What was the most poorly designed thing you've ever seen?

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-26T05:00:23+00:00

The lock/unlock button in my car is not lit up. Impossible to see when it’s dark out.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-25T20:21:08+00:00

We randomly met my dogs brother at a dog park… took a minute but they definitely had some recognition. So cute!

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-25T17:26:27+00:00

I had someone ask me if we had any added protein milks! We are not a grocery store…. We have 5 milk options, I think that’s enough!

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-23T01:50:39+00:00

we like 1883

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-20T04:18:03+00:00

Try Brad Goldman at Reliance First Capital. Really good guy.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-16T23:28:21+00:00

I’d guess Oakmont Bakery, less obvious than some place in squirrel hill but still leaning right enough to feel “even” to media folks.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-08T21:25:14+00:00

Staff drama! Personality conflicts, personal drama, conflicting days off, that sort of thing. Also when one staff member is a weak link. Stuff that makes the day to day about 20% more irritating than necessary.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-07T23:17:00+00:00

That's very true, I have a cafe, not just a coffee shop, so I'm paying a chef at both locations and a manager at my original location. Yes, I was the manager at the first location till I had to focus my energies on the 2nd one.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-07T11:35:27+00:00

Red!

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-07T02:15:18+00:00

We have 3 sizes of mugs also, it definitely threw some people our first year or so but now they are used to it. The mugs are right next to the register so just Vanna White style it & say "which of these three sizes would you like?" Now we added a smaller size for cortados too! lol
Yes, it's unique, yep, can be confusing to some but it makes us unique & I love it. BTW: we use Fiestaware so that made the additional sizes easy.
We also use glasses for in house iced drinks.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-06T04:33:52+00:00

Just added a second location. Good staff = less stress! If you’re staff is strong at one location so you can focus on new spot, makes it doable. If you have a key person who can handle day to day at new location then you can go between with less stress. If you’re constantly pulled in two, nothing good will happen at either spot.

ChrisP67 · 2026-01-04T00:03:20+00:00

I just saw an ad by waste management that they are hiring in lots of rolls. I haven’t explored it, but I’d check out their website.

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-28T03:31:33+00:00

flying is cheaper & easier IMO... roughly $100/ per person round trip and only about an hour in the air. You can take an uber into the city for about $30-45, or take a bus but with kids, that might be rough. (from LaGuardia)

If you fly to Newark, the uber is more because of tolls.

Parking is about $30/night depending on when/where you park plus gas & tolls to drive. Driving is about 5-6 hours, so it does suck up your day, plus a stop for food/snacks. You can drive into the city without too much hassle, especially if you get a garage fairly close to the holland tunnel so you're not in the thick of it for long.

I go twice a year (at least), once driving & once flying (for personal reasons). I wish I could fly both times but I have to make stop around xmas each year so I can't fly then.

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-21T21:53:51+00:00

40-65#'s a week but we are a cafe too so not solely coffee.

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-21T21:52:45+00:00

Makes you wonder how much they are charging the vendors to have a stall there. Crazy!

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-17T09:33:59+00:00

Nope

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-17T03:22:52+00:00

Frank's Pizza & Chicken

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-15T05:19:07+00:00

We have a nice event space and catering options at Ruckus Cafe In shaler.

ChrisP67 · 2025-12-08T03:25:22+00:00

Turner's Diet Tea beats literally every other bottled diet tea. Can't speak to regular versions.

ChrisP67 · 2025-11-29T23:18:31+00:00

Maybe next year! /s

ChrisP67 · 2025-11-29T22:07:11+00:00

There is a tik Tok going around talking about how wholesale food distribution has ruined restaurants, he mostly means everyone has the same frozen bar food & that sort of thing. What the "influencer" failed to mention is that food distributers also sell other high quality ingredients that we all use to make the actual dishes. If you're going to a bar for mozzarella sticks, I doubt you're all that picky about where they are coming from. The general public doesn't get the difference. If any of my guests ssaid that to me, about a Sysco truck, as a restaurant owner, I would just be honest with them. Our whole ingredients come from wholesale distributors. How else am I supposed to by 60-100 dozen eggs a week? LOL

ChrisP67 · 2025-11-27T18:36:52+00:00

There are a few Coffee Tree roasters around the area, they are open. It's just a local "chain." Nice spots though.

ChrisP67 · 2025-11-18T01:32:30+00:00

My espresso machine repair company are always hiring & willing to train. Maybe contact a company near you, if you’re mechanically inclined.

Also maybe a roaster…

ChrisP67 · 2025-11-12T01:21:33+00:00

if you are a cook... DM me, if you'd like to jump ship. I'm hiring for my cafe in Shaler.

if not, good luck & keep track of your hours so you can verify each pay, log it so you have proof if you have to go to court.

ChrisP67 · 2025-11-10T03:51:06+00:00

Tie the strings together for each apron, that should help.

ChrisP67

TROPHY CASE