Spinning Round in Circles

Our heads have been spinning with all that's going on.  There is a RIDICULOUS amount of things that need to get done and the hours fly by every day without us seeming to make a dent.  No matter how much we plan, things happen every hour of every day that zap away the hours.  We meet with vendors and PR people, CPA's and customers, run to the bank,  tweet and facebook, order stuff, plan stuff and try to figure out stuff.  Tonight the beer cooler went on the fritz (for the second time) thank god it's new and under warranty.  But the deli cooler also went out and it is NOT new and NOT under warrantee.  But despite it all, we do seem to be making some progress.  Our sign goes up tomorrow and we have a full calendar of events for October, check it out:
http://www.98bottlessd.com/backroom/calendar.php

If you've been following us and wondering what all this craziness is about, stop by and check it out for yourself.  Through it all, the best part has been the people we've met and the friends we've made, we sure hope you're the next.

Week 1 & 2

As of today we’ve  been open for two weeks and it’s been exciting, exhilarating, inspiring, scary, fun and frustrating.  How’s that for a psychotic emotional rollercoaster ride?  We started the first four days with just being open for happy hour until close, then added lunch last Tuesday.  In our first week we had an awesome jazz quintet perform in THE BACK ROOM, our first Kettner Nights and a total blackout.  Not bad for a first week.  We’ve been delighted to serve all of those who have been so supportive and to meet new neighbors.  There is still tons to do, but at least we are FINALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS!  We’re planning to open the retail store in the next couple of weeks and we have a full October event calendar planned:

Tap on Tap – 7pm Tuesday night $10 for a glass and a class-yes beginning tap dancing taught by Broadway dancer Steve Anthony and draught beer

Humpday Horror – 7PM Wednesday night classic B & W scary movies

Tasty Thursdays – Thursdays 7pm (Oct 6, 13, 20, 27)
Each week a different brewery or vineyard expert will lead an entertaining presentation and educational evening featuring a different beer, wine or sake. 

Friday/Saturday – live music TBA

Thanks for following us on our path to opening...come see us soon

Blackout Makes The Lights Go On

Mired in all of the details of opening, it’s been easy to lose sight of the big picture. It was the blackout last Thursday that illuminated things for us. We were reminded that our goal of creating a place where folks can gather, relax, eat, drink, socialize and have fun all without TV’s or computers is an important and valuable one.  The moment the lights went out, neighbors poured into the street comparing notes, trying to figure out what was happening.  Soon our friends from Hyde Edwards Salon came over, they had cash and we had cold beer and wine so we all settled in for the evening.  Other neighbors joined us and soon everyone was talking, laughing playing charades, and passing the time.  When it got dark we lit some candles and kept the party going.  Someone ran home and got a bar-b-que and Chef Jeff cooked up some tuna and chicken for everyone. Over the past few days, we've heard numerous stories of neighbors meeting for the first time and groups of strangers gathering together. Funny how people truly connect when they disconnect. Welcome to the moment. Everything else is just excess.

SLOW·PEN·ING

slow·pen·ing n

1. an organic opening at a measured pace

2. taking your time to figure out what you’re doing so you don’t screw up

3. not making a big hoopla and inviting everyone and their brother to come so they can catch you in every mistake you’re sure to make.

On Wednesday September 7 we are going to begin our slow-pening.  It has taken us a long time to realize our dream, the entire process has been pretty organic and we have allowed things to unfold at their own pace.  We have been patient  (most of the time) and we are not about to change that now.

So, we’re going to start by opening for happy hour at 4pm and go until closing for about a week and a half.  Once we have mastered that, we will slowly phase in lunch, the retail store and our entertainment calendar. 

Like life, it will be a process and we will do our best to be vested in the process (the journey) and not the goal (a “grand opening”) After all, we’re in this for the long haul.

A Pound of Flesh

Forget about blood, sweat and tears, Chris is giving a pound of flesh to the effort.  
On left - head injury from the toilet handle...yes the toilet handle - go figure
On the right - while grinding the metal trim on the vanity, he decided to also grind his finger.
The good news is he heals quickly.

Our Business Promise

Before we had a business plan we had a business promise. 98 Bottles is the culmination of several years of planning, misfires, raised hopes, dashed dreams and a healthy helping of blood, sweat and tears. But through it all we always promised ourselves that we would listen to each other’s ideas, revel in each other’s company, support each other’s dreams live in every moment and, most importantly, have fun. We promised that this simple doctrine would guide our decision making from the vendors we pick and the employees we hire, to the deals we negotiate and the people with whom we choose to do business. We tell you about this promise not necessarily because it’s crucial for you to know, but because it is necessary for us to remind ourselves.

Our business promise is laudable but it is not always easy to fulfill in practical application.  On the path to opening we have endured our share of scares, traumas, close calls and frustrations.  In other blog posts we’ve shared with you a few of the crazy hurdles we’ve had to overcome and, while we have described them with humor, many have been challenges that were downright scary; especially this past month. After a five-week standstill due to city permitting, a malaise began to creep into our consciousness. Every decision (and there are millions of them you have to make when opening a new business) seemed labored, we were getting short with each other, frustrated with the process and panicked about everything that had to get done. We were so focused on getting to opening that we forgot to be in the moment. We were letting ourselves get sucked into the panic vortex, letting fear guide the way instead of joy.

No matter what anyone says, business IS personal and it should be because your business, and the way you conduct it, is a direct reflection of who you are as a person.  Our goal is to make 98 Bottles a family  not only for us (the people who work here) but also for you (the people who play here).

We realized last week that we were forgetting about our business promise. Grateful for the epiphany, we knew we needed to share it with you so that WE would not forget and so that you would hold us to it.

Conditional Love

There is one thing for sure, so far we couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome to the neighborhood! Local residents, neighboring businesses and yes, even the THE MAN, have all given us a big thumbs up. SDPD (San Diego Police Department) to CCDC (City Centre Development Corporation) to ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) and every other alphabetic arm of government in between have all shown us the love for what we are trying to do. BUT that love is NOT unconditional, after all this is government, not a puppy. One permit alone bears the weight of 30 separate conditions. Here are just some of the wacky things we have agreed to just to keep the LOVE coming:

-       No Public Dancing  - That’s right folks, feel free to tap your feet and shimmy in your chair, but if you want to stand up and boogie you’ll have to follow Kevin Bacon to the grain factory outside the city limits of Beaumont.
-       Amplified Music to be Played in the Back Half of the Space – Despite solid concrete walls, train tracks directly behind us and planes that narrowly clear our building every 10 minutes or so, we’ve been asked to keep the noise down by keeping amplified music confined to the back half of our space. And, we have to keep the front doors closed!
-       Must Remind Patrons to be Quiet When Leaving – This one we support whole-heartedly. After all, the residents that live close by were living here way before 98 Bottles. So we will be reminding you regularly to please be quiet as you walk to your cars after a fun evening.  You can consider this our first official, “SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH”.
-       Retail Beer Purchases Must Be Sold in Quantities of 6 or More –THE CHALLENGE: few quality craft beers come in 6-packs. THE SOLUTION: we are offering mix-and-match 6 (or more) packs. This way you can try 6 new craft beers or buy 5 of your favorites and one new one to try. AND DON’T WORRY…the quantities of 6 or more applies only to our retail store. You are more than welcome to enjoy just one brewsky inside the lounge or at the bar. Though, we certainly won’t complain if you buy six.
-       Must Have an Independent Emergency Phone Line for the ADA Lift- We completely get this if the ADA lift were outside, in a hallway, or enclosed. Our lift is a 4-foot, open riser INSIDE our space! But this condition ensures that if the lift does get stuck, the stuckee will now have not one, but two options to get help:

1.  Simply say “Um, excuse me 98 Bottles staffer (who is 10 ft away), the lift is jammed”

2.  Hit the emergency call button that will then dial an outside emergency service to come and assist (and hopefully hang around for a cold one afterward) 

NOTE: If the lift is not stuck, DO NOT test the call button. If the lift is stuck, please choose option 1.
-       No Outside Promoters or DJ’s – Let’s get one thing straight. We want everyone to promote 98 Bottles outside. This condition just means we can’t pay someone else to make us cool. As far as the DJ thing is concerned, oh well. I guess you’ll just have to listen to us on the 1’s and 2’s. DJ Double Click From My Preset ITunes Playlist is back bitches… whickey whickey! Word to your mother.