She’ll talk about it at the JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly on July 13. The result is a just-about-to-be-published book, “More After the Break,” in which, as the subtitle tells us, “A reporter returns to ten unforgettable news stories.” But covid gave her the gift of time to think. Maxfield said, she’s too busy to think about that. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories She also orders books and has a loyalty card, which yields a $5 discount on the tenth purchase. For her, it’s a place to hang-out, meet friends, or just keep reading.Īmanda said the keys to its future success are: 1) continuing their welcoming atmosphere, 2) showcasing more local food and drinks, 3) getting people excited for events, 4) maintaining its outdoor seating after the pandemic fades.She’s the reporter who asks the questions, tells the story, leaves the viewer not only informed but very often also moved or angered or alarmed - and then pivots to the next story, the next outrage or joy or sadness or inexplicable act of kindness, because there’s always a next story.īut what happened to the people whose story she told? and currently a vocal and piano coach, gravitated to Rough Draft pre-pandemic to “browse, drink coffee, and try to find a comfy chair to read in.”Īt the tables, she’d see a bevy of business or creative meetings taking place. So when people want a heftier lunch at Rough Draft, they’ll direct them to Kingston Bread and Bar for a sandwich.īarbara Wild, a retired high school music teacher from nearby Saugerties, N.Y. When a neighbor Aaron Quint installed a small oven in Rough Draft’s back room and started baking bread, it led to their starting a business close by, Kingston Bread and Bar as co-owners. It serves pastries and drinks, which siphons off some business but not a substantial amount, Amanda said. And it also holds local brewery showcases, political roundtables, lectures and movie screenings-you name it.Īmanda says their target audience is broad but includes young professionals, who now work from home and can stop by for coffee, parents with their kids, especially on weekends, community and political groups. Pre-pandemic, it held a series of events including trivia nights, live music, local author showcases, and book clubs. Most people who order books come to pick them up two or three days later. And Amanda said many customers do so to “support Main Street USA” and there’s a backlash about “too many people ordering everything from Amazon.” ![]() And it orders books for customers who can pick them up at Rough Draft or it provides local delivery for a small fee. ![]() It operates as a full-service bookstore with several thousand titles for sale in the shop. The pandemic “hit hard,” noted Anthony Stomoski. “We shut down briefly, and then reopened bit by bit, starting with home delivery of books, beer and coffee.” By year’s end, business was down 20%, which the couple felt managed to contain the losses.ĭuring the pandemic, to generate revenue, it created an online ordering system, for home delivery of books, coffee beans and beer, to Woodstock, Rosendale, Kingston, and Hurley, about a 20-minute radius. Indoor seating still isn’t permitted, but they’re aiming to bring it back in April. ![]() ![]() The pandemic hurt liquor sales, but coffee and book revenue spiked. By the end of 2020, sales stemmed from 40% books and merchandise, 40% coffee and food and 20% alcohol. It serves beer, wine, cider, coffee, and savory pies from Down Under Bakery, a Brooklyn bakery, which guests order for lunch.īefore the pandemic, its revenue broke down to 40% coffee and food, 35% beer and wine, and 25% books and merchandise. It kept its menu simple and straightforward. But when the pandemic struck and closed indoor dining, it pivoted and created two dozen outside seats. And that’s exactly what they built.Īt the outset, it seated 40 guests inside, with two small benches outside for seating. Their original vision was a long bar that seated 10 to a dozen people, where guests could also chat on a comfy couch or do their work, and where they could move tables to hold events.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |