“If it sounds too good to be true…
It probably is.”
It took me a while to figure out how I was going to write this post, but after much debating on how I’m gonna put it all out there, I decided that simplicity would be best.
G.R.O.O.V.E is a no-go.
Some things went down on Friday and the owners and I decided to stop the project.
Yes, construction had already began:
and I had the menu ready to go, as well as everything for the interior.
Kilee even designed a beautiful logo for us (she also made an amazing logo for the bakery, which I still plan on using):
(Her work is beyond amazing and if any of you bloggies are looking for a fancy new blog header or design work, hit her up: kilee at kileejohnson dot com)
What basically happened with the cafe was that the owners ran into some problems getting certified to build. Apparently food establishments need to go through 3 departments, and one of these departments has a reputation for waiting at least 2 months before putting anything on the agenda, let alone making a decision. This means that the cafe wouldn’t have opened according to schedule and since I’m most likely moving next spring/summer, they didn’t want to risk it. We also had some other unsolved negotiations (which I’m not going to go into on the bloggy) but it an almond-shell, we agreed to halt the project.
I was crushed.
Like totally, utterly bummed out.
Friday was a rough day for me, and I was happy that we spent the evening with friends. It gave me a reality check as to how temporary I am. We’re never in the same spot for more than 3-5 years and this aspect of military life makes it really difficult. I’m proud to say I’ve done a pretty good job of making the best of a tough living situation, but things like this are like a sucker punch in the stomach. The funny thing is, two months ago, before all of this, I was totally and perfectly content. When this happened, it was kind of like telling a kid they can have a puppy, letting them pick out and name the puppy, and then tell them they can’t have it anymore. Just sad, right?
I was also dreading writing this post because ya’ll were so supportive and wonderful (as you always are), but now that it isn’t happening, I feel like a giant goober.
“Ish happens, and you just gotta roll with it.”
I’m 100% confident that this happened for a reason, and something bigger, better and more exciting is on its way. They let me keep my job at the gym, so I’m just going to keep doing my thang by teaching Zumba, being lead aerobics instructor (I do the schedule and invoice/billing for the base gym), training my amazing clients and writing the bloggy. I have a few other projects that I’m working on and am on a mission to find a commercial kitchen I can use so I can FINALLY get this online bakery going. Until that happens, expect random macaroon giveaways because I really do enjoy making them 🙂
Thank you so much for being so supportive of my now non-existent cafe 🙂 I really love and appreciate all of you. Back tonight with a fun, normal post 🙂
xoxo,
Gina
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Gina, please don’t be too bummed out. This is all a part of being an entreprenuer. You just have to believe in yourself and know that one day your dream will come true.
Boooo! I am so sorry to hear your news. My eyes teared up as I read this post because I can totally relate as a fellow miliatry wife. You are SO talented though, and will have many great opportunities come your way. I was telling my husband about something I read on your blog, and he said, “she was on the Today show this morning” I got so excited and said “Fitnessista?!?!”, but it turns out he was confused with a different blog. Still….maybe foretelling of things to come :)??
Those sucker punches really hurt, don’t they? Well…though you will hear this in different words and various versions…
We all have to experience life in one way in order to find another. You deserve to feel frustrated, down, and upset so FEEL THAT! And then, take a deep breath and decide how you can learn from this and then the best part, where your opportunities are next! 🙂
Thinking of ya!
Getting as far as you did with the project was an accomplishment in itself. Be proud!
Oh no! I’m so sorry. That is really disappointing! I’m sure there are awesome opportunities in your future though- so I hope you don’t let this little bump in the road upset you too much!
ohhh, so sorry to hear the news. i know you’ll do bigger and better though!!!
I’m so sorry to hear about this. It’s only a small bump in the road in the grand scheme of things. I know you have a HUGE drive and passion for healthy living so I forsee success in your future. Don’t let this get you down, I know this won’t be the last of your chef projects.
Sorry about the cafe. 🙁
I’m so sorry! That really is awful. Have faith, though. This isn’t the end of the world, and if you have a wonderful dream, it will stay alive for a long time! Who knows where you’ll be in ten years?
Gina,
I am so sorry about all that, you are strong girl and bigger and better things are coming for you, Im a TRUE BELIEVER IN FATE, because I had a couple situations that were fate in my life, everything happens for a reason, glad you know that! Much love to you girl!!! xoxoxo
So sorry to hear that things fell through. But, things do have a way of working out. It will happen when it is meant to be. Keep your chin up and stay the positive person that you are!
So sad for you! I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason! You are so positive and something bigger and better will come along for you!
I am sorry to read that things didn’t work out, because while thousands miles away, I was excited to hear of all that was going to involve and let you shine your culinary skills for others.
Life works in strange ways and sometimes it downright sucks the elephants balls. I tend to think lots of things happen for a reason (not sold on the everything idea), but out of these we learn something, even if it is not to be doscovered until later on down the road.
Life doesn’t always go according to plan, but there just might be something coming that is going to rock your face even more.
Good vibes to you, Gina!!!
I’m so sorry to hear your news, but you’re absolutely right that something bigger and better is on the way!
I am sorry that happened. Hang in there!
Gina, I am so, so, so sorry that you’ve had this disappointment. It is so hard to go all in and then find out something isn’t going to pan out. It does sound like you are going to be able to really create a kick butt online cafe which will fit in perfectly with your lifestyle.
Many happy thoughts going out your way!
((hugs)) major bummer about the cafe. keep your head up because other great opportunities will be coming a-knockin’ 🙂
Too bad, I was wondering what was going on since you hadn’t emailed me in a while =/
I still can’t wait until you get your bakery up and running and I can get myself some macaroons!
xo
K
Awww Gina, so sorry to hear that the cafe isn’t going to happen. I know that you are bummed but you have such a positive outlook and are good at ‘rolling with it.’ Good for you, girl!
Aww Gina, I’m sorry! But like you said–everything happens for a reason, and therefore something bigger and better is bound to come along 🙂
I absolutely ADORE the name though, “Groove” is really so catchy and I love the meaning behind it! Don’t give up just yet 🙂
XOXO
It’s a bummer, but hopefully it will work out for the best. You never know what kind of opportunities will open up for you once you move. Stay positive, and keep doing what you are doing. Something good will come your way! 🙂
Oh no! You are not a giant goober. You are not even a tiny goober! You are not even a goober the size of a chia seed. Things happen, and I have to see your excitement quashed, but I agree that there has to be a reason why this all happened and something great just in the wings! Could you build out the GROOVE name as part of your personal chef-fing? That seems like a cool and “portable” type of thing! Hugs to you!!!!
I’m so sorry it didn’t work out for you! The cafe was such a wonderful idea. Who knows, maybe now that the seed is in your brain, something similar could take off in your next location when you’ve got more time to get things going.
In the meantime, I so hope the online bakery becomes reality!
Sorry to hear about the cafe 🙁 Total bummer. I really think that everything happens for a reason and sometimes if something doesn’t work out then it is for a reason (even if we don’t know what that is).
Chin up, cutie!
I’m so sorry to hear that! As someone who has done a lot of small business development and consulting, I can promise you that this happens WAY more often than you’d ever think – and you are way better off finding out now. (I could tell you dozens of stories – like how I recently did PR for someone who dissolved their new partnership the *day before* the new space was slated to open…I can’t go into too many details, but many friendships, mucho dinero, and three years of work went down the drain for him.) It’s just business, so don’t feel like a goober any longer than you must 🙂
If you’re attached to G.R.O.O.V.E., make sure you do the necessary paperwork ASAP to keep that name as yours if you haven’t already 🙂 And believe what everyone else is saying here – I know you have huge things ahead of you.
I’m sorry to hear the news but I have faith that it totally means bigger and better things are on your horizon.
Noooooooo. My stomach dropped when I read this. I’m so sorry :(.
You’re right though, something better is further down the path…you’re too talented and creative to NOT have something that good happen to you eventually!
Oh Gina, I’m so sorry it ended up falling through! I’ve always liked this quote when things don’t go the way I plan: “And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” – Max Erhmann. I know even better things will be coming your way soon. I’m sending you a hug!
Hi there,
I’ve been following your blog in the recent months and LOVE everything you cook and put on it! I’m really sorry to hear about your new business venture falling through, but my two motto’s are “live and learn” and “everything happens for a reason.” So try to remember that.
xx,
Kate
Aww, I’m so sorry things didn’t work out 🙁 Whenever you do get this online bakery thing going though it is going to be amazing!
Oh noo. I’ve had a similar thing just happen to me –you’d inspired me to get going again, but the commercial kitchen is always the hardest part. I’ve jumped through every other hoop many times thinking I was there, and the kitchen falls through. The one time it did work was with a local club (think Elks lodge, Moose lodge etc.) that only uses their kitchen for special occasions, and a once a week dinner. They were able to rent it out on a per use basis to us. Perfect. I got really close with a private school kitchen too (charter school actually)but the fire chief came in and busted them saying THEY weren’t up to code (can you believe it –they loved me). The county had already approved, I had a tax ID.. I’m just saying keep looking, and think outside the box. You’re so prepared, your opportunity will show up.
Oh no. I’m so sorry to hear your bad news! I can’t believe how positive you sound about the whole situation. You are so brave, and creative. Something wonderful is right around the corner!
That is a major bummer…but on the bright side of things I’m sure you learned a lot through the process that you will be able to apply elsewhere. Totally stinky.
“everything will be okay in the end. if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” chin up!
I am sorry to hear this, but at least you’ve now got experience of negotiating and menu designing etc!
Moving every few years is draining in some ways, I know. It’s good in that you get to experience so much, but on the other hand you can’t get stuck in as much as you might want to. Good and bad in both, and we just have to value everything we do have 🙂
I’m sorry, plans falling through, especially something as exciting as the cafe, is tough. But I agree with you, it just means there’s something bigger and better out there! And I look forward to buying your goods when the online bakery opens, which I have no doubt it will!
Oh Gina! I am so sorry to hear this! 🙁
It’s not the end of everything though, as you said, the experience you gained through this is invaluable, you have a concept but there will be another time, a better time for this.
Your bakery is something you should really be concentrating on now and one day GROOVE will happen and it will be amazing!
xxx
Oh, Gina! So sad! It’s their loss, not yours – you are destined for greatness!
I am so sorry! I have always felt like things happen for a reason. Maybe there is something bigger/better in the works for you. You are such an awesome girl, I am sure Plan B will be spectacular! In the meantime I will patiently wait for macaroonie giveaways 😉
chin up girl, you are a rockstar!
So sorry Gina!!!! 🙁
Try to just look at it as another bump in the road. The vast majority of entrepreneurs don’t succeed with their first project. So hang in there, keep at it and you’ll be up and running with a crazy new idea in no time!! 😉
xx
Lauren
🙁 that’s really a bummer! I was also very excited for you!!! It is Still quite the accomplishment for you though! I believe this will open the door for many more great opportunities. And maybe a cook book?? 🙂 I know it’s hard when you put your hopes into something like that then the results are out of your control, I think us runners like having control over parts of our lives! 🙂 I know more amazing-ness will come your way though 🙂 no doubts!
Cheers to my favorite blogger! Here’s to finding the upside 🙂
so sorry to hear the news but i’m sure even bigger and better things will come your way!! and now you get to focus on the online bakery and of course those macaroons 🙂
Oh honey, I am sorry to hear about that. But things do happen for a reason.
When one door closes, another one opens. Your time to shine will come when it is the right time.
I think of this when looking for a house. My husband and I are still looking for a house (we are going on a year now). We keep making offers but keep getting rejected. We know there is one out there for us so we have to keep trying until we hit a home run.
At least you will still continue to do things you love (like zumba, making vegan meals, hanging with the pupz and the huz)
You can always do fabulous giveaways and you know we are always here for you!
Gina, I am so sorry to hear that. I completely agree with your notion that everything happens for a reason. I can’t wait to see what exciting thing comes along for you next!
Sorry about the news 🙁 But I’m sure you’re right – when another door closes….
I just have to put out good thoughts and hopes for you that everything happens for a reason. I too, was -this close- to closing on a business, and it ended up not working out. Now I’m in Cali, which I love, and I NEVER would have been able to come here had the business worked out. You never know what the universe has in store for you.
Aw, I’m sorry, Gina.
Look at all these great supportive comments, the right time will arrive and something even better will happen.
so sorry lady! i cannot wait until you open the online store though!!! 🙂 can i just pay you to make me some macaroons? i dont care if you make in your kitchen with all the pupper hair 🙂