After 2 1/2 years of prayer, thought, research, development and trial and error, Jamani Java is about to finally open for business. We are so close to that BIG day that I can almost taste the smoothies now. Today, all our brewing equipment was installed, cranked up and calibrated. Tomorrow, some final trim and cabinetry is being handled. Wednesday, we have our Health Department inspection. And if all goes well, watch for the big NOW OPEN banners! Here's a picture of proud me standing by the espresso machine after it was installed.
A big THANK YOU to Deb Presley for helping me keep up with the details; to Nick Chambers for being a great "I'll do whatever needs to be done" kinda guy; and to one of my newest staff members, Lisa Merry for working hard all day her first day here.
Riches don't make life good; good people makes life good.
A big SHOUT OUT to Larry & Logan from Columbia Street Roastery for being the greatest techies in the world to work with. Huge kudos to Mark Herriott for believing in our dream.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A Million Details
Jamani Java is at that point of completion where about 1.45 million details have to be handled. Before this adventure I was never much of a detail person. Now all I see is details. That's both good and potentially bad. I have to pay attention to the details, but I also have to avoid letting the details take up all my time and attention.
Jamani Java is a coffee house, but it is much more. There is, in my humble opinion, a huge vision behind this project. I envision not just one Jamani, but up to 100 of them scattered across this great nation. I know, compared to McDonalds or Starbucks, 100 coffee houses isn't much. But just think of the number of people that would frequent, find purpose, meaning and community, and maybe even find faith in 100 Jamani Javas.
Need numbers? Okay. Our estimated traffic count per day is 350 guests. Multiply that by 365 and you get 127,750 encounters per year. Of that number about 20% or 25,550 are going to be one-time, just-passing-through-encounters. The rest, approximately 102, 200 encounters throughout the year may possibly be God-given opportunities to meet new friends. Multiply that by 100 and the number is mind boggling compared to the usual number of encounters that a little 'ol country pastor like myself would normally have in a lifetime let alone one year. If even a fraction of those encounters lead to conversations of faith or encounters with God's grace...well, how cool would that be!
So yea, I have details to take care of. But I also have a vision...a big one. It's a vision to start a movement that literally changes the way we think of church, evangelism, making friends, and drinking coffee.
Jamani Java is a coffee house, but it is much more. There is, in my humble opinion, a huge vision behind this project. I envision not just one Jamani, but up to 100 of them scattered across this great nation. I know, compared to McDonalds or Starbucks, 100 coffee houses isn't much. But just think of the number of people that would frequent, find purpose, meaning and community, and maybe even find faith in 100 Jamani Javas.
Need numbers? Okay. Our estimated traffic count per day is 350 guests. Multiply that by 365 and you get 127,750 encounters per year. Of that number about 20% or 25,550 are going to be one-time, just-passing-through-encounters. The rest, approximately 102, 200 encounters throughout the year may possibly be God-given opportunities to meet new friends. Multiply that by 100 and the number is mind boggling compared to the usual number of encounters that a little 'ol country pastor like myself would normally have in a lifetime let alone one year. If even a fraction of those encounters lead to conversations of faith or encounters with God's grace...well, how cool would that be!
So yea, I have details to take care of. But I also have a vision...a big one. It's a vision to start a movement that literally changes the way we think of church, evangelism, making friends, and drinking coffee.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Newspaper Article Generates Interest
Last week, The Pantagraph of Bloomington, Illinois ran a nice article on Jamani Java. Coincidentally, the article came out the same day that Jamani's good neighbor Mike Rave hosted
an open house for his new insurance office. Many who came to the open house also saw the article in the paper and couldn't help but want to see the inside of Jamani Java even though it wasn't yet open for business. What a joy to have so many interested and truly excited people come through our doors, to give them the grand tour and to tell about our vision. It was a wonderful experience and just a little foretaste of things to come, I'm sure.
an open house for his new insurance office. Many who came to the open house also saw the article in the paper and couldn't help but want to see the inside of Jamani Java even though it wasn't yet open for business. What a joy to have so many interested and truly excited people come through our doors, to give them the grand tour and to tell about our vision. It was a wonderful experience and just a little foretaste of things to come, I'm sure.
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