12/15/2020
Everyone should be able to attend their own funeral. Because let me tell you, it's great. The past 3 days we have had hundreds of well wishes, heart felt stories, teary-eyed customers and Richmonders turning up to support and tell us how much we will be missed. I feel lucky to be able to leave a job/career on that note- who gets that? Of note we also made as much money in 3 days in what typically takes 3 weeks.
None of this should be lost on anyone that parting is sad, that when something is taken away your knee jerk reaction is to try and save it. And you know what it almost could have been enough, but the die was cast and for us, there was no going back.
But that may not be the case for the remaining people that are behind the local establishments we all love. We like to think that somehow at the end of all of this that we'll be able to go cozy up with a glass to that beautiful bar at Secco or grab a perfect burnt end at ZZQ, feast on the siren song at Alewife or hop in and say hi to Nikki and Neil at Proper Pie.
Perk Bon Air will alway be there for a latte and a chat with Christophile and amazing baked goods, right? It would be unthinkable to not be able to indulge in the glory that is L'OPOSSUM with its food, service and decor a direct reflection of David Shannon and his talent.
Or how about a visit with Kendra at Laura Lee's to envy the art on the walls, bask in the greenery and sip on a perfect cocktail. Do you want to go back to Heritage for brunch and feel lucky that you got in? Or catch a vibe, sip on bloody, talk s**t with Joe and eat that stupid delicious cinnamon roll at SB's Lakeside Love Shack.
What are the chances for a late night hang at Helen's elbow to elbow drinking and laughing and not caring about how you are going to feel the next day.
I guess we all take for granted that we will be able to continue to experience the mastery that is Longoven. Or that we could stop in anytime at Brenner Pass and have Brittanny send something special out to the table, because she can. But you know what.
We. Are. Dying.
Small independent restaurants shouldn't have to have an NPR style fund drive just to keep the doors open. Cut back hours because they can't afford to pay staff or in the case of many owner/operators not take a salary for months just to keep the lights on. In an industry rife with shut downs because of covid exposures, dining limitations, and trying to walk the line between service and safety for many of us it's too much. It was too much for Nota and we died.
For everyone that is still here, PLEASE support them. Let them know that you want those future experiences, spend your holiday dollars getting a gift certificate or a t-shirt or take out. Whatever it takes. Because nothing is guaranteed and your dining community needs you now, not at their funeral.
Welcome to the Freak Show.
