The Acme Story & Cookbook

Like Day 11, Day 12 was also short for the effect of the holiday; but again, I had to make the most of my day. 
 
Right in my neighborhood are shops that I have not spoken to yet for my project, but these are shops that are right within my criteria---locally owned and independent.
This led me to a stretch of shops starting with Thai Cuisine, a shop my friend and I had eaten at in the past. They have good food---I remember we had fried rice there, and it was good. I stopped right in front of the store, where a man seemed to be overlooking the work of a lady sweeping away the litter of Fall's fallen leaves. He said a word or two from time to time to point the lady here and there.



I introduced myself to the man and asked to speak to the owner. “What is this about?” the man asked. I explained my purpose. “ I am the owner, and how does this help me? Are you selling something?”



“Well, no, this is at no cost to you, and you don't have to pay me anything. I want you to be assured of that first. This is my project to gather the stories of small business owners in Austin who have started businesses in Austin, possibly document it, and share it with others. For starters, we can do an interview for 30 minutes, and I'll bring my equipment to record it.” I laid out.



“Well, I am busy now,” he came back. “No, not right now, but at a time when you are not busy.”



“Maybe 2pm,” He offered. “What time?” I came back mistakenly, totally missing what he said. “2pm!” He said, seeming to be inconvenienced a bit. I quickly corrected, making clear I meant what day.



“Tuesday,” He offered. I think I explained what I will need to record a quality conversation, and tried to prove the existence of my blog by showing him pages of it on my phone, when he turned everything down entirely.
“I change my mind. I am not interested,” He said. I thanked him and left.



I thought it over, knowing that an uninterested owner is best left alone. When I do interviews, it's not merely recording the owner's words, but it's an experience for me, too, which I should enjoy. I will not enjoy someone who doesn't want to talk to me. Let's work with the willing.



I took a few minutes to think things over, and went to my next shop, TomoSushi. TomoSushi seemed closed, for the curtains were drawn, and you can't really see inside. But I dared, walked to the door, pulled it out, and it came open.



I walked into an small and cozy space of restaurant that had a few workers busy with serving the few customers they had, and asked to speak to the owner. A man with a bandana wrapped around his head drew me his way, and asked my purpose.



“ I am assuming you are the owner,” I said. “Yes,” he responded. I explained my purpose, and asked for a suitable time to do the interview. “3pm, tomorrow,” he offered. I was taken aback a little with the quick offer, but I took it, and assured the day as Saturday, and that I'll bring my equipment, and will need 30 minutes, and some quiet space. “Okay,” he said.



I took the notes---the date, the name of business, and time---on the sheet inside my binder, and went to the next business, KebabTime.



KebabTime has been in business for 1 month, and seemed largely empty. I found two men sitting at a table near the counter, seemingly at ease in a conversation. I introduced myself and my reason for stopping by. One of them, to my right, told me to call back later to speak to the owner, and asked some more of my project, and the particulars. I made it clear, and asked how long they have been in business. That's how I knew it's been a month.



I gave them my name and blog information, and asked when to stop back to speak to the owner. “3pm, Monday,” he said, and gave me the owners name---Sefa---when I asked. “You must be close to the owner,” I asked. “I am one of the partners, but speak to him first,” he directed. I thanked him, and went on.



Silver Grill Cafe was the next stop. I walked in and stood, watching the TV screens, as I noticed the WTA pictures on the screen, wondering what tournament it was and who was playing. I stood after noticing the waiter lead those who had walked in before me to their seats, which made me choose to wait.



A man, noticing I was unattended, walked up to me, and asked how he could help me. I told him my project, and asked to speak to the owner. “I am the owner, and we can do something after 2pm on Wednesday,” he offered. I took the offer. He asked, and I assured him I will call ahead to confirm before heading out.


Silver Grill is a nice cafe, with bamboo used to make some of their railings inside, and the sitting area inside seemed private but inviting. I could see myself there with a friend, catching a game on TV, or something. I asked for a business card to help me call to confirm, got it, thanked the owner, and left.



I stopped by Synergy Fitness, and found it empty. A lady walked in assuredly, and seemed to be an employee, of whom I asked the whereabouts of the employees. “They may have left it open for their members to use, after the thanksgiving, and I am here to clean up.” Thanking her, I left to my last shop on that block, It's A Grind Coffee House.



You know what? This project has revealed a lot to me about my neighborhood and the city. I have come to find some interesting businesses in Austin, which I would otherwise probably never know of. This was one of them.



It's A Gring Coffee House is about 7-8 minutes by foot from my apartment, and I have never been there. It's a nice set up, with free Wi-Fi. It's suitable for someone like me, who like to sit and write. I often use the Starbucks close-by, which is about 15 minutes by foot from where I live, but It's A Grind Coffee House is right next door, in a sense, and I can more easily get there.
Yet I found the owner absent. “Allie the attendant's had me write a short description of my project and my contact information for Sonya, the owner. I thanked them, and left, promising to try back some time.



But to wrap up my day, I went back to Bat City Cross Fit, a crossfit gym, I stopped at first before heading over to Thai Cuisine. Earlier, reading the open time, I realized they will be open in about an hour's time, so after leaving It's A Grind Coffee House, I went back to see if I could speak to the owner.



Dom, whom I spoke to, asked me to come back in the morning at 9am to speak to Tommy Do, the owner.



This being right in my backyard, I wrapped up the day, by thanking God, who got me through the day, though I was dealing with a headache earlier in the day, and didn't have much relief until I went out to prospect. At a point, I wanted to turn back and go home to rest, but turned around at the last minute to give it one more shot. I ended up setting an appointment for the next day, and enjoyed it all. Thanks to God.



I stopped by Frys Electronics to get a new lapel microphone to help improve my voice in the recordings---I hand the owner a lapel mic and use a headset with an in-line mic for myself, and I have noticed the owners voice level to be fairly consistent, while mine drops in and out often.



You guys may have noticed that my voice seems to grow faint as the interviews progress, which is something I do in real life, as I gather my thoughts to present them carefully. This leads to me lowering my voice, and often makes my point unclear to you, the listeners. Pardon me.



I got the lapel microphone, and hopefully that helps.



On to day 13.