@JoelECarlson: Good morning everybody! Lets get started Tweeting with Jill of @128cafe to start off things right.
Q – #1 So Jill, where did you grow up, go to school, and what was your 1st job?
Jill: I grew up & graduated from Apple Valley HS (when there was only 1) & my first job was at a stationery store
Q – #2 So what process led you to being with @128cafe? Did you work with restaurants in the past?
Jill: I had waitressed thru college. In my senior yr, I met my husband. He’s a pilot & his work had us moving all…
over the country. So restaurant work suited our lifestyle. I dabbled a bit in corp & non-profit work, but it’s…
difficult to have a work-a-day sched. w/someone who does not. Then I was pregnant & knew I didn’t want to work FT…
FT so that’s when I went back to waitressing at 128 cafe. It was our fav restaurant & a good fit for my personality
Q – #3 So how long have you been with @128cafe, and what’s your roll there now?
Jill: I started there in ’02 & was there until late ’06. The original owners closed the restaurant in 6/07. .
I bought the business that summer, rehired the staff, renovated the space & re-opened 11/07…
so now I am the owner/general manager/waitress/host/anything else that needs doing
Q – #4 Impressive. So how did it feel transitioning from employee to owner? What made you want to reopen @128cafe?
Jill: It’s a role that I’ve definitely grown into. I never had aspirations to own a restaurant, it’s something about…
128 cafe that just suits me. For me, it’s a place that is more than the sum of it’s parts I felt this way before I…
ever worked there.
It’s a funny little space, but it’s cozy & has that secret little spot feel. I work w/great friends & we have very…
loyal customers/friends that make it feel more like friends are coming for dinner than work
Q – #5 With the rise in food prices, is it a bit trickier to run a restaurant right now?
Jill: dealing with a crappy economy is WAY trickier!
Higher food prices is just insult to injury.
Q – #6 For sure! Now more about YOU. FAVORITE(S): Restaurants, stores, comfort food, hobby/activity and neighborhood.
Jill: I don’t get out as much as I’d like due to working evenings & I have small children. But, I love Restaurant Alma..
Zumbro Cafe in Linden Hill for brkfst & Sen Yai Sen Lek in NE Mpls for lunch. I love shopping the boutique stores…
along Grand Ave. Squire House Gardens in Afton is a good place to get me a gift cert :) because I love gardening…
and riding my cool new bike complete w/coffee cup holder & front mounted kid seat for my almost 3 yo around the..
the lovely river town of Stillwater (where we live).
Q – #7 Nice! To close, in 1 Tweet, why should people come and check out @128cafe?
Jill: Have you heard about our ribs? Our totally awesome foodtruck? Have we met? (I’m really proud of what we do!) THANKS!
@JoelECarlson: Thanks Jill! See you and the @128cafe food-truck soon!
Jill: Thanks Joel-I look forward to it!