Something to talk about…
As promised in a recent Facebook post from The Station, I have plenty of real things coming down the tracks in the near future to keep everyone busy, so I’d like to use this post to let you know what has happened and is happening in the NOW…down at The Station!
We’ll start with the most recent changes causing concern and whispers…it’s ok! We can say all the things, right out loud, “in front of God and Everybody”, as my Ma would say. Our menu at Ma’s Kitchen at The Station is changing…again! We are embracing what this space is meant to be, and letting go of what is just not working, and are happy to announce Ma’s Kitchen will be serving additional breakfast items from 6am until 3pm daily, and soup as our only “lunch” option for the remaining summer months. Our evening hours will begin a little later, 5:30 to 7:30, for your after-dinner espresso or ice cream! We will continue our full coffee and ice cream shop offerings, and will add to those as we feel inspired!
Why, you ask?! Why take away the sandwiches so many people were enjoying down at The Station? In the simplest terms, because it was killing me. Everyone who came in excited to run the kitchen soon had the life sucked out of them too. And this last week, when being short-staffed forced us to operate as “just a coffee and ice cream shop”, the haze cleared, the burden lifted, the expenses decreased, and the vision, my vision, became crystal clear! Let this place be what it is supposed to be, not try to be everything to everyone!!
Our “kitchen” is not a full commercial kitchen. This building was not designed in its current state to handle the full menu of commercial kitchen activities. I give a robust tip of my hat to the former owner who made a Subway-esque menu a great go here! The unpredictability and accompanied food waste or shortage was insanity inducing! I cannot continue in the same way, but I can carry on in my way!
That really is at the heart of all this – finding my way, seeing my vision realized, not my vision through what others think I should do! A relentless people-pleaser and planner, I did my research before starting this business, and knew it would be tough, but I heard our customer base: “We want…later open hours, more variety of offerings/specials, more whole, real food options…”. YES - I want those things too! But this is not the space to do ALL of that, and I am so pleased that we do have several other establishments in the area that ARE equipped to provide those options!
We are grateful for your support, your patience, your enthusiasm, and even your well-intentioned criticisms as we find our way into the space we are meant to fill on Historic Main Street in Downtown Trempealeau! I will never disregard the needs of my community, and am so pleased to have found a path forward that allows everyone, including me, to bring our best selves forward and shine our light in only the way we each can!
For even more of the “why”, please join me over on my personal blog “Soul-Aligned Scripts”, where I will *soon* share the deeper experiences, visions, realizations and what I envision moving forward in my life, my business, and all the future activities…down at The Station!
It’s a wild ride for sure, and wait ‘til we talk about what’s coming next - I can’t wait! All Aboard!!