Its a tremendous pleasure for me to announce that the queen of retail, diva of deli and princess of pastrami (aka Jessie Roher) will be returning to Caplanskydom.  Jessica is my good luck charm and close friend.  She volunteered to help me open my deli-in-a-dive-bar 18 months ago and only left about a year ago to pad her resume with some higher education – a Master’s degree from LSE no less.

Since returning in September Jess finally succumbed to my begging and pleading.  Yes, my friends, the lovely and talented Ms. Roher will reprise her role starting the day after tomorrow (NYE!).  This time, she’ll do her own singing and dancing as well as my bookkeeping and just generally help me keep my shit together.  I couldn’t be happier to welcome her back.  We sat together today and reminisced about opening day at the Monarch (plates donated by her mom Beth and a plastic cup for a cash register donated by our friends at the Monarch).  She said we were “playing deli” for months and she’s right.  Now? We’re really a deli.  And a pretty good one too.  We’ll only get better with her influence and input.

Your’s too.  I love it when people send me messages about their experience at the deli.  Of course, the positive ones feel good but the not so positive ones are even more helpful.  I can’t be there 24 hours a day so its nice when customers and friends let me know how we did when I’m not around.  Ivy Knight, a Drake Hotel cook, freelance writer and all-around great lady was kind enough to Tweet about how awesome my team is while we were getting slammed yesterday.  She’s right.  The one and only Vishanti Moosai came in on her day off (for the second day in a row) to help save the day.

In the words of Now’s Steven Davey, I am indeed a very lucky man.

Caplansky’s will be closing at 8 pm on December 24 closed on December 25 and 26. We’ll also be closing at 8 pm on December 31 but open Jan 1, 2nd and 3rd. We will close from the 4th to the 8th.

I spent the morning at Ikea buying a bed, dresser, wardrobe, rug, desk and bookshelf.  After the stuff was delivered this evening I went to take a look at a vintage Danish sofa and chair set that I found on Craigslist.  Both pieces are super-comfy and sport wide teak arms and legs, original fabric, chrome feet and funky casters.  I tried haggling because I really don’t need the chair but couldn’t bear to break up the set.  Impetuosity overcame me and I bought them both.

I’m going to take some time over the Christmas break to assemble Ikea-ware and unpack boxes so this new pad becomes my own little home sweet home.  As I’ve been documenting, the last 18 months has been devoted to starting a business.  As you’ve read, it hasn’t been easy.  I’m not proud of every moment but its like life: good days and bad ones.  In general I’m very proud of what we’ve done.  Yes, “we”.  Although my name is on the door (or above it) this has not been a solo flight.  I am keenly aware of the contribution of scores of others who’ve helped create Caplansky’s Delicatessen.

In my former life as a political organizer I used to tell candidates never to name names in their election night thank you speech.  The reason? Someone always gets left out and I know how that feels from my own experience.  It sucks.  Let me generalize then.  I owe a debt of gratitude to my customers who keep coming back.  Here’s an email I received yesterday from Fraser Robinson:

“I was a big fan of the Clinton operation but was all bummed and negative when I showed up in those new days on College street and you’d run out of smoked meat…granted, I settled happily for the Grilled Versht, which was amazing, but I was still overly grumbly. “I’ll never be back!”, “An outrage!” etc… No longer. Had the smoked meat and a poutine tonight and I’m back in love. Hot stuff.
With great respect from a fickle eater, I remain your humble (and once again regular) client,” See why I love this business?

A therapist once told me that he defines happiness as “the struggle for a worthwhile goal”.  If that’s true then I owe thanks to my team who stuck with me through the fire of hell that was opening week and shared with me the joy of knowing we’re building something special.  Building a business is a worthwhile goal and this struggle brings me lots of happiness (as well frustration, stress, exhaustion and lots in between).  It has at times been an overwhelming experience and I know I’m getting better at it day by day.

When I decided to leave the Monarch I knew I’d have to raise some money to renovate the new space.  Following the “House of Chan Model” I assembled an A List of community leaders to back me.  Last week we had our first Quarterly Investor’s Breakfast and it could have gone much worse.  See, one of my great failings is my incompetence with financial accounting.  All my attention has been on operations not administration.  We’ve drafted outside help to get the books in shape but by the time of the meeting all the bank rec’s hadn’t been finished so the numbers were “soft”.  Soft as in “a pice of shit”.  The guys were very patient and supportive.  They could have raked me over the coals but asked good hard questions instead.  They expressed their confidence in me and satisfaction with our performance.  So this is to thank The Guys for their support and understanding as well as to the admin team who are working hard to firm up the numbers.

The food press deserves a special thanks.  You have given me more ink, more buzz, more hype and type and airtime than any single restaurant can deserve.  The only thing I ask is that you don’t stop.  Nu? You expected me to say otherwise?

The crew who designed and built the deli? Thanks!

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the deli crazies out there.  I don’t mean that to sound derogatory because these are the hardcore bedrock of supporters every business needs.  These are the folks who write books, post reviews, tell friends, bring family, celebrate birthdays (weddings, brises, shivas, baby namings and bat mitzvahs) with us, hire us to cater, make suggestions, offer to help and just generally get behind me and PUSH!!!  You guys rock and I love you.

To my family and friends: I thank you for understanding that I missed your party, gig, gathering, opening, wedding, play and/or dinner because I was engaged in the struggle for a worthwhile cause.  I’ve had four fantastic girlfriends in the last 18 months yet once again find myself single.  Clearly the struggle I’ve been engaged in hasn’t led to an engagement. However, I believe in the Yiddish concept of “beshert”.  What is “meant to be”, will be.  That doesn’t mean I think we are all like railcars on a predetermined track leading to a destination over which we have no control.  No, I believe that life is what we make it.

Then what shall we make?  I don’t know about you but I’m making a cozy nest.  And did I mention I cook?  :)

I got a call today from Adam McDowell of the National Post. He wanted some comments from me about the poster campaign created by Michael Takasaki and Glen D’Souza of ad agency Bensimon Byrne. I guess its a slow news day. I was a little uncomfortable discussing the subject because some of the ads are a little controvertial and you know how I hate being controversial. Cough cough.

We had a nice chat, Adam and I. “Which poster is the most controvertial.” He asked. This was the question I dreaded. I told him I thought calling out Jesus was over the line but the boys printed it anyway. And even though I’d tucked it behind another poster someone untucked it for all the world to see. Yet no one complained so I left it untucked. It is funny, after all.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theappetizer/archive/2009/11/19/doing-it-deli-style.aspx

Hey Team. I realise its been forever since I posted but I only got my Internet hooked up at the new place earlier today. Even so, the keyboard is on my lap and all my stuff (what’s left of it all after 5 carloads to Goodwill and about as much to some Michigan landfill) still mostly in boxes.

Sandy Gordon, yes THAT (host with the most) Sandy Gordon painted the place last week and it looks great. I highly recommend him for all your painting and hosting needs. Actually just painting – we need him far too much as our front-door anchor to let him go.

I ran into the one and only James Russo the other day. James, you’ll remember, is one of the owners of the Monarch. This was our first meeting since I left that place and it was nice to see him. I like James. He works hard, plays hard and has this big kid sort of demeanor. Unless he’s mad and if he is you’ll want to be somewhere else. I ask how he’s doing and it seems he really misses me. Well, maybe not me so much as my customers. The guy who took over after me only lasted 6 weeks. I can’t imagine what could have happened. James and his partners are so pleasant to work with. Very collegial, warm and supportive. hehehe

I often find myself thinking back to the days at the Monarch. Times were simpler then but times have changed and I’m not unhappy about that either.

So what’s going on at the deli? You’ll have to tune in tomorrow because I’m going to bed. Seriously, I am but thanks for reading and for your patience.