On September 8th, ten local business owners gathered at Atelier Roquette for a graduation ceremony. They were all members of what all agreed was a tremendous learning experience. For many, it was an emotional experience as well, as they got to know their fellow merchants even better, as well as understanding what made them tick, and how they could further enhance their professionalism as entrepreneurs.
What made it all possible/affordable was ReStore Red Hook’s efforts to have much of the tuition underwritten by SBIDC, NY Business Development Corporation, and ReStore itself. Business consultant Holly Howard created and led the ten sessions that occurred weekly over the summer. Judging from the presentations, it was a life changing experience for many.
It was obvious from the presentations that every had gotten to know each other very well over the ten weeks. Laughter and applause was interspersed with genuine listening to each other’s talks. Rachel Fitzgerald, of Rocky Sullivans of Red Hook, likened the classes to group therapy, quipping that now “her therapy days were over.” There was much good natured banter about homework, both done and unfinished. It was clear that everyone present made a special effort to attend each class – despite the many pressures of running a business.
Before the graduates spoke, Monica showed the ReStore Red Hook film, in which many of the participants at the table were filmed speaking about their Sandy experiences. Most touching was Sunny’s Tone Johanson recounting the story of her frightful escape from the floodwaters as she frantically climbed up the cellar stairs. The Good Fork’s Ben Schneider spoke of seeing kitchen equipment floating in his basement waters. The film was made not long after the 2012 storm. A major goal of ReStore Red Hook, which helped raise money for the local Van Brunt businesses, was to keep the business community as it was before the storm. Everyone around the table has been in Red Hook since before Sandy – all have survived.
A few points were repeated in many of the presentations. One was to actually understand one’s goals. Mary Dudine of Dry Dock said she understand her goal to maintain a family business that accumulates both personal wealth and experiences. Ben’s was to create a unique and special place in the space and time continuum, one which he said he hadn’t quite gotten to yet.
Another was the necessity of taking personal time each day. Rachel makes sure that she allocates at least 15 minutes each day for herself – something that relaxes her and makes her feel less overwhelmed. Monica announced that after a busy September and October, she and Leisah were taking at least a week’s vacation – away from everybody and everything.
Staff meetings were another idea that resonated. Caroline Moore, who along with her husband Kevin runs both Kevin’s on Van Brunt Street and Little Eva’s on Governors Island, spoke of her experience at the Governors Island location. Little Eva’s is like an oasis in the middle of a park and Caroline felt some sort of tension between her help and her overheated customers. Emboldened by what she learned in the class, she held a staff meeting and expressed her feelings. It turned out that other’s felt the same way, and as a result of the communication, a better feeling exists at the restaurant all around.
Fort Defiance’s St. Jean Frizell treated everyone to not only an enlightening, but a humorous exposition of his class experience. It all boiled down to burned out light bulbs. For years he had experienced a subtle frustration because nobody but himself seemed to ever replace light bulbs. This is an experience most small business owners can relate to. One of the big ideas that St. Jean has taken from the class is to start writing a Fort Defiance manual. In addition to containing the expected things, like instructions for creating the many cocktails Fort Defiance has become famous for, it also includes a section on changing light bulbs. At a staff meeting he went over the manual, which contained a rule that whoever sees a burnt out bulb first is responsible for replacing it. It also designates a place in the basement for replacement bulbs. So now bulb replacing is a shared task.
St. Jean went on to say that before the class he could have never thought about replicating the bar someplace else, as everything was kind of in his head. Now, with a manual in progress, he said he feels organized at least to contemplate a future expansion.
After each presentation, the consultant, Holly Howard, commented on the what should be the takeaway. It was evident that everyone loved the way she presented the course. Monica said that she hopes to continue the classes for others. In the audience were representatives from SBIDC and the NYC Business Development Corporation. Councilman Menchaca, who is personally friendly with many of the business owners, arrived towards the end.
Also present was Greg O”Connell. It was O’Connells vision over twenty years ago that helped change Red Hook from a forgotten backwater to the dynamic community it has become. He was thanked by everyone, and in response he spoke emotionally of his vision and thanked everyone for helping make his vision a reality.
