I thought about opening a restaurant for a while. It wouldn’t have been a stretch – I have quite a bit of experience in the food service industry in various capacities. I liked the idea because, when I imagined things, it felt a lot like Cheers, and who doesn’t want to own a cool joint?
I decided I would call it “You’ll Eat What I Give You, and Like It.” It would be one of those breakfast and lunch places you mostly find in office and industrial areas, and the menu would be whatever I felt like making, leaning heavily on sandwiches and noodle or rice bowls.
I envisioned a menu heavy with peanut butter and banana on sesame white, my favourite.
We could even be rude with it, have cantankerous service be part of the schtick. People seem to find rude servers and cooks funny when they’re paying for the explicit privilege. People insulting us for free feels far less palatable.
I thought about opening a storefront for a while. This would’ve been more of a challenge – I have about a week of retail experience under my belt.
My imagination is often practical, so I imagined myself taking business courses first.
I decided I would call my store “Hodgepodge.” I would stock it with the kinds of things I wanted to be able to buy. I would have books and writing paper, purses and scarves, interesting hardware and kitchen supplies, and knicks and knacks of the mostly useful variety.
Think modern version of the general store. Think more personal and slightly elevated dollar store.
I’d feature candles, crystals, and dust catchers, because I like that kind of stuff, too. Probably dolls. Definitely stuffies. Dog supplies. Maybe hats. How much square footage is this store, anyhow?
I thought about setting up one of those permanent garage sales once. I could do this – I’ve run garage sales before. Not with pleasure, but I’ve done it.
I could spend my weekdays thrifting, buying used goods online, and cleaning and rehabbing my purchases, and my Saturdays selling things in a kitted-out garage space, every week from eight until two.
I’d have amazing furniture I’d expertly restored – never done that – and the kinds of cool finds one expects to see featured on The Antiques Roadshow. One problem with this scenario – and perhaps the storefront one – is that I don’t always want to give up my stuff.
The other problem is people. I don’t always like being around people, or having them around me. I get tired of the input; I need alone time to level out. This is a problem in service-related endeavours – their operations are predicated on people.
Perhaps I should pay more attention to my Pinterest space?
(header image credit: Southern Living)
From Famine to Feast. 
I can call myself an extrovert but to do business we need something more than being an extrovert!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes. You really need to have drive and passion.
LikeLiked by 2 people
All of that sounds exhausting to me! 🤣
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, I did specify imaginary. They’re less work – I can delegate to my imaginary staff lol
LikeLike
“You’ll Eat What I Give You, and Like It.” I love your humour! And I can relate to the obligatory garage sale and those who knock on your door the day before wanting a bargain. I so agree about it being less than pleasurable.
Dealing with people can be exhausting for introverts. I like being around people but do need to get away for some solitude at times.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you – I always love it when people appreciate my sense of humour.
People do take a lot of energy. I wonder what the ratio of introvert to extrovert would be on sales platforms like Etsy, where you can mostly avoid direct contact with people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am like this too! By the way, I love your business ideas.
I want to create spaces- but honestly, I don’t like people all that much.
A friend and I joked once that we’re great at business ideas but terrible at actually making them happen. Maybe we should just become professional business idea makers — is that a career? Did I just invent one for us?
I’d love to create a book/plant/coffee/resale shop, alongside a reiki/massage/grief support business.
I’ll let you know when that materializes. 🤣
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, I’d definitely go into a book/plant/coffee/resale shop.
They call people like us who make ideas, consultants, and if you’re lucky, people pay you big bucks. I’m not lucky lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not lucky either. 🤣
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good question about the Etsy ratio. I know that the community has about 70% extroverts and 30% introverts, so the introverts may be higher in Etsy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Think you might be able to get away with “Hodgepodge” but “You’ll Eat What I Give You and Like It” might be a hard sell 😂😂.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think you’re probably right – it would definitely fire some GenX mealtime memory triggers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like this
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you own an eating business that doesn’t mean you have to be there at all times to run it. That’s my understanding of one advantage that franchising serves.
LikeLiked by 1 person