fourteen; forty

Original link: https://kaix.in/2023/0314-shi-si/

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From 2009 to now, if stop-frame coffee is compared to my child, she is already fourteen years old. I have often wondered over the years, if I could go back to the beginning, how would I start? At that time, I changed careers from a job that had nothing to do with catering, and started the coffee shop business ignorantly and fearlessly. From site selection to decoration to products, it was all based on a simple to somewhat naive imagination. Looking back now, many thoughts have naturally changed. However, after staying in one place for a long time, I have some uncontrollable emotions, so I have no plans to move the store, but the adjustment of the store layout has been imminent.

Last month I finally made up my mind to start over. It’s literally everything from the ground up. What it was like when I rented it fourteen years ago, and now try to restore it to what it was like. The whitewashed walls were removed as much as possible, and all the built partitions were removed; under the rough original structure, the bar counters, card seats, bookshelves, table, and a suspended ceiling for covering part of the roof pipes. If only the mottled walls and plain wooden boards are monotonous, silver metal and marble are used to make some outlines, such as the flanging of the suspended ceiling, the bar countertop, and the base of the mural. In addition, a few leather seats were added to brighten the color, and green plants are naturally embellished… These are all. Shop sign? Did not make a signboard. In such a small city, friends who like to drink coffee should know this store, right?

?

Coincidentally, Chinese characters have changed positions, and I will be forty years old this year. Confucius said that he was not confused when he was forty. I don’t know if I can say the same thing—if confusion means confusion and incomprehension, then I still have a lot of confusion. Even if I only talk about coffee and cafes, there are still too many puzzles waiting for me to explore. For example, what is the meaning of the existence of a coffee shop? Although I made a statement in the play before, I am not satisfied with the answer. Can only keep asking. That’s why when the market environment is not very good, everything returns to zero, to try some new paths, to see what changes can be made to the coffee shop, my coffee shop, and perhaps to create something for the world. What.

I prefer to understand “confused” as a kind of instability. Even if it has not been achieved yet, at least I can confidently say that I will pursue not to be confused. Firmly let your beliefs guide you to do things instead of calculating gains and losses all the time. It can be said that it is grand, but it can also be small. For example, build and operate cafes according to the ideals in your heart, instead of blindly catering to the market. Respecting every guest and satisfying everyone’s wishes are two completely different things, and I’ve always thought the latter is impractical. At this point, perhaps it is age that has given me enough experience and understanding to achieve “no confusion”.

Living a long time is no great achievement. Although Stop Frame Coffee has been in business for 14 years, if I want to evaluate her, I still hope to base it on some other reasons. Stop Frame Coffee is still in business, only because our exploration is not over yet.

fin.

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