07/02/2021
Mocha Family, pulled an all nighter and finished at 6:05 am. So happy, so tired, getting caffeinated. Such bad timing. However, we’re here and happy. I did order a complete set of our pos system so this will not happen again. I do hope everyone had a great weekend! Thank you for caring and showing your support on my attempt to offer a cute place for customers to meet and enjoy a beautiful morning. I’m not giving up. As I drive around Sonoma county, I have found many exact situations. I’m going to contact the city and find out what they need me to do to comply. I’m also going to reach out to the owners of the companies with exact situation and see if anyone told them they were not allowed or perhaps were allowed with some type of restriction. The businesses I am referring to have had sitting areas for years. It’s not a COVID thing. The table and umbrella and stand have been in my storage unit way before COVID. Anyway, I’m sure the city and health department will work with me so we all can enjoy. I’m going to set out some goodies during open hours. Come paint a rock, play a little game of tumbling tower, add a quote to one of the blocks. Enjoy a book, magazine or local literature. The inside of planter box will be chalk board for the kiddos..I have lost sorts of little fun things. Once the approval is complete, I will add additional vines on both open sides. This will be for privacy and a fun little cozy feeling. Eventually there will be an optional gate to keep your little ones safe while enjoy a cup. And, don’t feel obligated to buy a cup. Your certainly welcome to bring a cup from home. A lot of us our struggling with finances, depression, unemployment, just so many things. A simple cup, a short visit, a quiet read ~ what a simple little treasure. Oh how great it would be to start a trend of happy place to welcome our new neighbors. There’s a lot of movement in the housing right now. Sad to see so many from our Mocha family go. On the flip side.........Dear city of Rohnert Park, please allow my tiny coffee shop to set up a picnic area and perhaps begin a trend of positivity in your city. What the residents want most is to have it feel like our city. Can’t we all just throw some humanity into our section . People often meet for coffee and have to sit in a dirty area. This doesn’t feel good. We want to feel good! We want a clean cute place to begin our day. We want to work together and stop with all the rules and regulations which really are not and will never be in the best interest of your residents..positivity please? I’m quite sure that our friends will not expect a restroom nor soil themselves. Lastly, I do owe you an apology as I lost my temper. You crushed my vision and my spirit. I personally, am struggling to keep my shop, suffer from severe depression, and I, like many others am behind on a few bills. All the small businesses are going through terrible times. When you came at me with a NO YOU CANT DO THIS WONDERFUL GESTURE FOR OUR CITY, without even a conversation or suggestion on what I can do to comply. Especially since there are exact situations all over Sonoma County and I had a picnic table for my first 7 years. My building is on the prooerty line so the neighboring owner made me move my table. I offered to pay rent. I told her I would make sure it was covered in my professional liability. Sitting here, even writing this makes me so sad and tears. Everything is so hard these days...and why? I’ve had my shop and gone through some hard times but I made it. I’m not a business person. I’m just a hard worker who has been willing to do whatever it takes to provide a smile, quick joke, lend an ear, whatever I can give through the window. And of course a great cup of coffee. I’ve seen a lot of my customers every morning for 24 years. The way this shopping center is neglected by the city, and use permits given out without compliance by property owners. It’s sad, sad for all your local residence who work their butts off to have to drive by this crap hole of an old strip mall. Frankly, it’s depressing and the community deserves better. I care, I’m trying and if this post makes it your way please call me and re consider. I will provide a garbage can. My customers, my Mocha family deserves this. Even if they never use it. Seeing it will make them feel good. Sincerely, the most imperfect person I know. I quess reaching out, not really sure. I hope one day this can be a better world and it begins with a simple cup, a smile and a tiny little coffee shop where people feel at home! I talk toooooo much. One of my many imperfections.Sincerely, Annette Harrington
