Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Will To Survive:

We may not be able to overcome the location, size and hours we are open. Our son, Graham, and me have had flu symptoms all week so I have not been in to help Fran. It seems clear that the owner of the building has no interest in renovation and therefore we will not be able to expand. I need to focus all my efforts on finding a job so we can at least keep our house even if we have to close the kitchen.

Fran had been doing well at the various farmer's markets but the health department effectively shut down Celebration and Green Spot by requiring vendors to have "mechanical refrigeration" (coolers and dry ice not being sufficient).

I apologize if this sounds doom and gloom but it looks like we need some kind of miracle.

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5 Comments:

Anonymous Beda said...

Can't you contact a building broker and have someone start looking for a new location in East Dallas? I think your current location is pretty good, right in the middle of a big residential area with some fairly healthy incomes.
Is there any empty space in the strip center where Andrea's Restaurant on Gaston is?

October 2, 2009 8:38 AM  
Blogger Topham Beauclerk said...

Randal -- First, I'm so sorry this is such a struggle. I'm sure you and Fran are stressed and stretched a lot more than is happy or healthy. As I wrote in the DMN online comments about this post, I think your food is truly an asset to this city. Unlike Beda, I think your current spot is pretty iffy. If retail cannot continue to be an option, I wonder if catering might work for both of you. I'm pulling for you!

October 2, 2009 8:55 AM  
Anonymous Beda said...

Topham, I actually meant that the general location was good, in East Dallas, right in the middle of a big residential block with disposable income. And if they ever open for dinner and the word gets out, then the current location wouldn't necessarily be bad; there's a certain "look what I found" aspect to the location that appeals to a lot of people.

October 2, 2009 9:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SO SORRY to hear all of this. Hope all of this helps: http://sidedish.dmagazine.com/2009/10/02/chapman-chili-house-in-peril/

Nancy Nichols

October 2, 2009 12:41 PM  
Blogger Randal said...

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

October 5, 2009 8:36 AM  

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