tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793315718342457282024-03-14T07:15:55.369-04:00The final 90 daysWhat's it like to close a beloved local shop? There's not much written about the "death of a small business" but Sweets 'N' Treats had a story. Established in 1979, my store was a local community icon for 35 years and now it's down to the last few months. I've never "gone quietly" about what I stood for, and as an independent retailer there's much to let go of. #TheFinal90A. Baumannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16962711195654931459noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-63805749830702619072015-08-13T14:49:00.000-04:002015-12-03T10:55:50.328-05:00August 2015I went by the shopping center a week or so ago late at night and had to stop and look. My store still sits empty.
Now there is another one closing too....
Paco's Paradise has been there for more
than forty years.
It was one of the best times of my life. I just wish it had never lasted so long, because moving on is very painful. I've lost my place in this world. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-10171893436961562042015-07-24T14:01:00.000-04:002015-07-24T14:02:26.588-04:00About #thefinal90Some folks have come across this journey recently and been curious how it came to be. If you didn't go back to the beginning and start there this is a summary.
A few days before the deadline of Friday, August 1st 2014, a new blog began. Launched to capture the process of letting go and ending the 19 year run of a small local business; not done for sympathy or attention but as a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-77833357771776828842015-06-04T13:57:00.001-04:002015-07-24T13:50:49.196-04:00Cleaning out a storage unit June 4th, 2015
I'm heading to a shop in a small town near me today to sell off some of the things I held onto. There isn't ever going to be another retail store for me and six months later I'm trying to remember why I held onto all this anyway.
My van is loaded up with merchandise that someone will look at and possibly make an offer on. The store is one I've visited plenty of time and shopped at - oneUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-65338555214838376992015-05-21T19:12:00.000-04:002015-05-21T19:12:16.891-04:00Six months later
Sometimes things have a funny way if sneaking up on you. I remember the first time I went grocery shopping after closing my store in October of last year. I recall thinking it was my first time in an independently owned store, no longer as a small business owner, and it felt strange to no longer be "one of them".
Tonight its six months later and I'm lost. The job search isn't going so well Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-80238629967039990242015-03-27T22:46:00.001-04:002015-03-28T08:32:12.390-04:00Missing what was
I am missing my business so much lately. The only place where I came alive for one of the only times in my life, is gone and it feels like I've lost a piece of my soul.
I loved the customers, the kids, the strangers who turned into friends, our conversations and the dream. Because five months later that's what it's fading into; just a dream. I will likely never be a small business owner Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-58627512605851284722015-03-12T12:43:00.000-04:002015-03-12T12:43:46.158-04:00I've lost a piece of my soulThe weather just began getting warmer a few days ago. I'm feeling as if I should be cleaning; getting the store ready to reopen for the upcoming summer season; placing merchandise orders and building new displays, but that's now part of my past. For the last nineteen years all those things took place in March and April, and now for the first time there is an empty space.
I'm looking for a job, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-58063935794488796002014-12-17T18:56:00.000-05:002015-03-12T11:57:14.731-04:00Five weeks later.I'm finally admitting how much I miss this. It seemed I would have posted sooner but the words wouldn't come, and perhaps I was trying to think about moving on instead of looking back. But the honeymoon stage that was new-found freedom from working seven days a week has faded. For the first time in two decades we could accept weekend invitations; sleep in on Saturday and not have to rush out of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-64768590237270279702014-11-25T02:06:00.001-05:002014-11-25T02:06:49.100-05:00The excitement of having your own small business....
Ahh....the adventure of stepping out on your own as an independent business owner. I remember.
There is nothing quite like the excitement of doing this, as no class can prepare you for all the balls that you will need to learn how to juggle or the numerous tasks and responsibilities that they fail to mention to you in school. It is an adventure all it's own; one that people often view as a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-63072615233996986322014-11-13T16:03:00.001-05:002014-11-13T16:12:47.745-05:00I'm out.
The last few display pieces have been picked up and the final items are in storage. I'm on day two of trying to process that I'm unemployed, have nothing that is truly mine and that I've said goodbye to what I loved.
To those of you who supported and loved this shop, it was an honor to have you as customers and friends. I will miss being part of your summer vacations, seeing your families andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-30572494736524772532014-11-06T22:11:00.001-05:002014-11-06T22:13:48.334-05:00No longer a small business owner
It's just about over. A few things remain in the store that were to be picked up or taken away and that should be done by tomorrow.
There's a faded window sign proclaiming the very best in old-fashioned candies and sweets lying on the floor by the door, and a few stacks of glass shelving sitting against the wall.
What used to be my store now has an echo, something I knew would happen andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-26670305514122548932014-11-04T13:18:00.001-05:002014-11-04T13:19:04.387-05:00November 4th
Today is the final day of this process. It has to be since I'm beyond exhausted, very stressed and several days late on this whole moving process. Yes, I seriously underestimated the amount of work and am paying for that mistake but I think I can swing it to be finished by tonight.
But first I have a dentist appointment then packing up for another trip to storage, another day of hoping Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-74384502290942294992014-11-02T03:45:00.000-05:002014-11-02T12:00:58.252-05:00What if I can't write anymore?
I wanted desperately to write one of the last posts on this blog from here, in this store where so much has happened. I'm trying not to give in to the ridiculous idea that it only took place here and may never again; because what I have learned to say on a screen came from my heart once my mind mended.
That's something I should be able to keep, cultivate and continue no matter where Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-89510028801951222392014-11-01T19:05:00.000-04:002014-11-02T05:32:25.969-05:0090 days was up at midnight
I didn't make it. Despite working non-stop all week I wasn't able to have everything packed up and out by Friday night.
Yes, the sorting and decisions and memories overwhelmed me and progress was slow - much slower than I'd anticipated. And as I noticed my hesitation and inability to let go, toss or keep, it dawned on me that perhaps maintaining a shop of this size had become more than I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-76827569383213760562014-10-31T12:59:00.001-04:002014-11-02T12:06:58.399-05:00My last few days
A lot of learning to let go this week....some of it I'm failing miserably at. I know that one day I will look back on this experience and realize it was just time, that the dream, this passion and great love of my life are over. But right now I keep thinking I will wake up and it won't be really happening.
What goodbye looks like....
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-45172876847894674412014-10-29T07:58:00.000-04:002014-10-29T07:58:17.331-04:00Freeze frame feelingI've fallen into a crazy state of sluggishness this week, almost as if I don't believe this is happening. Granted, I am fighting hard to look ahead and take some good things away from this experience and per my post from yesterday, perhaps it's time to focus less on the loss and more on the positive. But right now I'm totally overwhelmed by the rush to sort, pack, throw away and have Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-10296739106356792562014-10-28T13:00:00.001-04:002014-10-29T08:04:50.911-04:00Perhaps it is how you look at things....
Maybe I'm not looking hard enough for the good stuff. I recently started following another blog, one that couldn't be more different from my lifestyle and yet it captivated me. I'm not sure how I came across Liz since I seem to have trouble finding sites on Blogger that are what I think I'm trying to find. But perhaps what I needed was to learn about this view of life so maybe it WAS what I'd Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-49190415064620280792014-10-26T16:26:00.001-04:002014-10-27T17:48:35.998-04:00The weekend is overI called it an hour early. I couldn't take the comments about "I knew you were here but this is my first time in this shop in 20 years or "I bet you can't wait to get out of here and retire".....as if I look 25 years older than I am and with retirement on my list. Most days I have thicker skin but right now everything about this hurts and I had to just close the door. This has been my life for soUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-45803051421400590582014-10-25T20:54:00.001-04:002014-10-26T02:02:26.391-04:00My last Saturday has ended.
What an amazing day. So many people came in the store to say goodbye and purchase items for the last time. I heard phrases like "you meant so much to the community" and "thank you for being here all this time. We have loved making this shop a part of our visits."
A few people had tears in their eyes while saying goodbye and knowing that I wanted to preserve this day in my mind I tried to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-22971549347540090552014-10-25T09:55:00.000-04:002014-10-26T11:39:52.946-04:00My final Saturday
My final Saturday as a small business owner begins.
I'm never going to consider myself less of a person simply because I will work for someone else in the future; it just won't ever be the same. I've loved having the ability to educate, inform and share the message of buying American made products. So many of my customers appreciate that and return because there are standards here and they Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-67624669400043303942014-10-24T15:40:00.000-04:002014-10-24T21:13:52.451-04:00Another chance todayI was able to tell a bit of my story today, to a news reporter and a very large black camera. That's not something normal for me but I'm appreciative that they thought it mattered enough to send someone out.
In the brief amount of time however when asked to sum up what this all meant; how it feels to be closing and what my thoughts are, I fumbled for the right words. How do you pack all that Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-57472218201452473922014-10-24T09:48:00.001-04:002014-10-24T14:53:32.927-04:00One week to go
It is the first of my three final days of business. After Sunday only a short time remains until my lease ends on the 31st.
I am trying to face these remaining days with the attitude reflected in this graphic. I've done my time grieving and I'm sure there is more to come. Some of the toughest decisions about items or fixtures lie ahead and I still have many things to let go of.
But Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-85695359238233566412014-10-21T12:49:00.000-04:002014-10-21T12:49:09.850-04:00Going out with a bangI changed direction and did a complete about-face. It's not like me but tough times call for dramatic actions I guess. After months of agonizing over this decision, feeling frustrated over so many of the factors that led to this choice, I faced the fact that I'm out of here in less than two weeks head on. Posted on Sunday:
Greetings folks! I've given it a lot of thought and decided we Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-34925171394439252632014-10-18T00:54:00.001-04:002014-10-21T09:10:27.001-04:00Maybe it is a time to fly
People keep mentioning all the great possibilities that lie ahead of me now. They talk about the next chapter; the new adventures and all the opportunities I'll have.
It's true. I will have many chances to move on in other directions. Unless you've had a small business it's hard to realize how much falls upon just one or two individuals and how often time is no longer your own. The daily Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-14756462279959062332014-10-17T00:52:00.001-04:002014-10-21T09:11:14.984-04:00After 19 years, only two weeks remain12:38 am and I'm pulling up to the parking lot at the store. There is a lot to pack, so much left to do and yet manage to keep the shop straight for customers to navigate. There are still a few days left to be open for business.
I'm here now because to come in each morning gets harder and harder and some days I can't stand the questions from people or the looks. Tonight I'm alone with the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279331571834245728.post-61756671439619381602014-10-16T10:47:00.001-04:002014-10-21T09:24:11.400-04:00I am lucky to have loved so much.
It's 10:30 in the morning and I should be at work. There is so much to do; so many things to pack, donate, list for sale, get rid of. What I can't package up is all the memories of this part of my life. So many people and memories and good times, bad times and everything in between. I have loved being the owner of this place; grateful to have known so many of you; trying to make sense out of theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0