IT'S BEEN 18 MONTHS ...
and we're still not open.
For those of you who don't know, I (Taylor) have another 'good food job'. I put the theories of our GFJ work into practice at a small brewery in the Hudson Valley that I opened five years ago with my significant other.
In mid-March 2020, at 39 weeks weeks pregnant with babe #2, we closed up our brewery tasting room when New York state went into lockdown. The doors to the tasting room have remained closed to the public ever since.
We've been on the 'lucky' end of the food and beverage industry: the majority of our sales came from packaged products for off-premise consumption, so we were able to pivot to a model of mostly curbside pickups and mail order (before the governor revoked that specific 'pandemic privilege').
We miss the tasting room, though. It is the heart and soul of our operation, where we used to welcome families and friends to sit, relax, and enjoy fluffy-headed pours of low alcohol beer. It was a place where people could slow down and connect. Each week since we closed it, countless people ask when we will re-open. Their inquiries range from desperate plea, to eager enthusiasm, to entitled tirade.
And in reply, we state our truths:
1. The presence of families (and particularly children) was a big part of what made the space special. It might seem counterintuitive for a business whose main purpose is serving an alcoholic beverage, but that's precisely why it became so irreplaceable. Whether it was parents on leave with a newborn, or small kids that can't quite sit still for long periods of time, or older elementary kids that enjoy a card game or a puzzle, small breweries like ours provide a social sanctuary for families - affording the interactions and nourishment without the commitment of a structured restaurant meal.
We feel reluctant to open our doors until vaccines are available for humans of all ages. When faced with the option to ban children or wait to re-open, we chose the latter.
2. I am not interested in policing people, and therefore do not want the other members of our team to have to do so either. Hospitality workers provide enough emotional labor without having to tend to the added responsibility of navigating proof of vaccination or enforcing mask mandates to keep a space safe for themselves and others.
3. The experience will not be the same. There will be no 'going back', which means that we are trying to re-envision a path forward that can embrace the new realities of the world, and re-imagine how we can provide an experience that uplifts everyone. But this takes time, energy, creativity, and capital - which means it's a far cry from a 'quick fix' for us.
In the meantime, we're exhausted, and we appreciate your patience. This does not just go for us, and our small business. When you are out and about, we hope that you will have patience for the people that are working in the establishments that are in service to you. Many food and beverage businesses are understaffed and overwhelmed.
Please be kind. We are all in this together.
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