In the weeks preceding the closing of our shop, I often heard the phrase “the next chapter.” Many people referred to its closing as one chapter in my life, and the future would be the next chapter. Now, I am unemployed. I say I’m a full-time photographer and writer. These are the passions that the Lord has blessed me with and what He wants me to storm.
The Lord granted me peace. I had already endured a difficult grieving process. The shop’s closing had been coming for a long time. I was eager to get through the next five weeks until we closed.
The closing date is April 21, 2012, and our auction will take place on April 24. Our money from selling our equipment will help cover a portion of our loan. If we’re lucky, we may get twenty-five cents to the dollar. We spent $11,000 on our mixer alone.
Unfortunately, we are closing our cookie shop next month. While in my garage, I peeled the letters of the business logo off my car one by one.
It’s like it never happened.
Paul and I put all of the shop’s expenses on paper. It was too expensive to keep the shop at its current location. Paul looked at two small retail spaces that would save us a lot of money each month, but it did not add up when I included worker’s comp, taxes, rent, insurance, employee wages, etc. I mulled it over for a few days. I could not ask him to keep putting money into the business.
I agree we should close the shop. Paul already knew it—he was waiting for me to see for myself. It’s my job and my “baby.” I took the idea better after realizing it for myself. Paul did not have an emotional attachment like me.
I wanted to personally inform my employees before they heard the news from others. One Sunday, they came to my house, and I shared the news. I feel sorry for them because they will be losing their jobs.
My daughter, Lauren, also worked for us.
“It is sad and not fun losing my job.”
I know the owner of several restaurants, and called to let him know we are closing. My daughter and two employees need jobs, and he wanted them to apply. Soon, Lauren got a job.
Tonight, I prayed and said, “Lord, I’ll sacrifice my Isaac.” My Isaac is my cookie shop. Even though it wasn’t formed in my womb and is not a physical part of me, it feels like my child.
In the Bible, the Lord tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. When Abraham lifted the knife, an angel of the LORD told him to stop. The Lord then knew Abraham feared the Lord because he did not withhold his son.
Years earlier, I remember sitting at my parent’s kitchen table with a piece of graph paper, laying out the shop’s design. I created a Kiddie Korral, a neat place where kids could decorate cookies. University of Georgia students painted an enormous farm mural in the Korral. We host birthday parties and field trips.
We put a lot of time and effort into creating a family-friendly shop. Our chef’s sister decorated the interior with vintage signs on the walls.
A lady said, “You should charge people to look around.”
We offer a variety of treats including ice cream, gourmet cookies, and unique desserts. One of our popular items is Bessie’s Cow Patties, which I recommend to new customers. Customers can choose two gourmet cookies and their favorite ice cream to create an ice cream sandwich. We also have a special dessert made by our chef - a baked shortbread cookie bowl dipped in chocolate and topped with M&Ms or Oreos, which we then fill with ice cream.
Our specialty is our shortbread cookies. Kids can enjoy a delicious cookie on a stick, while their parents can order a bouquet of cookies, like a flower bouquet but made of hand-decorated cookies arranged in a pail or mug.
Our shop was established in 2007, but we faced challenges during the economic downturn. Despite using all our resources to keep the business running, we now need to consider our next steps. We are seeking the Lord’s wisdom for our next steps.
I didn’t want to move the shop, but it became clear that our 1,300-foot commercial space wasn’t generating enough walk-in business.
We are considering relocating to a smaller space where we can focus on fulfilling orders and still have a small area for walk-in customers.
Finding the right location will be challenging, costly, and time-consuming. However, we are optimistic about the potential increase in foot traffic once a Subway opens in the adjacent vacant shop next month. There are many unknowns.
