Today for the first time since I sold it back in November 2009, I visited the cafe I used to own. I didn’t plan to go there today, I went to see my friend (who used to work for me in the cafe funnily enough) and her son while Burton was at pre school, who live in the town I used to work in. We ended up walking into town to get some bread and visit the library. I haven’t even walked around Torrington for almost 4 years either – it felt kind of strange. I have driven around the high street whenever I have popped to Torrington to visit one of my friends, for a nosey but I have never stopped and walked around the shops.
Torrington is the type of town where you only need to walk a few metres and you bump into someone you know and true to form as soon as I walked into the supermarket I saw one of my old customers!!Then as we walked past one of the new eateries, someone who used to work for me spotted me and rushed over with a “hello stranger”!! So knowing what a small town it is and knowing how by tomorrow morning news of me being seen in Torrington would spread to where I once worked, I said to my friend that we should pop up and say hello to Lynn who still works there and was my full time assistant when I owned the cafe.
I don’t know why I have left it so long to return and show my face. I think I just wasn’t sure how I felt about making that step. It seems ridiculous now because it was fine and everyone was really lovely and one old couple who were my regulars too, even paid for my hot chocolate and Jenson’s drink despite me telling them there was no need. It didnt really look that different , the menu was pretty much as it was when I left which made me feel a little bit pleased as it meant that what I came up with when I owned it, must still work and be popular with their current customers. The new owners have, however, changed the from Eat Drink Eat to The Market Cafe.
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| how it was when I owned it |
I purchased the business on the 1st July 2004, and with only one days experience of working there with the previous owners the day before, I really was thrown in at the deep end! I had no catering or business skills or qualifications, but I had ideas and enthusiasm and commitment to making it work.
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| about a year into owning the cafe so approx 2005 |
I did all the cooking and on our busy days, like Saturdays, there could be up to 30 breakfast orders all queued up on the order sheets and I just loved the buzz I got from getting those orders out as fast as I could! Yes, that does sound really sad, I guess you needed to be there and experience how it felt to appreciate that comment!
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| this was the size of the grill – small really
It was a fun place to work, and we all got on really well customers and staff alike. It was also very hard work though – I worked 6 days a week and when it is your own business I think you put a lot more effort into it because you want to make it work and be a success. I rarely took time off or had a holiday during the five years it was mine either. Often if I went out on a Saturday night I would struggle to stay up late and I even dozed off a couple of times when I was out during those cafe years!! Not dis-similar to the Mummy years really lol!
I am pleased I went up there today – it was not as bad as I had imagined and it didn’t feel as weird either, and I was made to feel welcome so I really don’t know why I left it so long to visit now! Just my own personal paranoia had prevented me for all this time. Plus it was easier going there with someone else to ‘hold’ my hand!! Now I have to keep my word and not leave it another 3 1/2 years until I return again. |
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I bet your cafe was amazing. I’d love to own my own little coffee shop or pastry shop. Good on you for going for it and making it your own. When I visit Manchester, I always find it strange walking passed the places I used to go and places I used to work. x
I bet it was hard to say goodbye to your business so revisitng it probably made you worry about emotions. I’ve always dreaded returning to previous places of work but it has turned out fine too 🙂
The breakfast looks yum! x
I must have been difficult going back after putting all that work into but I’m glad that you did and it was a good experience. It must have been such a big part of your life and now you have two little boys to keep you busy 7 days a week instead! Still no holidays or time off but just as much fun 🙂 xx
Ahh must have been so lovely having your own place and I can completely understand why you didn’t go back for ages. I think its the thought of “what must it look like now, how things will have changed” etc. I would sat in there all day eating your cakes I think!! (Hope you are feeling much much better now?)
I love your cafe sign, that would have been a good name for your blog! I can honestly say we’re not cafe twins, although I have often dreamt of having one, the thought of cooking all those breakfasts doesn’t appeal one bit….mine will be coffee & cake only! 😉
I hope you’re feeling better now
Xx
What a great ‘flashback’. It must have been great to have your own cafe, I know it has been a dream of mine and my husband’s for a long time although I don’t think we will ever get round to it!
Wow, that must have felt rather strange to go back to a cafe that you once owned. But it sounds like you are glad you went. Looks like a lovely place.
Great flashback,looks like a lovely coffee shop, must of been weird to go back xx
i wanted a coffee shop and cake type business but nothing in my price range came up. so i bought this cafe and introduced a coffee machine and paninis and cakes yum! however, the breakfasts were my best seller !! *sighs* x
I love reading about when you worked in the cafe, I think because it reminds me a tiny bit of when I worked in a bakery and I would have loved to work for you!
How lovely to know the menu is the same as when you owned it.
It’s must have been odd being back but interesting to see the differences/similarities xx
it’s great you went back, it must have been weird though. Brilliant that they kept the menu though, must have been good 🙂