08/04/2024
As many of you know, my father, Mike, the owner of both Country Breeze Carryout & Smokin’ Joe’s Pizza for almost the past 30 years passed away on June 25th after complications from cancer. 💔
On the behalf of the both of us… & I know in my heart I can speak freely for him because we spoke of you & your continued support so often throughout the years & quite realistically every single day. So, I am very much aware of how he felt & would be remiss if I didn’t include him in on the following…
We were always so grateful to you, our SweeT & AmaZinG customers for your loyal patronage. 💕 It was never ever lost on us that you literally could’ve chosen to go anywhere else but you aLways chose us. 🥰 It was humbling & also motivating to us both. 🤍💪🏼
I can’t tell you how many times we held each other’s hand, cried & TRULY knew that we had something special there & we were ever so appreciative of that.
I love that some of his initial customers became some of his best friends. Some who are unfortunately no longer with us however it gives me a bit of peace to think he’s up there with them too. 🍻
Sometimes customers are referred to as “Regulars” but there was nothing everrr “ReGuLaR” about any of you. We enjoyed the laughs & stories, the highs and the lows over these past years. I loved that we came to know many of you like family, where we’d do anything for you & vice versa. I saw post dated checks held for customers in my dad’s desk drawer who fell on hard times. I knew he gave several loans to customers & employees with the promise that they’d pay him back when they could & they always did. But he often did it because he was there once too. He told me that when he was really struggling he used to come home from work & he’d be so hungry that he’d open cupboards that he already knew were empty inside. But I think it was because he always remained cognizant of that, it guided him and ultimately guided me as well. He made it clear to me that when you are in a position to help, no matter how small, you should. ❤️
I’m so proud of him & how he grew this business from what it once was to what it is today (currently don’t ask me, because I unfortunately haven’t been there for a bit due to some people’s lies, manipulation & greed. Shameful. But like my Nana always said, “What is done in the dark wiLL ALWAYS comes to light.” So, I’m going to trust in that. 🙏🏼).
It took a lot of hard work & sacrifice. He knew nothing about running a business but he saw the potential, seized the opportunity & hunkered in. And he did it, day in & day out 7 days a week for years. But he knew that when you own a small business you’re ultimately married to it, simple as that. And if you want it to be successful, there’s no stepping away. And if you loved it like we did & largely because of you, he never did. ❤️
I couldn’t even begin to count the amazing memories that we shared there, most likely just like the owners who came before us. Sometimes it was frenzied, chaotic, emotional & fervent. Tears shed, cardboard boxes kicked, silent treatment given… but the “Yes, we did it & made it through the rough times together” moments, our tradition of having egg nogs on Christmas mornings, mimosas on the other ones up in the office are of course the ones that will forever be etched in my heart. ❤️
But simply knowing that I was going to walk into work & I was going to be able to hug & kiss my dad was enough for me. It became a joke because if he said he was leaving & he only kissed me once I knew he was still milling around somewhere because he’d have to at leasttt kiss me twice if not three times before he left to go home. I was a lucky girl for a bit. ✨✨✨ But that “bit” was more than most people ever have & I knew that. It is that very “bit” that even “those” who remain there cannot ever take away from me or his grandchildren as hard as they try. 💔
Being a part of a family business isn’t for the faint of heart, it can be rough & tumble at times. 😅 It’s hard to find that distinction & balance between the love you have for each other and the love & the drive you have for your business. However, at the END of the day & at the END of “everything,” when it truly counted the most with us (& if you knew us, you know ✨) there was without ever a doubt, always love. ❤️
From the bottom of *our* hearts, thank you for everything, it will not soon be forgotten by me, I promise you that. 💕
If you’d like to stop by tomorrow, it truly wiLL be a celebration, because that’s what he deserves. ✨
Our family would love to see you & share in some of your best memories & stories about this man who made that “little corner store” a LittLe bit more than just that. ❤️
*Special thanks to Hillcrest Food Service Senior Account Manager, George Eybs, who most definitely was someone my father considered a friend & who will always remain one to me for donating over 200lbs of pork. It was a shame that I wasn’t able to get it smoked in the smoker that he paid for that sits on the property that he bought & paid for… for his own Celebration of Life. 🤦🏼♀️ Chris Fox from Morgan Linens for donating all the table linens because you know that plastic would’ve never cut it. Lol And of course to Cliff German, a friend to both myself & to my father as well for his support in helping me to make this possible for my dad.
Your willingness to give & help is quite an incredible thing. I hope your kindness & generosity inspires others. Love & adore you all for the help you’ve provided to me. 💘
