"New Normal"

“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of the earth.” – Abe Lincoln

Nowadays, I feel overwhelmed and helpless as there seems to be no end in sight of this “new normal”. Many of us are fighting like hell to stay sane both personally and professionally. If you're anything like me, eLearning and running a small business have been a huge hurdle. Most days I feel like the court jester -- dropping the ball and juggling my way through the day. 

Sure, there are moments of victory...when you finally figure out how to submit your kids’ assignment on the damn app you can’t seem to stay logged into. Or when you successfully switch out the laundry without your puppy jumping onto the table and eating all the snacks. Or when you figure out a way to get in one more socially distanced table inside the restaurant’s dining room after ten different tries. Or when you find a way to pay all your vendors for the week. 

I’m not going to lie: I feel like we are living in a bad dream and it is the reason wine was invented… Cheers to WINEsday!

Over the last SIX months (yes I said it, SIX months) my team and I have worked tirelessly to reduce overhead and expenditures without compromising consistency and quality. The profit and loss data are sickening and all buying trends and data are [realistically] no longer valid or important. There is no roadmap to navigate this shit. What works one day, doesn’t another. What people love this week, they hate the next week. We literally show up, pivot, change, evolve and recreate EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Frankly, it's exhausting, but we do it because we want to keep the dream of the ‘76er alive.

The restaurant industry used to employ 15.6 million people and was the second largest private sector employer. Now it has lost more jobs and revenue than ANY OTHER INDUSTRY. We are a crucial part of the nation’s economy but I fear we are in for the worst of it over the next three months. The reality is that NO ONE is immune to the imminent doom of our industry. Large, extremely successful Chicago restaurant groups like BOKA (AKA – Partners of Stephanie Izzard, Girl & The Goat) recently laid off 500 workers. Chicagoland was a beacon for culinary greatness and it crushes me to see the daily reports of closures. It has become an unfortunate reality that small business owners have the horrible decision of choosing between the wellbeing of the business or the wellbeing of the general public. 

Carryout was strong when indoor and outdoor dining was not existent, but it has tapered down considerably. Outdoor dining launched with a huge upfront cost but has been pleasantly received by the community, and I am happy to say that it has been approved to stay for years to come. However, it is weather dependent and will soon close for the winter months, bringing us back to about 30-40% occupancy. With little to no holiday gatherings, parties and caterings, and with ongoing limited hours and availability, this quarter looks extremely grim. What industry can sustain at merely 30-40% revenue with 100% of the fixed costs? 

My dad recently encouraged me to go back and re-read our blogs, which prompted me to dive into our old social media posts, articles, print ads and pictures. It reminds me of the good work we’ve done, how far we’ve come, and how much time, talent and treasure we have poured into this place. So make no mistake, we are fighting like hell to keep the 1776 American dream alive, and so are you! YOU continue to show up and support us. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to YOU and to my team for continuing to fight. 

I urge you to not give in to this “new normal,” but continue to fight for our community with your voices, votes and dollars. Continue to show up for your favorite coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, cafes, restaurants, boutiques and shops, because we need you now more than ever.

Rhienna