:30.630 offer and they accepted it. And then we 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:32.710 were like, oh, what do we do now? You 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:35.190 know, so we got the apartment renovated. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:37.029 They were living in the apartment before 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.789 they moved. So, we got that renovated 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.190 and got that rented out and then started 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:43.510 working on the cafe. What's the vibe 00:28:43.520 --> 00:28:44.389 like there? Like, 00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:46.389 >> it's very different. It's very quirky. 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:49.350 The It's probably similar in square 00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:51.750 footage to the Islander, just set up 00:28:51.760 --> 00:28:52.470 differently. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:52.870 >> Okay. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:56.389 >> And the menu is Sorry everybody, but 00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:59.430 probably my favorite of all of them. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.230 >> Why is that? 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:03.350 >> I just I like the uniqueness of it. So, 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:05.350 you know, like you've got a flank steak 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:07.669 breakfast sandwich. Like that's just not 00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:09.750 something we can do at the other places. 00:29:09.760 --> 00:29:12.549 Um, you know, we've got some we've got 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.230 the breakfast bowls 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:16.470 >> with the housemade Hollands and the 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:18.549 house sausage gravy type thing. You 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.830 know, it's just things that we don't 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.870 have at the other 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:23.110 >> freak. So good. 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.830 >> Yum. 00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:27.110 >> So, the general manager/chef out there 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.630 used to work at Robert's with Michael 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.909 and I back in the day. 00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:32.230 >> Oh. and he lives in New Market and when 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.830 he heard that we had bought this 00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:36.470 building, we connected and and you know, 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:38.789 we've just we kind of let him just run 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.549 with it. You know, he he does a great 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:42.549 job out there. He takes care of the 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:45.510 menu. He loves New Market and he loves 00:29:45.520 --> 00:29:47.269 the people. He knows everybody out there 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.590 and so it's just been 00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:52.070 >> they've all kind of worked out like that 00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:54.789 is like really that's amazing. It's kind 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:59.430 of rare I think. Really? It is. It is. I 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:01.830 that's pretty rare and we're still 00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:03.110 continuing 00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:05.830 >> viewers. So now we go. Anything else 00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:07.590 about Junes that sticks out that people 00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.070 should know? 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:10.549 >> Well, we're starting a dinner series. 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.430 >> Oh, I did see that. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:13.430 >> Yes. So, next Thursday is our first 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:15.110 dinner. We're almost sold out. We have 00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:17.590 two seedings and that menu all comes 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:20.149 from Dylan who's the chef and GM out 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:20.870 there. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.789 >> Totally different menu than what we 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.990 would serve in the cafe. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.029 >> First time you're trying this. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.750 >> First time we're trying. 00:30:25.760 --> 00:30:27.110 >> So, who knows what might happen in the 00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:28.470 future. Yeah, we might be able to do 00:30:28.480 -->

00:30:29.990 something different. Very excited. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.149 Dylan's also very community-minded, 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:33.990 which is great. Like there's a backyard 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:35.669 bash in New Market 00:30:35.679 --> 00:30:37.750 >> that he took care of getting Jun's 00:30:37.760 --> 00:30:39.350 there, you know? He's like, I just need 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:41.190 this license and this health certificate 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.830 and 00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:43.909 >> I'm like, okay, he got it. And but he's, 00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:46.310 you know, he just, it's so great to have 00:30:46.320 --> 00:30:48.149 somebody there that also lives there. 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:49.750 It's their community, you know, so they 00:30:49.760 --> 00:30:51.510 want not only they want the restaurant 00:30:51.520 --> 00:30:53.110 to survive, but they care about the 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.470 community around them, which is so 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:56.549 important to me. you know, I live here 00:30:56.559 --> 00:31:00.149 in Kiry, so you know, I care about what 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:02.149 the people of the community are getting. 00:31:02.159 --> 00:31:03.350 You know, I I care about all the 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:04.950 communities, but you know, when you're 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.750 living there, 00:31:05.760 --> 00:31:08.389 >> it's more it's you're there, you know, 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:10.549 like Yeah, I understand. I understand. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:12.789 >> So, yeah, but he does a good job. He 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.389 has, like I said, he has the Dutch Baby 00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:16.389 out there. He has a sweet and a savory 00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:17.430 option. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:19.990 >> I believe he changes that monthly. He 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.149 has a monthly melt. He has kers out 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:24.149 there, but he does the bite-size ones. 00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:24.389 Oh, 00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:26.389 >> so they're uh you know, lack of better 00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:28.070 terms, think a munchkin 00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:29.350 >> or doughnut hole. 00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:31.269 >> Uh but the curler uh those are very 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.950 popular out there. He has such a small 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.389 kitchen that he couldn't do the full 00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:36.710 size kers, so he went with the bite-siz 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.350 ones. 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:39.110 >> Now, is it all the same recipe, the 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:39.909 crawlers? I mean, 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:41.430 >> it's all the same recipe. Yeah. It's 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.710 just how they piped it. 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.430 >> Yeah. Yeah. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.990 >> Yeah. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.389 >> This episode is powered by Belmont Hall 00:31:46.399 --> 00:31:48.310 and Restaurant in Manchester. 00:31:48.320 --> 00:31:50.630 Family-owned for over 90 years, [music] 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:52.549 they serve up classic American 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:55.590 breakfast, lunch, and brunch 7 days a 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:57.852 week. Made fresh from scratch in their 00:31:57.862 --> 00:32:00.070 [music] kitchen. Think pancakes, French 00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:03.509 toast, eggs benedict, pan fries, all the 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.110 comfort food done [music] right. But 00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:07.350 Belmont Hall is also home to a full 00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:09.909 function hall, ideal for showers, 00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:11.990 parties, corporate [music] events, or 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:15.669 any celebration. Open 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 00:32:15.679 --> 00:32:18.710 p.m. every day and Fridays they stay 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:21.590 open till 8:00. Find them at 718 Grove 00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:23.669 Street in Manchester or at 00:32:23.679 --> 00:32:25.430 belmontthall.net. 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:27.990 Keeping it simple, affordable, and 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.990 delicious. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:32.070 >> So Henry's, this is the one my son talks 00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:32.789 about the most 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:34.470 >> that he's there [laughter] with coffee. 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:34.710 Yeah. 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:36.549 >> Yeah. that he loves this morning before 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.710 they met before they, you know, we were 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.149 talking on the phone and I told him I 00:32:40.159 --> 00:32:42.070 was on my way, you know, here and he's 00:32:42.080 --> 00:32:44.789 like or to Islander and they met me 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.789 there after. So, yeah. So, what is it 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.990 about this Henry's? 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.389 >> Yeah. 00:32:48.399 --> 00:32:50.389 >> You know, it's obviously the main story. 00:32:50.399 --> 00:32:52.630 I mean, is it another like 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.909 >> So, 00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:56.149 >> it used to be Henry's VI Carby, right? 00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:58.549 Henry VII's carb. So, it was a sandwich 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:01.110 shop where they handcarved roast beef 00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:03.509 and ham or whatever and made your 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:05.110 sandwich. And they've been there for 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:06.950 about 12 years. I lived not far from 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.310 there, about a two-minute drive from 00:33:08.320 --> 00:33:10.310 there. And I would stop there and grab a 00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:12.710 sandwich. Um, and it had just been part 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:15.590 of my family, my kids. Um, growing up, 00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:17.990 we would go there often. And one day, 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.590 they announced on their Facebook that 00:33:19.600 --> 00:33:21.909 they were closing, that that Saturday 00:33:21.919 --> 00:33:24.470 was going to be their last day. And I 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.310 texted Michael and I said, "Did you see 00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:28.389 this?" [laughter]

00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:31.110 >> Now, mind you, see what Michael's face 00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:31.990 looked like. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.990 >> We didn't even have June's open yet at 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:36.950 this point. Um, we were still renovating 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.950 >> and I'm like, "Did you see this?" He's 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:41.909 like, "Route one kit. Interesting." And 00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:43.830 like we were more sad the sandwich shop 00:33:43.840 --> 00:33:45.029 was closing. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:47.269 >> You know, super great people. They live 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:49.509 in the community. You know, it's sad to 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:51.269 see another business close, whether it's 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:53.590 a competing business or even when you 00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:55.990 don't go to, it's just sad. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.870 >> It is. 00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:00.310 >> So, we stopped in, got our last 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:03.269 sandwich, and just it was very, you 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:06.549 know, nostalgic. And a couple of days 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:08.950 later, Michael's like, "I found the 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.869 owner's email address." 00:34:10.879 --> 00:34:12.869 >> Oh, so that means now he's interested. 00:34:12.879 --> 00:34:14.149 >> Yeah. He's like, "Do you think it's for 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:16.790 sale?" And I said, "I don't know." I 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:19.988 said, "No harm in asking, right?" 00:34:19.998 --> 00:34:20.950 [laughter] 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:22.869 So, he reached out to them and they were 00:34:22.879 --> 00:34:25.990 like, "Yeah, actually, we should sell, 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.430 you know, sell their equipment because 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:29.270 they were just I'm not sure what their 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.950 plan was, but it to us it seemed like 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.710 they were just closing up and going to 00:34:32.720 --> 00:34:35.829 be done, going to retire." So, yeah. So, 00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:39.190 we worked out a deal with them. The day 00:34:39.200 --> 00:34:41.349 we signed the lease on that is the day 00:34:41.359 --> 00:34:43.030 the sign went in the window for this 00:34:43.040 --> 00:34:44.310 place 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:46.710 >> that it was for lease, 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:48.470 >> right? Cuz it's close. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:52.230 >> Yes. Very close. And Yeah. So, but 00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:54.230 Henry, so we we negotiated with the 00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.990 previous owners on their equipment. You 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.829 know, as you know, you purchase used 00:34:57.839 --> 00:35:00.230 equipment, so you negotiate on that. 00:35:00.240 --> 00:35:03.030 >> Made a a contract with the for the lease 00:35:03.040 --> 00:35:05.349 for the building. And then we're like, 00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:06.390 "Okay, now what are we going to do?" 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.510 like we didn't know what we were going 00:35:07.520 --> 00:35:10.470 to do in this space. We just all of a 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:12.150 sudden now had a restaurant space on 00:35:12.160 --> 00:35:15.510 Route One. And the bagels here at LIS 00:35:15.520 --> 00:35:17.510 were something that we brought on when 00:35:17.520 --> 00:35:19.349 we became owners and they became very 00:35:19.359 --> 00:35:21.430 popular. We were selling out every day. 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:23.349 Couldn't keep up. And we're like, "Oh, 00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:25.190 oh, Henry's has a commissary kitchen, 00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:26.710 too." Which was a big draw. 00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:27.030 >> Yeah. 00:35:27.040 --> 00:35:28.550 >> Because we were like, "Oh, we can move 00:35:28.560 --> 00:35:30.230 some of the commissary stuff here. Take 00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:32.069 some pressure off the of Lil's." 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:33.990 >> So then we were like, "Maybe we do 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:36.230 bagels." And we do bagels for all of the 00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:38.470 cafes from this space. And we have a 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:40.470 bagel shop. And so that's 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.430 >> how that came about. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.550 >> Bagels and coffee. 00:35:42.560 --> 00:35:43.190 >> Yes. 00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:44.550 >> It's like their favorite. 00:35:44.560 --> 00:35:47.190 >> Yeah. So we we didn't put an espresso 00:35:47.200 --> 00:35:48.870 machine there. Um 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.990 >> Right. It's all cold brew. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.870 >> It's all cold brew or drip coffee. And 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:54.870 you know, we were like, do we don't we? 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:56.790 We didn't necessarily have the right 00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:59.030 plumbing and electrical for an espresso 00:35:59.040 --> 00:36:01.270 machine, but also we were worried about, 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:03.589 okay, people on Route One are like they 00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:05.430 want fast, right? They don't want to sit 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:07.589 and wait. They're not really necessarily 00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:09.910 there to sit down in a coffee shop vibe. 00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:11.829 So, we tried to steer away from the 00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:14.150 espresso machine because it takes a 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:16.069 little bit longer. You know, you got to 00:36:16.079 --> 00:36:18.230 do the whole thing. So, you know, making 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:19.750 a drink takes a little longer. didn't 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:23.190 want the line really, you know, I mean, 00:36:23.200 --> 00:36:25.670 >> so we came up with these great coffee 00:36:25.680 --> 00:36:27.670 cold brew creations with, you know, 00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:29.190 different flavorings and it's a 00:36:29.200 --> 00:36:31.270 flavoring you can get at a lot of 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:33.430 places, but we make our own syrups 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:34.790 >> and we, you know, we tweaked them a 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:37.030 little bit to give them a little zazz,

00:36:37.040 --> 00:36:39.430 you know, so the coffee creations have 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:41.829 been very popular. And then we started 00:36:41.839 --> 00:36:44.310 doing cold foam. And we we just added 00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:46.870 smoothies and asai bowls last week that 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:49.510 have been very popular very quickly. 00:36:49.520 --> 00:36:50.630 >> People love those. 00:36:50.640 --> 00:36:52.150 >> They do. And they kind of go along with 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:53.670 a bagel. Like you grab a bagel and a 00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:55.349 coffee and a smoothie type of things. 00:36:55.359 --> 00:36:56.470 >> Yeah. 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:57.750 >> Oh my goodness. 00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:59.829 >> Oh wow. I I just I This is [laughter] 00:36:59.839 --> 00:37:03.270 like This is I thought I was crazy. Not 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:03.829 even close. 00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:05.030 >> Cuz you have four. 00:37:05.040 --> 00:37:05.430 >> Yeah. 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:07.430 >> Yeah. Yeah. 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:09.430 >> Okay. So you said the sign went up for 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.630 this building. It did. 00:37:10.640 --> 00:37:11.510 >> What was here? 00:37:11.520 --> 00:37:13.190 >> It used to be a hair salon. 00:37:13.200 --> 00:37:14.069 >> Oh my gosh. 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:14.390 >> Yes. 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.750 >> So, it wasn't even a restaurant. 00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:17.670 >> No, it wasn't even a restaurant. I think 00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:19.109 that transformed this whole thing. 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:21.109 >> Yeah. It was literally just a blank 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:23.190 space when we walked in. Nothing. Like 00:37:23.200 --> 00:37:26.230 the only thing that was here were lights 00:37:26.240 --> 00:37:28.710 that aren't here anymore. And you know, 00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:29.990 >> I love these lights. Thank you. 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.710 >> I love them. 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:32.710 >> And I was driving home from work one day 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:34.710 and I was at the light and I happened to 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:36.069 see something out of the corner of my 00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:37.349 eye and I'm like, "What is that sign?" 00:37:37.359 --> 00:37:39.349 And I looked and it said, "Fiss." 00:37:39.359 --> 00:37:41.349 Jokingly, I snapped a picture of it and 00:37:41.359 --> 00:37:43.030 sent it to Michael because for years, 00:37:43.040 --> 00:37:45.750 Michael had been telling me that long 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:47.349 before we even bought LIS, he worked at 00:37:47.359 --> 00:37:50.150 Roberts. He shucked oysters, loved it. 00:37:50.160 --> 00:37:53.190 He doesn't eat a stitch of seafood. Um, 00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:56.069 doesn't drink to amount to anything. And 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:58.390 for years, he had in his head that he 00:37:58.400 --> 00:38:00.310 wanted to have this small 00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:03.910 hole-in-the-wall oyster bar, cocktails, 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:05.190 beer, and wine. 00:38:05.200 --> 00:38:07.109 >> And for years, for probably 10 or 12 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:08.870 years, I snapped a picture of it. Now 00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:11.030 we're in the middle of June and Henry's 00:38:11.040 --> 00:38:13.109 and I jokingly said, "Here's your oyster 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.990 bar." 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.390 >> And he was like, "Oh my gosh, mom, can 00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:18.790 you call her? We know the the landlords. 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:20.390 Can you call her and find out if we can 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:23.109 go and look at it?" I'm like, "No, no." 00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:25.030 >> Oh, you drew the line this time. 00:38:25.040 --> 00:38:26.470 >> We don't want to do this. I said, "First 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.710 of all, I can't work at Salty's because 00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:30.310 I have to take care of the cafes that 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:32.150 are open different hours and like it's 00:38:32.160 --> 00:38:34.230 just not not feasible and you work at 00:38:34.240 --> 00:38:36.390 the shipyard and we just can't do this." 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:38.230 He's like, "It's okay. I'll fill in when 00:38:38.240 --> 00:38:39.430 they need to. I know how to shuck 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:41.910 oysters. And I'm like, okay. So, he he 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:44.230 kind of had to talk me into this one. 00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:47.750 >> So, we signed that lease in January. We 00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:49.510 ran into a little bit of red tape with 00:38:49.520 --> 00:38:51.349 the fire department because it was such 00:38:51.359 --> 00:38:53.910 a different use for the space. So, with 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:55.430 the state fire marshall. 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:57.829 >> So, we didn't actually get any approval 00:38:57.839 --> 00:39:00.710 until July. So, from January to July, we 00:39:00.720 --> 00:39:02.230 just had this blank space we were 00:39:02.240 --> 00:39:03.589 renting. [laughter] 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:05.990 We really couldn't do anything. But, you 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.670 know, obviously came up with the 00:39:07.680 --> 00:39:09.430 branding and the name and the concept 00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:11.109 and all of that, but couldn't do 00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:14.630 anything in the space. And then once we 00:39:14.640 --> 00:39:16.950 got the approval, you know, things were 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:19.030 a little slow. It's it's a busy time of 00:39:19.040 --> 00:39:20.550 year for contractors, so like we're 00:39:20.560 --> 00:39:22.230 trying to find people that can help us 00:39:22.240 --> 00:39:24.710 build out and stuff. And then my son 00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:26.630 Michael actually got very sick. So then 00:39:26.640 --> 00:39:29.670 it was everything was left for me to 00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:32.470 kind of manage uh for until the end of 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:34.630 the year. Um, so from like September to 00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.430 December. 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.829 >> Wow. 00:39:35.839 -->

00:39:39.190 >> While also trying to help him, 00:39:39.200 --> 00:39:40.230 >> right, with what Yeah. 00:39:40.240 --> 00:39:42.230 >> what was going on with his health 00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:44.630 >> and and Junes and Henry's and 00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:46.630 >> Right. And June's had opened in May and 00:39:46.640 --> 00:39:49.430 Henry's had opened in July and now in 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:51.510 September he got very, very sick. So, 00:39:51.520 --> 00:39:53.349 you know, I'm trying to help support 00:39:53.359 --> 00:39:55.109 these brand new restaurants, the three 00:39:55.119 --> 00:39:57.030 that were existing, doing well, and now 00:39:57.040 --> 00:39:58.550 I'm trying to open this bar that I 00:39:58.560 --> 00:39:59.750 really didn't want to open to begin 00:39:59.760 --> 00:40:01.247 with, [laughter] 00:40:01.257 --> 00:40:03.750 [gasps] but it turned out great. It's 00:40:03.760 --> 00:40:07.670 beautiful. I mean, here in Salty's, and 00:40:07.680 --> 00:40:09.750 I mean, it's like it all happens right 00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:10.710 here, basically. 00:40:10.720 --> 00:40:12.470 >> It does. This is the oyster bar right 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:13.270 here. 00:40:13.280 --> 00:40:15.990 >> It's like crazy when you look at it. 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.109 Like, wow. 00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:18.870 >> Yeah. And a lot of the design is 00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:20.550 Michael. We He picked out the tile 00:40:20.560 --> 00:40:22.550 that's underneath it and that was kind 00:40:22.560 --> 00:40:24.150 of the focal point and then everything 00:40:24.160 --> 00:40:25.829 just came together with it. This 00:40:25.839 --> 00:40:28.710 countertop I had to pick out via a text 00:40:28.720 --> 00:40:30.630 message from our project manager. He was 00:40:30.640 --> 00:40:31.510 like, "What do you think of this one?" 00:40:31.520 --> 00:40:32.950 I'm like, "I think it's beautiful, but I 00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:34.390 can't, you know, it's on my phone in a 00:40:34.400 --> 00:40:36.310 picture." I'm like, "Looks great, you 00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:38.390 know, and it just all came together so 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:41.430 well." But yeah, and it's been a lot of 00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:44.630 fun. I was shocked because we opened mid 00:40:44.640 --> 00:40:47.109 December. I was shocked at how 00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:50.390 consistent it was through the winter. Uh 00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:52.310 when it rains, there's nobody here. I 00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:53.589 don't know what it is about raining and 00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:54.950 not wanting oysters, but if it's 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:57.109 raining, forget it. The other places are 00:40:57.119 --> 00:40:58.950 straight out busy, but here 00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.670 >> Oh, that's funny. 00:40:59.680 --> 00:41:01.270 >> is uh not so much. But 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:02.630 >> And this is a little different for you 00:41:02.640 --> 00:41:04.069 because it's night time now. 00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:06.230 >> It is. Yes. Um Yeah. 00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:08.309 >> So, yeah, we both had a background in it 00:41:08.319 --> 00:41:10.309 from working at Robert's, but very 00:41:10.319 --> 00:41:12.390 different from our whole business 00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:14.950 concept really. We were doing all day 00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:16.950 stuff. So, let people know what they can 00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:18.790 find on the menu here. I mean, obviously 00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:19.670 oysters. 00:41:19.680 --> 00:41:22.550 >> So, yeah, we have oysters, our raw bar 00:41:22.560 --> 00:41:24.710 items, our oysters, shrimp cocktail, 00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:28.309 lobster tails, and Jonah crab claws. Uh, 00:41:28.319 --> 00:41:31.349 then we have nonseafood items as well. 00:41:31.359 --> 00:41:33.030 We do bagel chips. So, we take the 00:41:33.040 --> 00:41:35.589 bagels from Henry's, we slice them up, 00:41:35.599 --> 00:41:37.270 we bake them, and we make bagel chips, 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:38.710 and we serve it. We have different house 00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:41.109 spreads that you can choose from it. We 00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:44.230 have lobster tacos, lobster sliders. We 00:41:44.240 --> 00:41:45.430 have a salad. 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.870 >> Those the picture of those looked 00:41:46.880 --> 00:41:49.349 amazing. The lobster tacos. Everything. 00:41:49.359 --> 00:41:51.990 >> Oh, they're my favorite. We do a meat 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:54.150 and cheese board. Uh we do 00:41:54.160 --> 00:41:55.910 >> I love the little trays serving it, too. 00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:57.349 I love that. It's spunky. 00:41:57.359 --> 00:41:59.670 >> Yeah. And we have tinned fish, which is 00:41:59.680 --> 00:42:02.230 like a new new trending thing over the 00:42:02.240 --> 00:42:03.030 last couple of years. 00:42:03.040 --> 00:42:05.190 >> We went to one in Boston a little bit 00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:05.829 been ago. 00:42:05.839 --> 00:42:08.950 >> Yeah. So we do that also with on a tray, 00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:10.870 you know, so it has the different things 00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:13.030 that you would eat with the tinned fish. 00:42:13.040 --> 00:42:15.190 That's been very popular. We have a 00:42:15.200 --> 00:42:17.270 couple of desserts. Those kind of rotate 00:42:17.280 --> 00:42:20.150 um depending on what the manager is 00:42:20.160 --> 00:42:22.470 interested in baking that week or one 00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:24.790 week we accidentally got a case of 00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:26.870 oranges instead of a bag of oranges and 00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:28.309 so she made something out of the 00:42:28.319 --> 00:42:30.150 oranges, you know, type of thing. 00:42:30.160 --> 00:42:32.470 >> She's not cooking here though. 00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:34.069 She's actually made those things right 00:42:34.079 --> 00:42:36.630 in that little toaster oven down there. 00:42:36.640 --> 00:42:37.109 >> Oh my god. 00:42:37.119 --> 00:42:38.870 >> Because there's no hood system here. So 00:42:38.880 -->

00:42:41.030 there's no cooking. So the bagel chips 00:42:41.040 --> 00:42:42.550 come out of that little toaster oven. 00:42:42.560 --> 00:42:44.550 The biscuits that she makes for the 00:42:44.560 --> 00:42:46.069 lobster sliders comes out of that 00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:47.270 toaster oven. 00:42:47.280 --> 00:42:49.349 >> Yeah. It's pretty interesting. They 00:42:49.359 --> 00:42:49.670 roast 00:42:49.680 --> 00:42:50.550 >> Oh my goodness. 00:42:50.560 --> 00:42:52.950 >> They um you know do the roasted nuts. We 00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:54.390 have you know like little bar snacks. So 00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:56.790 roasted nuts. They they roast those in 00:42:56.800 --> 00:42:59.270 there. So yeah, it's very interesting 00:42:59.280 --> 00:43:01.109 what they can make out of there. 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:03.990 >> Yeah. I I'm absolutely amazed. We have a 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:05.750 way to come induction and eat some 00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:08.150 oysters. I can't wait. I can't wait. 00:43:08.160 --> 00:43:10.390 >> Oh my gosh. That's my husband's and I's, 00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:12.069 you know, we love doing that. Yeah. 00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:14.230 >> Yeah. I think, you know, and it's funny, 00:43:14.240 --> 00:43:15.750 like I've heard a lot of people, they'll 00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:16.950 see me and they're like, "I haven't been 00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:19.829 to the uh the new one, the bar yet. I I 00:43:19.839 --> 00:43:21.030 don't really eat oysters." I'm like, "Oh 00:43:21.040 --> 00:43:22.630 my gosh, there's so much more than just 00:43:22.640 --> 00:43:24.069 oysters there." Like, 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:25.750 >> just go just try it. And you know, if 00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:26.950 they haven't tried it, they probably 00:43:26.960 --> 00:43:28.550 might even like them, you know? 00:43:28.560 --> 00:43:30.710 >> Exactly. It's like just try it. Just try 00:43:30.720 --> 00:43:31.510 it. 00:43:31.520 --> 00:43:33.829 >> Okay. So then it's still not enough. And 00:43:33.839 --> 00:43:35.750 I think we're [laughter] well for now 00:43:35.760 --> 00:43:37.990 anyway, we're ending with pizza. 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:39.910 >> With pizza. So you must have saw a sign 00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.790 in the window. 00:43:40.800 --> 00:43:43.589 >> This one I was completely against. 00:43:43.599 --> 00:43:46.790 >> Um I Michael and I had looked at that 00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:48.950 space a few years ago. We actually had 00:43:48.960 --> 00:43:51.349 tried to purchase the previous pizza 00:43:51.359 --> 00:43:53.670 space from the previous owner or his 00:43:53.680 --> 00:43:57.510 business and it didn't work out. Uh then 00:43:57.520 --> 00:44:00.230 last July their lease ended and they 00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:02.150 just kind of closed their doors and and 00:44:02.160 --> 00:44:04.069 went away. And there's been a lot of 00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:05.430 back and forth with that building with 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:07.670 the town. Like the previous landlord 00:44:07.680 --> 00:44:10.630 wanted to uh make a boutique hotel out 00:44:10.640 --> 00:44:12.630 of it. And I think that you know the 00:44:12.640 --> 00:44:13.990 decision was there just wasn't enough 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:17.349 parking to now add a however many room 00:44:17.359 --> 00:44:19.510 hotel, right? 00:44:19.520 --> 00:44:21.349 >> And you know there were just some things 00:44:21.359 --> 00:44:23.190 there that didn't work out. So then 00:44:23.200 --> 00:44:25.430 Anakah Jans closed. Um, Anakah Jans had 00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:26.790 been there for a long long long long 00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:29.750 time. Great business and and people that 00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:32.790 were there. They, you know, just their 00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:34.550 lease was ending and and things didn't 00:44:34.560 --> 00:44:36.309 work out for them as well. So, those two 00:44:36.319 --> 00:44:38.630 spaces were empty and I had looked at 00:44:38.640 --> 00:44:41.030 them when they were full, but also again 00:44:41.040 --> 00:44:44.230 when they were empty and just, you know, 00:44:44.240 --> 00:44:46.390 too much like I I I don't want to do 00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:48.950 this, you know. But then Jim, who bought 00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.230 the building, I believe he bought the 00:44:50.240 --> 00:44:53.829 building in December of this past year, 00:44:53.839 --> 00:44:56.069 um, reached out to me in January and 00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:58.790 said, "Hey, I'm Jim. I just bought the 00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:00.470 building across the street from LIS. I 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:02.150 have a couple of restaurant spaces. 00:45:02.160 --> 00:45:04.470 Would you be interested in, you know, 00:45:04.480 --> 00:45:06.150 looking at them, chatting, you know, 00:45:06.160 --> 00:45:07.910 seeing what could happen?" And I I said, 00:45:07.920 --> 00:45:11.030 "Oh, no, Jim." I said, "My New Year's 00:45:11.040 --> 00:45:13.589 resolution for 2026 was no new 00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:15.670 businesses." It's like [laughter] I 00:45:15.680 --> 00:45:18.550 opened three in the last 6 months of 00:45:18.560 --> 00:45:21.589 2025. I said I'm tapped out mentally, 00:45:21.599 --> 00:45:24.309 financially. I'm exhausted. I've tapped 00:45:24.319 --> 00:45:27.030 out my team physically. Like we're we're 00:45:27.040 --> 00:45:30.550 done. I like I I cannot I cannot I wish 00:45:30.560 --> 00:45:32.230 you the best of luck. And if I know of 00:45:32.240 --> 00:45:34.470 anybody looking, I'll let you know. 00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:35.990 >> Couple of days went by and he's like, 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:37.510 "Hey, do you think we could just chat? 00:45:37.520 --> 00:45:39.109 Like I think it might be worth a 00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:41.109 conversation if we just sit and chat and 00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:42.630 see what I just want to pick your brain 00:45:42.640 --> 00:45:44.870 about it." I was like, "Okay." I said, 00:45:44.880 --> 00:45:47.510 "I'll come over and, you know, chat

with 00:45:47.520 --> 00:45:48.950 you. That's fine." Like, "No harm, 00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:51.990 right?" And our operations director, I 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:53.270 was telling him the story and I'm like, 00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:54.150 "You want to go with me?" He's like, 00:45:54.160 --> 00:45:55.589 "Yeah, I'll go with you." So, we go over 00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:58.870 and we look at both places and and 00:45:58.880 --> 00:46:00.870 immediately my wheels start spinning. 00:46:00.880 --> 00:46:03.270 I'm like, "Okay, why not? It's right 00:46:03.280 --> 00:46:05.910 here." I I I told him I said, "I 00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:08.870 definitely Anakah Jans is is too big. I 00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:10.150 don't know if you've been in there, but 00:46:10.160 --> 00:46:10.630 No, 00:46:10.640 --> 00:46:13.750 >> it's a full first floor and a full sec 00:46:13.760 --> 00:46:15.109 bottom floor and the basement is like 00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:16.950 the kitchen and the wine celler and it 00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:18.710 has a bar and it has a dining room and 00:46:18.720 --> 00:46:19.190 oh wow, 00:46:19.200 --> 00:46:20.630 >> it's like full serve. 00:46:20.640 --> 00:46:22.710 >> Wouldn't necessarily have to be, but 00:46:22.720 --> 00:46:23.270 Right. 00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:24.950 >> I'm like I can't even wrap my head 00:46:24.960 --> 00:46:28.150 around that. Just can't. So I was 00:46:28.160 --> 00:46:30.069 talking with Corey, my operations 00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:31.510 manager, and he's like, "It's just 00:46:31.520 --> 00:46:32.870 pizza. We can do that, right? It's 00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:35.750 easy." I'm like, "I don't know. I don't 00:46:35.760 --> 00:46:38.790 know." So my son at the time was still 00:46:38.800 --> 00:46:41.750 not fully back into helping with the 00:46:41.760 --> 00:46:43.190 businesses and stuff. He was really kind 00:46:43.200 --> 00:46:47.670 of still just recovering. And so I made 00:46:47.680 --> 00:46:49.910 a list of things for the landlord and 00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:51.589 I'm like he'll never never agree to 00:46:51.599 --> 00:46:52.790 these. 00:46:52.800 --> 00:46:53.589 >> He agreed to all. 00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:55.829 >> He agreed to all of them. 00:46:55.839 --> 00:46:59.430 >> I was like oh no. And and Michael was 00:46:59.440 --> 00:47:01.910 like we're not opening another place. 00:47:01.920 --> 00:47:03.030 >> So he was against it. 00:47:03.040 --> 00:47:05.829 >> He was against it this time. And I was 00:47:05.839 --> 00:47:07.510 like, I know it's crazy, right? Like, we 00:47:07.520 --> 00:47:08.710 shouldn't do this. He's like, no, we 00:47:08.720 --> 00:47:11.589 shouldn't. And I just kept thinking, 00:47:11.599 --> 00:47:13.270 he agreed to everything. And then he 00:47:13.280 --> 00:47:16.390 said to me, I've watched you from the 00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:18.950 time you bought LIS to the success that 00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:20.390 you've had. And he goes, and I want 00:47:20.400 --> 00:47:22.870 somebody like you in this space so I'm 00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:24.630 not renting it to somebody else in 00:47:24.640 --> 00:47:27.589 another year. And he has put so much 00:47:27.599 --> 00:47:29.349 confidence in me. Instilled so much 00:47:29.359 --> 00:47:31.109 confidence that I was like, gosh, I 00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:33.030 think confidence and a little pressure, 00:47:33.040 --> 00:47:33.270 too. 00:47:33.280 --> 00:47:36.069 >> A little pressure, too. Yes. Yeah. Like 00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:37.910 >> Yeah. And I'm like, "Okay, we can do 00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:40.710 this." We during co Liils had made this 00:47:40.720 --> 00:47:43.750 great pizza kit so you could buy a ball 00:47:43.760 --> 00:47:46.550 of pizza dough that we made and some 00:47:46.560 --> 00:47:48.069 sauces before Dudley's 00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:50.390 >> before Dudley's. So I was thinking back 00:47:50.400 --> 00:47:51.670 to that. I'm like, "Well, we know how to 00:47:51.680 --> 00:47:53.990 make pizza dough. My aunt and uncle had 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:55.589 a pizza restaurant for years that I 00:47:55.599 --> 00:47:58.309 worked at. So I know I know a little bit 00:47:58.319 --> 00:47:59.990 about pizza. I worked at Pizza Hut. Not 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:01.910 that I did much there other than 00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:05.190 serving, but like, "All right, why not? 00:48:05.200 --> 00:48:07.109 Let's do it." So, I signed the lease. I 00:48:07.119 --> 00:48:08.550 didn't even tell Michael I signed the 00:48:08.560 --> 00:48:13.109 lease. My god. [laughter] Um, until I 00:48:13.119 --> 00:48:15.270 showed him the keys. I'm like, "Uh, 00:48:15.280 --> 00:48:17.270 we're going to open a pizza shop." He's 00:48:17.280 --> 00:48:20.470 like, "What?" So, 00:48:20.480 --> 00:48:23.430 >> we um and he was excited about it. 00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:25.510 >> Yeah, I'm sure. But he was also thinking 00:48:25.520 --> 00:48:28.470 about the growth and you know you put a 00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:31.349 lot of money into a new place you know 00:48:31.359 --> 00:48:33.910 so even if it's something you want 00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:36.069 there's still so many changes you know 00:48:36.079 --> 00:48:37.349 >> you know you need different equipment 00:48:37.359 --> 00:48:38.630 >> got to make it yours 00:48:38.640 --> 00:48:40.069 >> make it yours there's the branding the 00:48:40.079 --> 00:48:43.589 insurance the payroll all of that so he 00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:45.270 came up with the menu 00:48:45.280 --> 00:48:48.150 >> it's a great menu I mean it's awesome 00:48:48.160 --> 00:48:51.030 it's um yeah I mean you have like a 00:48:51.040 --> 00:48:52.870 little bit of you know you have a little 00:48:52.880 --> 00:48:56.309 bit of everything I mean to ask you what 00:48:56.319 --> 00:48:57.270 are these sandwiches? 00:48:57.280 --> 00:48:58.549 >> Oh, the penotos. 00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.230 >> Penotzos. Yes. 00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:01.510 >> I was like I have to actually I have 00:49:01.520 -->

00:49:03.349 that note over here to make sure that I 00:49:03.359 --> 00:49:04.950 asked you about that. What What is that? 00:49:04.960 --> 00:49:05.349 Is it 00:49:05.359 --> 00:49:07.430 >> that is actually So you take the pizza 00:49:07.440 --> 00:49:10.710 dough and you put some olive oil on it. 00:49:10.720 --> 00:49:12.390 You fold it in half and you bake it in 00:49:12.400 --> 00:49:15.270 the oven. It comes out. It's puffy. You 00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:16.630 pull it apart and you build the sandwich 00:49:16.640 --> 00:49:17.990 in it and then you put it back in the 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:20.069 oven. And it's actually 00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:21.270 >> Oh my gosh. 00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:21.990 >> Yeah. So good. 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:23.349 >> That sounds ridiculous. 00:49:23.359 --> 00:49:26.390 >> So good. And so Dylan, who's the chef 00:49:26.400 --> 00:49:29.910 out at Junes, used to be the chef at 00:49:29.920 --> 00:49:32.069 Portsouth Gaslight, 00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:33.990 >> and he's very much into pizza. He helped 00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:35.670 develop this menu, too. And he was like, 00:49:35.680 --> 00:49:37.510 "You really should do penos. Nobody does 00:49:37.520 --> 00:49:39.190 penos." I'm like, "What the heck is a 00:49:39.200 --> 00:49:40.470 >> What is it?" 00:49:40.480 --> 00:49:43.109 >> So, I'm so thankful that he was able to 00:49:43.119 --> 00:49:43.670 help with that. 00:49:43.680 --> 00:49:44.549 >> I'm going there for lunch. 00:49:44.559 --> 00:49:45.430 >> Yeah, you are. 00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:47.270 >> I [laughter] am. 00:49:47.280 --> 00:49:49.829 >> So, great little sandwich. And you know, 00:49:49.839 --> 00:49:51.670 then we have the pizzas and um 00:49:51.680 --> 00:49:53.030 >> and I love that you have the cup and 00:49:53.040 --> 00:49:53.829 char. 00:49:53.839 --> 00:49:55.109 >> Oh, that's my favorite. 00:49:55.119 --> 00:49:56.870 >> Cup. Oh my gosh. Yeah. 00:49:56.880 --> 00:49:57.270 >> Yes. 00:49:57.280 --> 00:49:58.630 >> Cup and char 00:49:58.640 --> 00:49:59.430 >> are really good. 00:49:59.440 --> 00:50:00.230 >> Y 00:50:00.240 --> 00:50:03.270 >> So, okay. So, we talked about all seven 00:50:03.280 --> 00:50:05.510 of your restaurants. What do you do in 00:50:05.520 --> 00:50:07.829 downtown? Do you do you I mean, you must 00:50:07.839 --> 00:50:08.470 have some down. 00:50:08.480 --> 00:50:11.030 >> I do. Of course you do. Any other any, 00:50:11.040 --> 00:50:12.549 you know, kind of hobbies or 00:50:12.559 --> 00:50:14.549 >> Yeah. So, I love to travel. I actually 00:50:14.559 --> 00:50:16.230 just went away to Nova Scotia for the 00:50:16.240 --> 00:50:18.230 weekend. Went with my mother and my 00:50:18.240 --> 00:50:19.670 sister. Nice. 00:50:19.680 --> 00:50:22.549 >> I have three grandkids that I love to do 00:50:22.559 --> 00:50:22.870 anything. 00:50:22.880 --> 00:50:23.910 >> So, how many kids do you have? 00:50:23.920 --> 00:50:24.870 >> I have four total. 00:50:24.880 --> 00:50:25.510 >> Okay. 00:50:25.520 --> 00:50:27.349 >> Two boys, two girls. 00:50:27.359 --> 00:50:29.270 >> Only Michael involved 00:50:29.280 --> 00:50:31.349 >> mostly. Um, actually, my son Andrew is 00:50:31.359 --> 00:50:33.670 going to be the GM at Lil's, starting 00:50:33.680 --> 00:50:35.990 the middle of this month. The GM that's 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:39.109 been there u recently bought her family 00:50:39.119 --> 00:50:40.630 business, so she's going to be moving 00:50:40.640 --> 00:50:41.829 on. 00:50:41.839 --> 00:50:43.030 >> Sad, but um 00:50:43.040 --> 00:50:44.470 >> sad, but nice, right? 00:50:44.480 --> 00:50:46.309 >> I'm very excited for her. She and her 00:50:46.319 --> 00:50:47.270 husband took over. 00:50:47.280 --> 00:50:48.790 >> That's the only way to family business. 00:50:48.800 --> 00:50:51.109 Yeah. And so my son Andrew, who's been 00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:53.030 wanting to work with us for a long time, 00:50:53.040 --> 00:50:55.270 he helps a lot with the social media and 00:50:55.280 --> 00:50:57.190 he did a lot of the interior design at 00:50:57.200 --> 00:50:59.109 Henry's, the decorating and stuff. He 00:50:59.119 --> 00:51:01.990 has been wanting to really be a bigger 00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:04.309 part of it. So I said, "Well, the GM 00:51:04.319 --> 00:51:05.910 position is open and I think you'd be 00:51:05.920 --> 00:51:08.390 perfect for it." So he's going to leave 00:51:08.400 --> 00:51:09.990 his job of 10 years. 00:51:10.000 --> 00:51:10.870 >> Oh my god. 00:51:10.880 --> 00:51:13.430 >> Um, which has been in in hospitality. So 00:51:13.440 --> 00:51:15.109 he has plenty of experience. um that 00:51:15.119 --> 00:51:16.870 he's going to be coming to Lil's 00:51:16.880 --> 00:51:19.750 full-time. My younger daughter built the 00:51:19.760 --> 00:51:22.710 website for Salties and Dudley Street. 00:51:22.720 --> 00:51:24.150 So, she's been a little involved. She 00:51:24.160 --> 00:51:26.069 lives in Charleston, South Carolina, so 00:51:26.079 --> 00:51:28.230 she's not, you know, day-to-day actively 00:51:28.240 --> 00:51:30.870 involved. My oldest daughter, she's the 00:51:30.880 --> 00:51:33.030 oldest of the four. She has three kids 00:51:33.040 --> 00:51:34.710 at home and, you know, 00:51:34.720 --> 00:51:35.349 >> around here. 00:51:35.359 --> 00:51:37.190 >> Around here. Yeah. So, three of them 00:51:37.200 --> 00:51:39.190 live within a mile of my house, which I 00:51:39.200 --> 00:51:41.430 just love the three um older kids. The 00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:42.950 youngest one is, you know, just doing 00:51:42.960 --> 00:51:44.630 her own thing down in Charleston, which 00:51:44.640 --> 00:51:46.390 I think is great. Um, we all wish she 00:51:46.400 --> 00:51:49.430 was here, but, you know, will that 00:51:49.440 --> 00:51:51.270 happen, you know? So, just the boys 00:51:51.280 --> 00:51:52.710 really are the ones that are are 00:51:52.720 --> 00:51:54.870 involved in the businesses. So, the

00:51:54.880 --> 00:51:56.950 girls are smart. They are. They stayed 00:51:56.960 --> 00:51:58.480 out of the restaurant business. 00:51:58.490 --> 00:51:59.670 [laughter] 00:51:59.680 --> 00:52:00.150 >> Yeah. 00:52:00.160 --> 00:52:02.710 >> So, before we Well, actually, one other 00:52:02.720 --> 00:52:04.549 little thing here. Um, you know, 00:52:04.559 --> 00:52:07.030 regulars, I mean, you must have I mean, 00:52:07.040 --> 00:52:09.990 you know, I've been 40 years in October. 00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:12.790 Wow. my original location and you know I 00:52:12.800 --> 00:52:15.589 mean my regulars I remember you know the 00:52:15.599 --> 00:52:17.829 coming in single they get engaged there 00:52:17.839 --> 00:52:19.270 and then they get married and then they 00:52:19.280 --> 00:52:21.430 have kids and now their kids kids are 00:52:21.440 --> 00:52:23.910 having kids and so isn't it they become 00:52:23.920 --> 00:52:27.430 part you know family yeah and I feel 00:52:27.440 --> 00:52:29.349 that way like when I worked at Roberts I 00:52:29.359 --> 00:52:30.950 had a lot of regulars 00:52:30.960 --> 00:52:33.430 >> and who have now become regulars of Lils 00:52:33.440 --> 00:52:35.349 and of course they're older or you know 00:52:35.359 --> 00:52:37.589 I've seen that same thing happen where 00:52:37.599 --> 00:52:39.190 regulars that used to come into Roberts 00:52:39.200 --> 00:52:41.109 that had twins And now they're like 00:52:41.119 --> 00:52:43.510 going into their senior year of college. 00:52:43.520 --> 00:52:45.190 I'm like, "Where did that time go?" Look 00:52:45.200 --> 00:52:47.109 at you. Like, oh my god. 00:52:47.119 --> 00:52:49.270 >> Yeah. They're just they're so important. 00:52:49.280 --> 00:52:50.790 You know, sometimes you have sad things, 00:52:50.800 --> 00:52:52.950 too. Like, they're a little older and, 00:52:52.960 --> 00:52:54.950 you know, they're no longer with us. 00:52:54.960 --> 00:52:56.950 Like, it's just heartbreaking. And 00:52:56.960 --> 00:52:58.309 >> I don't know about you, but sometimes 00:52:58.319 --> 00:53:00.710 with the regulars when they do pass, 00:53:00.720 --> 00:53:02.549 sometimes we don't remember their names, 00:53:02.559 --> 00:53:03.750 we remember what they eat. 00:53:03.760 --> 00:53:04.870 >> Yes. Oh, definitely. 00:53:04.880 --> 00:53:06.150 >> Little breakfast sandwich with the 00:53:06.160 --> 00:53:08.150 broken egg or what? You know, like and 00:53:08.160 --> 00:53:09.430 they're like, "Oh, yeah, that one." 00:53:09.440 --> 00:53:12.390 like, you know, it's Yeah. Yeah. And 00:53:12.400 --> 00:53:14.630 it's funny. I'll I could sometimes drive 00:53:14.640 --> 00:53:16.069 around town and I'll be like, "Oh, 00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:17.670 there's so and so. He gets a blueberry 00:53:17.680 --> 00:53:19.829 muffin every day or, you know, and 00:53:19.839 --> 00:53:21.430 Michael would would laugh at me when I'd 00:53:21.440 --> 00:53:22.309 say that. He's like, "Are you telling 00:53:22.319 --> 00:53:23.670 the truth?" I'm like, "I so am telling 00:53:23.680 --> 00:53:25.430 you the truth." Like, I see him every 00:53:25.440 --> 00:53:26.630 single day and he has a blueberry 00:53:26.640 --> 00:53:27.030 muffin. 00:53:27.040 --> 00:53:29.109 >> Blueberry grilled butter on the side or 00:53:29.119 --> 00:53:31.750 whatever. Oh my god. Burnt toast. 00:53:31.760 --> 00:53:34.309 >> Yeah. Yeah. That's very interesting. 00:53:34.319 --> 00:53:36.309 When I first started working at Lil's, 00:53:36.319 --> 00:53:39.030 um, this man would come in. He worked 00:53:39.040 --> 00:53:40.630 here at the shipyard. Um, and he would 00:53:40.640 --> 00:53:42.870 come in and usually once, sometimes 00:53:42.880 --> 00:53:45.349 twice a day and you know, we asked their 00:53:45.359 --> 00:53:46.950 name so we could write on their cup or 00:53:46.960 --> 00:53:48.549 whatever, right? I would always know his 00:53:48.559 --> 00:53:49.990 order, but I always had to ask him his 00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:51.670 name. Well, one day he came in three 00:53:51.680 --> 00:53:53.349 times in the same day. And I was like, 00:53:53.359 --> 00:53:55.270 "What was your name again?" 00:53:55.280 --> 00:53:56.950 >> He looked at me, he goes, "It's Aaron." 00:53:56.960 --> 00:53:58.549 And this is the third coffee I've had 00:53:58.559 --> 00:53:59.349 today. 00:53:59.359 --> 00:54:01.990 >> And I said, "Oh, Aaron, hi. Nice to meet 00:54:02.000 --> 00:54:03.270 you. Do you know my name?" And he was 00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:05.510 like, "No." And I was like, "Okay." You 00:54:05.520 --> 00:54:07.109 know, but it was like a fun banter back 00:54:07.119 --> 00:54:09.190 and forth. He He wasn't offended. He 00:54:09.200 --> 00:54:10.710 laughed. He's like, "No, you got me 00:54:10.720 --> 00:54:11.990 there. Like, I don't know your name and 00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:14.069 I've been in here three times a day." 00:54:14.079 --> 00:54:16.230 Like, I see 400 of you a day. 00:54:16.240 --> 00:54:17.510 >> Yeah. Exactly. 00:54:17.520 --> 00:54:20.470 >> But but then turned out, you know, he 00:54:20.480 --> 00:54:22.950 ended up doing some uh photography work 00:54:22.960 --> 00:54:25.030 for me, you know, like we became friends 00:54:25.040 --> 00:54:27.030 after that. You know, it's just it's fun 00:54:27.040 --> 00:54:27.910 to see that. 00:54:27.920 --> 00:54:29.670 >> Yeah. It really is. You build, you know, 00:54:29.680 --> 00:54:31.270 you build relationships and 00:54:31.280 --> 00:54:33.190 >> you do. Yeah. And then, you know, even 00:54:33.200 --> 00:54:34.870 if you don't see them for six or eight 00:54:34.880 --> 00:54:37.270 months and they come back and it's like 00:54:37.280 --> 00:54:39.349 an old friend catching up, it's a lot of 00:54:39.359 --> 00:54:40.630 fun. And I used to say that when I 00:54:40.640 --> 00:54:41.990 worked at the register a lot, I'm like, 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:45.030 how lucky am I that I get to have 400 00:54:45.040 -->

00:54:47.270 friends over for coffee every day, 00:54:47.280 --> 00:54:49.030 >> you know, like and just chat with them 00:54:49.040 --> 00:54:51.510 and like what better job than to be able 00:54:51.520 --> 00:54:52.150 to do that? 00:54:52.160 --> 00:54:53.750 >> It's true. We all love it. 00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:55.109 >> Yeah, we we all love it. 00:54:55.119 --> 00:54:55.589 >> Yeah. 00:54:55.599 --> 00:54:56.790 >> All right, we're going to do a lightning 00:54:56.800 --> 00:54:57.349 round. 00:54:57.359 --> 00:54:58.069 >> Okay. 00:54:58.079 --> 00:55:01.670 >> Just fun, you know. Coffee or tea? Tea. 00:55:01.680 --> 00:55:04.230 Oh, okay. I'm tea now. I used to be 00:55:04.240 --> 00:55:07.910 coffee, but sweet or savory breakfast? 00:55:07.920 --> 00:55:09.270 >> Oh, sweet. [gasps] 00:55:09.280 --> 00:55:11.750 >> Oh, okay. Keller or bagel? 00:55:11.760 --> 00:55:12.549 >> Bagel. 00:55:12.559 --> 00:55:15.030 >> Ah, early bird or night owl? 00:55:15.040 --> 00:55:15.670 >> Early bird. 00:55:15.680 --> 00:55:17.030 >> I was going to say you must be early 00:55:17.040 --> 00:55:17.510 bird. 00:55:17.520 --> 00:55:18.150 >> Yeah. 00:55:18.160 --> 00:55:20.150 >> Oysters. What's your go-to dressing? 00:55:20.160 --> 00:55:21.430 What do you put on them? 00:55:21.440 --> 00:55:23.109 >> I would put on a minionette, whatever 00:55:23.119 --> 00:55:25.349 the minionette is, and and some lemon. 00:55:25.359 --> 00:55:26.470 You know, squeeze some lemon over. 00:55:26.480 --> 00:55:29.270 >> I I cannot get into minion. No, I can't 00:55:29.280 --> 00:55:32.230 even say it. Minuette. Minionette. Yep. 00:55:32.240 --> 00:55:34.390 >> What What exactly is it? It's um 00:55:34.400 --> 00:55:37.589 basically vinegar and you know some 00:55:37.599 --> 00:55:39.349 other things in there like I think right 00:55:39.359 --> 00:55:40.710 now we have a scallion one so it's 00:55:40.720 --> 00:55:42.150 probably got just some scallion. 00:55:42.160 --> 00:55:42.870 >> They change it up. 00:55:42.880 --> 00:55:44.710 >> They change it up. Yeah. Just it just 00:55:44.720 --> 00:55:47.430 gives a little extra finish. Yeah. A lot 00:55:47.440 --> 00:55:49.190 of people are like just just the oyster, 00:55:49.200 --> 00:55:50.870 you know, just and which is great too, 00:55:50.880 --> 00:55:51.430 you know. 00:55:51.440 --> 00:55:53.750 >> I like horseradish cocktail sauce and 00:55:53.760 --> 00:55:54.789 hot sauce. 00:55:54.799 --> 00:55:55.109 >> Yeah. 00:55:55.119 --> 00:55:58.549 >> But yeah. Best kept secret menu item 00:55:58.559 --> 00:56:00.390 across across your restaurants. 00:56:00.400 --> 00:56:02.069 >> Oo, 00:56:02.079 --> 00:56:05.510 I think it's probably the crowler. I 00:56:05.520 --> 00:56:07.750 mean, it's a pachu dough, but I think 00:56:07.760 --> 00:56:10.309 there's a little tweaking in there 00:56:10.319 --> 00:56:12.789 between processed secret stuff in there. 00:56:12.799 --> 00:56:14.710 >> Yeah, I think process 00:56:14.720 --> 00:56:15.910 >> they're they're amazing. 00:56:15.920 --> 00:56:17.750 >> And, you know, there might be a little 00:56:17.760 --> 00:56:19.750 something in there that you might not 00:56:19.760 --> 00:56:21.589 find in just any ordinary 00:56:21.599 --> 00:56:23.990 >> or different ratio, I guess, maybe. 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:25.109 Yeah. 00:56:25.119 --> 00:56:26.870 >> Uh, booth or counter? 00:56:26.880 --> 00:56:29.670 >> Ooh, that's a tough one. I think they're 00:56:29.680 --> 00:56:31.910 equal. Yeah, I think they're equal for 00:56:31.920 --> 00:56:33.270 me. 00:56:33.280 --> 00:56:35.430 >> Just, you know. All right. We're bar 00:56:35.440 --> 00:56:35.910 people. 00:56:35.920 --> 00:56:36.230 >> Yep. 00:56:36.240 --> 00:56:37.990 >> We like our bar. If you had to eat one 00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:39.670 meal from one of your own restaurants 00:56:39.680 --> 00:56:41.430 the rest of your life, what would it be? 00:56:41.440 --> 00:56:43.829 >> Oh. Oh, boy. 00:56:43.839 --> 00:56:46.630 >> It might be pizza. [laughter] 00:56:46.640 --> 00:56:49.109 >> I do love pizza. I don't know. It's so 00:56:49.119 --> 00:56:51.510 hard. They all have that one thing that 00:56:51.520 --> 00:56:53.510 I go for every single time. Like at the 00:56:53.520 --> 00:56:55.190 islander, I go for the crab roll. You 00:56:55.200 --> 00:56:56.710 know, I at Junes, it's either the 00:56:56.720 --> 00:56:59.430 monthly melt or that flank steak 00:56:59.440 --> 00:57:01.510 sandwich that I talked about. 00:57:01.520 --> 00:57:04.390 >> Lills, it's usually the yogurt parfait 00:57:04.400 --> 00:57:06.150 or really good. 00:57:06.160 --> 00:57:08.630 >> Yeah. You know, I I love that. And the 00:57:08.640 --> 00:57:09.990 only thing that's really ours on there 00:57:10.000 --> 00:57:12.150 is the granola. We make our own granola. 00:57:12.160 --> 00:57:13.270 But yeah, they each have their own 00:57:13.280 --> 00:57:13.510 thing. 00:57:13.520 --> 00:57:14.549 >> It's very impressive. 00:57:14.559 --> 00:57:15.190 >> Thank you. 00:57:15.200 --> 00:57:16.789 >> You do a lot of, you know, a lot of 00:57:16.799 --> 00:57:18.549 that, which you know, you go that extra 00:57:18.559 --> 00:57:19.589 mile. Well, it makes a difference. 00:57:19.599 --> 00:57:20.390 >> It does make a difference. 00:57:20.400 --> 00:57:22.230 >> That's why you have a line like you do. 00:57:22.240 --> 00:57:24.230 >> Yes. Yeah. What's your go-to spot in 00:57:24.240 --> 00:57:26.870 Maine for a date night? Ooh. I think 00:57:26.880 --> 00:57:29.430 Pepper Cove. Have you been out there? 00:57:29.440 --> 00:57:32.150 No. Oh, it's just beautiful. It's where 00:57:32.160 --> 00:57:33.910 Captain Simeons used to be. I don't know 00:57:33.920 --> 00:57:35.829 if you familiar. No. So, if you go out 00:57:35.839 --> 00:57:37.349 to Kiry Point. 00:57:37.359 --> 00:57:39.510 >> Tyler's getting me this way more. So, 00:57:39.520 --> 00:57:42.069 I'm getting to learn a little bit more. 00:57:42.079 -->

00:57:42.390 Okay. 00:57:42.400 --> 00:57:43.109 >> Yeah. So, they um 00:57:43.119 --> 00:57:44.470 >> So, it's a restaurant. Pero Coke. 00:57:44.480 --> 00:57:46.710 >> It is. It's actually three restaurants 00:57:46.720 --> 00:57:49.430 in one. So, it's a building. It used to 00:57:49.440 --> 00:57:51.670 be Frisbee Market years ago. And Captain 00:57:51.680 --> 00:57:54.390 Simeon's restaurant, um, they had a fire 00:57:54.400 --> 00:57:57.349 and never opened up again. And then the 00:57:57.359 --> 00:57:59.829 people that actually used to own Anakah 00:57:59.839 --> 00:58:02.549 Jans and AJ's partnered with some other 00:58:02.559 --> 00:58:04.870 people and they bought the space and 00:58:04.880 --> 00:58:06.950 they've just renovated it. And so, you 00:58:06.960 --> 00:58:08.950 have the Wararf where you can sit out on 00:58:08.960 --> 00:58:11.910 the seashells under a tent at your table 00:58:11.920 --> 00:58:14.390 and it's like fried food and stuff like 00:58:14.400 --> 00:58:15.750 that. And there's a bar there. And then 00:58:15.760 --> 00:58:17.589 there's the um, warf Kery. 00:58:17.599 --> 00:58:18.789 >> It's in Kery Point. 00:58:18.799 --> 00:58:19.349 >> Okay. 00:58:19.359 --> 00:58:22.150 >> Yeah. Right across from the post office. 00:58:22.160 --> 00:58:23.670 So, there's that, but then they have the 00:58:23.680 --> 00:58:25.910 ski club which is on the third floor of 00:58:25.920 --> 00:58:27.829 this building and it's just overlooking 00:58:27.839 --> 00:58:29.430 the ocean. I mean, you just you can see 00:58:29.440 --> 00:58:31.670 Fort Foster and Fort McClary and you can 00:58:31.680 --> 00:58:34.069 see over to Newcastle and Whale Back 00:58:34.079 --> 00:58:35.670 Light and all of that. 00:58:35.680 --> 00:58:37.510 >> It's just it's beautiful. 00:58:37.520 --> 00:58:38.630 >> Oh gosh, that's on my list. 00:58:38.640 --> 00:58:39.910 >> Yeah. And then they have the Beastro 00:58:39.920 --> 00:58:43.589 which is on the main floor. Not any real 00:58:43.599 --> 00:58:45.270 view or anything, but it's just such a 00:58:45.280 --> 00:58:47.829 great menu and restaurant and the people 00:58:47.839 --> 00:58:49.270 are fabulous. And there's a little ice 00:58:49.280 --> 00:58:51.430 cream shop downstairs and a little store 00:58:51.440 --> 00:58:53.270 and can come up on your boat if you 00:58:53.280 --> 00:58:54.950 want. It's where the town dock is out 00:58:54.960 --> 00:58:55.430 there. 00:58:55.440 --> 00:58:56.069 >> Okay. 00:58:56.079 --> 00:58:57.510 >> It's just I love it out there. I'm 00:58:57.520 --> 00:58:58.710 actually going there Wednesday night 00:58:58.720 --> 00:59:00.549 tomorrow night. So, you do get out 00:59:00.559 --> 00:59:00.870 there? 00:59:00.880 --> 00:59:03.589 >> I do. I do. Yeah. Good. Good. 00:59:03.599 --> 00:59:05.030 >> What's one spot in New Hampshire you 00:59:05.040 --> 00:59:07.190 find yourself going back to? In New 00:59:07.200 --> 00:59:08.710 Hampshire? 00:59:08.720 --> 00:59:11.510 >> Gosh. Uh, I love the Seco Science 00:59:11.520 --> 00:59:12.150 Center. 00:59:12.160 --> 00:59:12.470 >> Okay. 00:59:12.480 --> 00:59:14.230 >> I'd love to bring my grandkids there. 00:59:14.240 --> 00:59:15.910 Um, I actually got them a membership. 00:59:15.920 --> 00:59:16.630 >> Oh, cool. 00:59:16.640 --> 00:59:18.710 >> I love that whole area. Like, um, you 00:59:18.720 --> 00:59:20.630 know, Newcastle Common and then you've 00:59:20.640 --> 00:59:23.109 got the Seco Science Center down at in 00:59:23.119 --> 00:59:24.630 Ry and, 00:59:24.640 --> 00:59:26.150 >> um, just that whole area. I love the 00:59:26.160 --> 00:59:27.030 coast. 00:59:27.040 --> 00:59:27.910 >> I just really do. 00:59:27.920 --> 00:59:29.750 >> Yeah, it's Yeah, it's special. 00:59:29.760 --> 00:59:30.150 >> Yeah. 00:59:30.160 --> 00:59:31.746 >> Um, 00:59:31.756 --> 00:59:32.309 [laughter] 00:59:32.319 --> 00:59:34.150 favorite New Hampshire or main town that 00:59:34.160 --> 00:59:37.190 you haven't opened a restaurant yet? 00:59:37.200 --> 00:59:39.190 >> Let's see. 00:59:39.200 --> 00:59:41.109 I don't know. Kery is my favorite. It's 00:59:41.119 --> 00:59:44.069 funny. I I grew up in Hampton, Maine, 00:59:44.079 --> 00:59:45.510 and [clears throat] moved to Kery and I 00:59:45.520 --> 00:59:47.670 felt more at home in Kery than ever any 00:59:47.680 --> 00:59:49.910 place else I had ever lived. Um, so I 00:59:49.920 --> 00:59:52.630 really do adore Kery. But I love a 00:59:52.640 --> 00:59:54.470 Gunwit. I love that little, you know, 00:59:54.480 --> 00:59:54.710 again, 00:59:54.720 --> 00:59:55.430 >> Perkins Cove, 00:59:55.440 --> 00:59:58.230 >> Perkins Cove, the little shops, the the 00:59:58.240 --> 00:59:59.750 quaint community. 00:59:59.760 --> 01:00:02.309 >> Kabunk Port, same thing. Um, anything 01:00:02.319 --> 01:00:03.270 coastal. 01:00:03.280 --> 01:00:03.589 >> Yeah. 01:00:04.319 --> 01:00:07.190 >> I went to Bar Harbor on my way to Nova 01:00:07.200 --> 01:00:08.549 Scotia. We took the ferry over and I 01:00:08.559 --> 01:00:10.549 hadn't been to Bar Harbor in years 01:00:10.559 --> 01:00:12.789 because I always avoided it. 01:00:12.799 --> 01:00:13.510 >> I know, right? 01:00:13.520 --> 01:00:14.870 >> Because it's always so busy whenever I 01:00:14.880 --> 01:00:16.230 want to go, right? 01:00:16.240 --> 01:00:17.910 >> But yeah, I was like, "Oh, I forgot how 01:00:17.920 --> 01:00:21.109 much I like this little area." 01:00:21.119 --> 01:00:22.150 >> So, um, 01:00:22.160 --> 01:00:23.670 >> anything coastal. 01:00:23.680 --> 01:00:25.829 >> Before we wrap up, I I'd love for you to 01:00:25.839 --> 01:00:28.309 share maybe a hospitality story. 01:00:28.319 --> 01:00:29.270 >> Um, sure. 01:00:29.280 --> 01:00:30.630 >> You know, maybe one that you were 01:00:30.640 --> 01:00:32.630 involved in or maybe one you've you've 01:00:32.640 --> 01:00:33.510 seen or 01:00:33.520 --> 01:00:37.270 >> Yeah. So, at Robert's, we had these

01:00:37.280 --> 01:00:39.750 regular guests, a couple, husband and 01:00:39.760 --> 01:00:41.910 wife, um, that would come in, and they 01:00:41.920 --> 01:00:43.670 would come in every single day back when 01:00:43.680 --> 01:00:47.589 we first opened. And the husband, he 01:00:47.599 --> 01:00:49.349 will tell you the same story. He would 01:00:49.359 --> 01:00:50.870 always give us a hard time because he 01:00:50.880 --> 01:00:52.309 didn't get enough vegetables on his 01:00:52.319 --> 01:00:54.150 plate. He would always ask for triple 01:00:54.160 --> 01:00:57.589 vegetable and it was never enough for 01:00:57.599 --> 01:01:00.710 him. And finally, you know, I had heard 01:01:00.720 --> 01:01:02.309 the stories. I hadn't always wait. I 01:01:02.319 --> 01:01:04.069 started out as a server there um cuz I 01:01:04.079 --> 01:01:05.589 had just gone back to work after being 01:01:05.599 --> 01:01:08.309 home with my kids. And finally after, 01:01:08.319 --> 01:01:10.309 you know, him complaining and me hearing 01:01:10.319 --> 01:01:12.309 about it a few times, I was like, I'm 01:01:12.319 --> 01:01:13.670 going to wait on him the next time he 01:01:13.680 --> 01:01:16.470 comes in and see what I can do. And and 01:01:16.480 --> 01:01:18.230 I mean, he would make servers cry 01:01:18.240 --> 01:01:20.390 because he'd be like, I asked for triple 01:01:20.400 --> 01:01:22.470 vegetable. And his wife, you know, she 01:01:22.480 --> 01:01:23.829 was just the sweetest little thing. And 01:01:23.839 --> 01:01:25.990 and I'm like, he just needs somebody to 01:01:26.000 --> 01:01:28.309 banter with him, you know, and he wants 01:01:28.319 --> 01:01:30.230 his triple vegetable. like my gosh, it 01:01:30.240 --> 01:01:31.589 doesn't cost us that much to put veggies 01:01:31.599 --> 01:01:33.670 on this plate. So, but the servers were 01:01:33.680 --> 01:01:36.309 just I don't know, they just weren't 01:01:36.319 --> 01:01:38.950 relaying the message or whatever. So, 01:01:38.960 --> 01:01:41.190 next time he comes in, he was like, "Who 01:01:41.200 --> 01:01:43.349 are you?" I'm like, "I'm Dub. I'm I'm 01:01:43.359 --> 01:01:44.710 going to take care of you tonight, you 01:01:44.720 --> 01:01:46.150 know." And I already knew his whole 01:01:46.160 --> 01:01:48.390 history. He needed triple vegetable. He 01:01:48.400 --> 01:01:50.390 liked his baked tatic, you know, like 01:01:50.400 --> 01:01:52.150 everything. And he was like, "Well, let 01:01:52.160 --> 01:01:54.230 me tell you, like I come in here every 01:01:54.240 --> 01:01:55.829 single day." I'm like, "I know. I I know 01:01:55.839 --> 01:01:57.829 who you are. I know your bill and and I 01:01:57.839 --> 01:01:59.910 know your wife's name and [laughter] 01:01:59.920 --> 01:02:01.990 he's like and I I ask for triple 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:03.910 vegetable and I get like three pieces of 01:02:03.920 --> 01:02:05.190 zucchini. He goes, "I don't even like 01:02:05.200 --> 01:02:06.789 zucchini." I'm like, "Well, you know, 01:02:06.799 --> 01:02:08.069 what do you like?" Like, you know, I 01:02:08.079 --> 01:02:09.750 just kind of got to know him and stuff 01:02:09.760 --> 01:02:13.750 and and so jokingly brought his plate 01:02:13.760 --> 01:02:16.230 out with like hardly any vegetable on it 01:02:16.240 --> 01:02:17.109 at all. 01:02:17.119 --> 01:02:18.230 >> And set it down. I was like, "Well, 01:02:18.240 --> 01:02:20.069 there you go. Anything else I can get 01:02:20.079 --> 01:02:22.230 for you?" And he was like, he got upset 01:02:22.240 --> 01:02:25.190 with me like, "What?" 01:02:25.200 --> 01:02:26.950 And I'm like, and so then somebody else 01:02:26.960 --> 01:02:28.710 was standing behind me with with the 01:02:28.720 --> 01:02:30.549 vegetable vegetables. Gave it to him. 01:02:30.559 --> 01:02:32.549 And he was just so happy. And then, but 01:02:32.559 --> 01:02:35.589 from then on, he always had to have me 01:02:35.599 --> 01:02:37.190 as his server. Like he didn't trust 01:02:37.200 --> 01:02:39.030 anybody else to actually. And he loved 01:02:39.040 --> 01:02:41.190 that I would banter back and forth with 01:02:41.200 --> 01:02:42.870 him. He just needed somebody to kind of 01:02:42.880 --> 01:02:44.069 match him, you know, give it back to 01:02:44.079 --> 01:02:47.030 him. Exactly. And, you know, it would be 01:02:47.040 --> 01:02:48.309 like they wanted to know what my 01:02:48.319 --> 01:02:50.789 schedule was and, you know, was I going 01:02:50.799 --> 01:02:53.109 to be on the bar or on the floor. And it 01:02:53.119 --> 01:02:54.549 was just great. And I just love that. 01:02:54.559 --> 01:02:55.510 like you 01:02:55.520 --> 01:02:57.349 >> you make that connection with somebody 01:02:57.359 --> 01:02:57.829 and 01:02:57.839 --> 01:02:58.710 >> you're making his day. 01:02:58.720 --> 01:03:01.030 >> It made his day and he they would 01:03:01.040 --> 01:03:02.870 literally come in every single day for 01:03:02.880 --> 01:03:04.390 dinner. And I don't know if you know 01:03:04.400 --> 01:03:06.390 Robert that well, but it's not that it's 01:03:06.400 --> 01:03:08.309 expensive. You know, it's not like some 01:03:08.319 --> 01:03:10.069 place that you can just drop 01:03:10.079 --> 01:03:11.589 >> 10 bucks and be done. You know, you're 01:03:11.599 --> 01:03:14.950 dropping $30, $40 a plate. 01:03:14.960 --> 01:03:17.910 >> Um you know, and so it was I was like, 01:03:17.920 --> 01:03:19.750 "Guys, just want some vegetables 01:03:19.760 --> 01:03:22.630 vegetables." [laughter] 01:03:22.640 --> 01:03:23.910 And you know, sometimes the kitchen 01:03:23.920 --> 01:03:25.670 would be like, "Oh, this guy." And I'm 01:03:25.680 --> 01:03:28.789 like, "This one person out of the 01:03:28.799 --> 01:03:30.710 however many that come in every day. He 01:03:30.720 --> 01:03:32.230 just wants some extra veggies. Like, 01:03:32.240 --> 01:03:34.099 let's just give it to him." Like, 01:03:34.109 --> 01:03:35.109 [laughter] 01:03:35.119 --> 01:03:36.630 >> but he ended up becoming like 01:03:36.640 --> 01:03:39.109 everybody's favorite um customer, you 01:03:39.119 --> 01:03:41.270 know, that came in. Because once he 01:03:41.280 --> 01:03:44.390 finally got somebody to realize and 01:03:44.400 --> 01:03:46.309 match him, he was like, "Oh, okay." You 01:03:46.319 --> 01:03:47.829 know, I like this place. I like 01:03:47.839 --> 01:03:48.710 >> his wife was at [clears throat] the 01:03:48.720 --> 01:03:49.750 beginning was probably like, 01:03:49.760 --> 01:03:50.470 >> "Oh, she was, 01:03:50.480 --> 01:03:52.630 >> "Oh my gosh." flake. Yeah, she was 01:03:52.640 --> 01:03:53.589 funny. But 01:03:53.599 --> 01:03:55.430 >> yeah, love that. Yeah, he was a great 01:03:55.440 --> 01:03:57.109 guy. They're both great people. They 01:03:57.119 --> 01:03:58.950 live in Kery now, too. They used to live 01:03:58.960 --> 01:04:01.270 um in New Hampshire, but moved to Kery. 01:04:01.280 --> 01:04:02.870 So, they're great people. I'm sure 01:04:02.880 --> 01:04:05.539 they're still there often. [laughter] 01:04:05.549 --> 01:04:05.990 [gasps] 01:04:06.000 --> 01:04:07.349 >> Imagine you bump into them one day. 01:04:07.359 --> 01:04:09.990 >> I do. I do. Cool. That's cool. 01:04:10.000 --> 01:04:11.349 >> Actually bumped into them at Starbucks 01:04:11.359 --> 01:04:12.390 one day and they're like, "What are you 01:04:12.400 --> 01:04:13.829 doing here?" [laughter] 01:04:13.839 --> 01:04:16.630 >> Right. I think I was I was working there 01:04:16.640 --> 01:04:18.390 because something was happening in my 01:04:18.400 --> 01:04:19.990 office or something and I was like, "I'm 01:04:20.000 --> 01:04:21.109 just working here for the day." And 01:04:21.119 --> 01:04:23.589 they're like, "What?" Yeah. [laughter] 01:04:23.599 --> 01:04:26.870 >> Yeah. You know, don't tell anybody. 01:04:26.880 --> 01:04:28.789 >> Well, this has been great. Thank you so 01:04:28.799 --> 01:04:32.150 much for taking the time. So guys, you 01:04:32.160 --> 01:04:35.670 really need to get on over to one or all 01:04:35.680 --> 01:04:37.510 of these seven. I can't wait to make my 01:04:37.520 --> 01:04:39.510 way through them. Really, um, we'll have 01:04:39.520 --> 01:04:41.589 all of the links in the show notes. You 01:04:41.599 --> 01:04:43.430 know, like I said, I just I love that 01:04:43.440 --> 01:04:45.829 they're all sort of similar, but yet 01:04:45.839 --> 01:04:48.069 they're still a little bit different. 01:04:48.079 --> 01:04:48.950 And 01:04:48.960 --> 01:04:50.150 >> yeah, this is great. 01:04:50.160 --> 01:04:51.190 >> They tell a little story. 01:04:51.200 --> 01:04:53.750 >> They do. They definitely do. 01:04:53.760 --> 01:04:55.029 >> So, thank you so much. 01:04:55.039 --> 01:04:56.549 >> Thank you, Carol. It's been great. I 01:04:56.559 --> 01:04:59.280 appreciate it.