Happy Holidays!

The day before Christmas Eve we received the best gift there is---we closed on our loan! Things are moving forward full force now--this week and next week we will be finishing up all the wiring for our stereo, tv, secuirty, etc. Once all of this is done it's all downhill--they will paint the ceiling and finish up the walls, install the wainscot, put in the tile floors (which I think i'm most excited about!) Once all of the is done they will put in all the lights and then we just wait for all of our equipment and furniture to be delivered. Our equipment could start arriving as early as next week! I am working hard on finalizing all of those little details, like the menu, cups, our menu boards and exterior signs, wow, I guess those aren't such little details.

Here are the most recent pictures I have, as you can see, our window is installed and complete!!!

It's Coming Along

Coffee Buzz is really starting to take shape. The walls are done and they started painting today! The next step is for Best Buy for Business (yes this is a plug) to come in and do all the wiring for our sound system, tv and computer. We also have someone coming in to do the alarm. Once that stuff is done they'll paint the ceiling and start on the floors! The guys are moving so quickly that they're actually going to have to take a couple of weeks off while we wait for all of our equipment to be delivered! We're estimating that everything will be done by the second week of January!!! From there we'll need to hire, train and practice then it will be time to actually open for business!!!!!! Here are a few pictures I took today---how much do you love the yellow walls?

This will be the front counter and service area!

View from the front door

Here is our fireplace! We're going to mount a tv over the mantle, it will also be covered with really cool white stone.

This is the second window we put in! The frame is all set, now it's just a matter of getting that bad boy in there!

Here's the view from the other side.

This is our back storage room and office.

This is one of our bathrooms!

It's Official...

Coffee Buzz now officially has TWO, that's right two, Certified Food Managers. The Minnesota Department of Health requires that every food establishment has a food manager. In order to become a food manager you need to jump through several unpleasant hoops. Those hoops being: a 10 hour online course (which you have to pass with 80% or above), an additional 4 hours of studying and memorizing food borne illnesses and the internal temperatures of cooked meat (yup, always make sure your shellfish is cooked to 135 degrees, especially at a coffee house) and finally taking an 85 question exam that you need to pass with 80% or above. After all of this Jason and I proudly passed and are officially Certified Food Managers! This means you can all come to Coffee Buzz and drink your mochas comfortably being certain that the mug was properly sanitized.

If These Walls Could Talk

As you can see from the pictures below--WE HAVE WALLS! The construction is moving so fast and the guys are going a great job!

This is the view from the front door looking in. The dropped cieling will be over the service area.

This is the hallway and the two doorways on the right are our bathrooms!

This is one of our super cute little bathrooms!

This will eventually be our fireplace!

Here, they are starting to tear out the wall to put in a new window! 

Shout Out!

Introducing....Our LOGO.....

I have to give a major shout out to my dear friend Chris Soash for designing our logo! Chris and I have been friends since high school and it was in our many mutual art classes that I first discovered how talented Chris is. Since, Chris has graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a degree in Graphic Design. When it came to designing a logo, Chris, was my first thought. He actually hand drew the font above! He did this amazing logo along with a fun graphic, which you'll have to wait to see! 

Stophie, thanks for your hard work! I can't wait to see your design big, bright and hanging above our store!

Coming Along

I stopped by Coffee Buzz on Friday and they are really coming along. The wall framing is completed as well as the dropped ceiling above where the service area will be. The fireplace is also framed, which isn't shown in the picture. As you can see, they are also starting to insulate the walls!

Day 1

Construction started yesterday and I am in shock in how much they have already accomplished. As you can see from the pictures below they already have the frames for the walls. As for the rest of this week, the plumber is supposed to come and get going on the bathrooms. I'll be stopping by again on Friday, so be looking for more pictures!

This is the view from the front door. The doorway on the right will be into our back room. The doorway further back and to the left will be the hallway to the bathrooms!

This is the view from the dry cleaners. The doorway directly in front leads to the bathroom.

Baby's First Pictures!

A few weeks back, we went and saw the inside of the future Coffee Buzz! Consider these the "Before" pictures!

 

This is our store front! If you look closely you can see a little puggle at the front door! :o)

This is a view from the inside looking out to the street. Eventually, this will be a view from behind our counter.

A view from the opposite side, the fireplace will be in the left corner--next to the window.

This is the view from the front door. Soon, you'll be able to see our counter, the hallway with the bathrooms and the attached dry cleaner.