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What is wrong with me today? Maybe my period is due. Doing a quick mental calculation, I realize that’s still weeks away. Must be the late night then. Taking a deep breath, I try to push off the negative emotions that keep trying to dim the happiness I usually feel when I'm here. I'm definitely exhausted, and obviously hungover, but on top of that, I just feeldown. Shaking it off, I slap on a fake smile before heading back out for a busy Friday morning.
Fake it until you make it, right?
ON MY MIND- ELLIE GOULDING
The morning passes in a rush, the shop a madhouse for most of it. A couple hours after I arrived, another one of my employees, Uri, came in to help with giving the twins breaks while I set about my mid-morning cleaning routine. Uri is a loud and vibrant addition to our otherwise quiet morning crew. He brings life and entertainment to all of us, customers included, and his happy attitude every morning never fails to wake me up.
Today, however, even Uri can’t fix my mood.
"Are you okay, Vi?" Kai asks softly, bumping my hip with hers as she joins me in wiping down the small circular bistro tables in the lobby.
Groaning, I shake my head but can't fight the smile tugging on my lips. "I'm too damn old, girl, that's all."
Her lips thin out and she nods stoically in understanding which is ridiculous considering she and her sister can't even legally drink yet. "Yeah, you really are." My mouth drops open and I gape in horror. I stare at her, speechless. This sweet, sweet angel of a girl just dissed me. I've never heard her say a cruel thing in my life.
Her lips twitch. Once. Twice. Then she doubles over the table laughing hysterically at my expense. "Oh my God, you should have seen your face," she wheezes out in between snorts. I roll the damp towel I'm using to clean and fashion it into a weapon before whipping it at her tiny little butt. She screeches and bounces out of the way before I make contact.
"Oh, shit! Chick fight!" Uri shouts before obnoxiously tapping the vintage bell that sits on the counter. I whip the towel at Kai again as she darts behind a table, using it as a barrier between us. I lunge for her and trip over the spindly leg beneath one of the stools, barely catching myself on the table before flinging myself onto the couch that runs the length of the wall.
Panting, a sharp pain radiates in my knee where I had apparently smacked it on the marble tabletop on my way down. I cringe and rub the ache as I take in a wide-eyed Kai. The shop falls into silence for a few beats before the four of us bust out in raucous laughter. The levity of the atmosphere and my easy friendships with these people lighten my mood tenfold.
Gasping for breath, I compose myself before pushing up to stand. I grimace at the dull throb and limp slightly. Kai gives me a sympathetic look.
"See, told you I'm old," I joke, squeezing Kai's shoulder as I pass her to finish washing the tables. After that, everyone settles once again and heads back to their tasks and I finally feel somewhat better.
The ding of the door opening has me turning to greet the new customer and I'm surprised to find all three of my sisters, plus my nephew Benji, walking in.
"Holy fuckbuckets! It looks so good in here!" Remi cries as she pushes Lily out of the way from the traffic jam she'd created in the doorway, before waddling toward me. My eyes go straight to her massive but adorable belly and though I try to hide it, I can feel my eyes widen.
"Holy fuckbuckets is right," I murmur, still entranced by her size. Don't get me wrong, Remi is a stunning woman. She's one of those rare breeds who never needs to wear a lick of makeup and just gets more and more beautiful with age, but damn. I haven't seen her in a little over a month and she has absolutely hit the last stage of pregnancy.
Finally dragging my eyes away, I look up to find all three of them staring at me with different expressions, varying from confusion to humor to pity. The last one has me gritting my teeth and turning away. I distract myself and my traitorous thoughts ofwill that ever be me, by putting away the cleaning supplies I'd been using. When I rejoin my family, I find Poppy and Lily muttering between themselves, Benji in Lily's arms, and Remi spinning in circles as she takes in everything.
"I never get over this place, Violet. You seriously outdid yourself. It's gorgeous," Remi gushes. She's only been here a handful of times over the last year because she and Lily live a good thirty minutes away and Remi works even further than that. She and Lil's helped me do a launch campaign when I first opened a few years ago, but things have changed since then. I smile as I look around, trying to see everything from her point of view.
The shop is just over 1900 sqft, which is large for SoHo. The space has high ceilings and was originally just one big open floorplan with a closed-in office and restroom, but I added a few rooms when I renovated. The main space is the lobby, coffee bar, and kitchen area. It's shaped like a long rectangle and it's the largest portion of the layout.
When you walk in, you're greeted by bright, vibrant colors, a mix of modern and vintage, with a big side of feminine flair. The classic black and white penny-tile flooring with a honeycomb pattern is original and finding it beneath the gross, dated carpet was a massive surprise. The long wall on the left side stretches the length of the lobby and is our feature wall. It's covered in a light pink wallpaper with a green palm leaf print. Directly in the center is a massive custom pink neon sign that reads,Give me caffeine and tell me I'm pretty.The customers get a kick out of it and it's often photographed.
In front of the feature wall is the seating area. A long, mauve velvet couch spans the entire length of the wall. Positioned in front of it are small, circular white marble bistro tables that are placed every few feet. We have 8 altogether which allows for quite a bit of seating. Each table also has an emerald velvet stool with gold accent legs, opposite the couch, tying the entire area together. Above each table are hanging gold pendant lights with clear glass globes.
The rest of the walls and the ceiling are light pink with chair-rail molding that matches the detailing on the exterior. The right side of the shop is dedicated to the counter, order bar, and open kitchen. The L-shaped counter was custom-made and gives off art-deco vibes. The front paneling is emerald green, with gold trim and accents. The countertop itself is marble, similar to the bistro tables, but easier to clean.
Along the wall behind the coffee bar are four huge arched gold mirrors with floating glass shelves suspended in front of them. It makes the space look bigger while also giving us beautiful, yet functional, storage. For lighting, I have three huge brass starburst chandeliers with small glass globes that match the pendant lights.
I added Pinterest-worthy elements all over the shop to give customers a fun atmosphere to not only visit but interact with. If I've learned anything from Remi, the marketing genius, it's how important it is to create a place that people want to tell everyone about. My sisters and I have debated over and analyzed every tiny detail, down to the to-go cups, which are pink and say,you deserve the world.I even hired a coffee artist to come in and teach the staff and I how to draw things on top of the beverages.
I added a hanging egg chair in front of one of the windows, another fan favorite. Faux palm trees and other plants bring life throughout the shop. There are pops of fun gold decor, like the vintage flamingo that stands by the front door. Local artists, including Kala, display and sell their work free of charge. All of the eat-in drinks are served in matte black mugs, the silverware is brass and sleek. Everything feels like an experience. No area has been forgotten, and that includes the matching bathroom with a neon selfie station.
It seems over the top and extra, but honestly, it's worked.
Sacred Grounds is doing far better than I ever imagined possible. So much so that now, after just three years of being open, I'm making additions. One of the rooms that I created beyond the lobby is, of course, a break room. But the other room, which is still closed off, will be a room dedicated to those who want to come here andread. It's going to be a space for those who need peace, quiet, and the sweet reprieve of a good book.
Along with that addition, I am also working with a local bakery to supply desserts, pastries, and small dishes, as well as some other fun treats. My goal is to make this place feel comfortable, fun, and enjoyable. Every time someone walks through the door, I want them to feel special,seen.It's basicallyCheers, but with coffee and doughnuts instead of beer and peanuts. Or, at least, that's what I'm aiming for.
"Aunty Vivi?" A tug on my knee-length apron from tiny hands pulls me from my daydreams. Bending down, I grin at my adorable nephew and pluck him up off the ground, bundling him in close. He wraps his arms around my neck and gives me a tight, borderline choking embrace, and even though he's cutting off my oxygen supply, I realize just how badly I needed this. My family and a really freaking good hug.
I pull back and pepper his face with kisses, making him giggle. "So, not that I don't want you all here, but what's up? Any reason that you're blessing me with your presence?"
