06/12/2026
From Greg Brock, owner.
FIRST, thank all of you for your many kind words. Rest assured, we will miss you far more than you will miss us.
YOU ASKED WHY: Well, first a warning. I grew up in Crystal Springs and then left for 50 years. So by the time I returned, I had changed in one major way: If you ask me a question, I answer it. Truthfully. And to your face. I don’t give people the answer they WANT to hear. That ruffles feathers sometimes. I also am not ashamed to be honest about myself.
THE BOTTOM LINE: There were many factors that went into my decision. For starters, I bought a business when I knew absolutely nothing about owning or running a business. That became more evident as the weeks and months passed. The only thing I was worse at was being a day-to-day manager. Ask anyone who ever worked for me. I was a really really bad boss. (Once in a while I would throw a few extra dollars their way for “combat pay.”)
But those are excuses. The bottom line is that I ALLOWED — I was 100 percent responsible — the business to ruin my physical, mental and financial health. I should have done this long ago because I am not sure that I will recover on any of those fronts.
So that is what I meant when I said I give straight answers. I could have made up some answers and most of you would never have been the wiser. But I am not going to disrespect you wonderful customers by bullsh*tting you.
I AM PARTICULARLY PROUD OF TWO THINGS:
1. The staff and their first-rate customer service. It is almost impossible to find a review or a comment that doesn’t begin by praising the staff. I am so proud of all of them and will always be grateful.
2. My ultimate goal was to create a place for the community where everyone was welcome and felt comfortable. I like to feel we succeeded on that front.
A WORD ABOUT CRYSTAL SPRINGS: Some people have noted that we were always busy and so there was no way that financial issues could have played a part in the closing. That is true if you walked in with 12 other people and had to wait. Other days I didn’t have enough sales to cover the baristas meager salaries that day.
Being a small business in Crystal Springs is a real challenge. Please, please redouble your efforts to shop locally — not just some of the time, but all of the time. You know it is tough when a small town can’t support businesses that sell hardware items, beautiful
boutique clothing or specialty coffee drinks (that each cost 5 to 8 dollars more at Starbucks).
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: There are a million pieces to closing a business. Some of you have brought up unused gift cards. I am working on a solution. Watch this space.
A FINAL WORD (Yes, really!):
I really tried hard. While life will go on, I will never fully recover from letting our customers and the town down.
With unending gratitude for all of you who were such loyal customers.
Greg.
