Michael was a permanent fixture at Metro. He knew and liked everyone. And he was liked by everyone in return because that's just who he is: a downright likable guy and great conversationalist. But he did spend an excessive amount of time at Metro. If you ever wanted to just shoot-the-shit or delve into the very meaning of life, you could count on Michael Vaclav to be there. I did. Many times. So many times, in fact, that I fell in love.
Don't get me wrong. Michael and I had a tight circle of friends through whom we first got to know each other. So our relationship didn't actually start at the coffee shop. But in the spring of 2001 we found ourselves hanging out at Metro...together...a lot...A LOT.
Then one night in April we were at Metro, and I offered to drive him home. I pulled up outside his house but he didn't get out of the car and didn't say anything; he just sat there staring out the windshield. After a painfully awkward pause he said, "Alison, I need to ask you something..." The next day we were officially dating. Seven months later we were engaged. Eight months after that we were married, young and unafraid to dream big.
Ironically, the path to pursuing big dreams started when Michael was laid-off from his job with the state in 2003. He took a part-time job at JP's Java, which was the only place in town truly crafting specialty coffee at the time. The true "seeds" of specialty coffee were planted in us there, and it was there we met many folks with whom we would sojourn into the coffee world. By spring 2004 we were busy creating the first Medici, which finally opened in autumn 2006 (which is a whole other glorious story). But THEN... in late 2007 Michael had a serendipitous encounter with the owner of Metro who, of course, remembered him fondly.
The long-time owner was ready to sell his business, and (as I would say it) did not want the space to be eaten up by the monster of inauthenticity that already plagued the Drag. Other local shops on Guadalupe such as By George, The Cadeau, Einstein's Arcade, Tower Records, etc... had all closed or relocated because leases for retail spaces on the Drag were exorbitant. I have no doubt that Metro's owner could have sold his business in a jiffy to some drooly-panting chain store waiting to sink it's teeth into the UT demographic. But instead he sold to us. Newbie entrepreneurs with a huge heart for places were people drink coffee.
So in a manner of speaking, it came full circle. Metro Espresso Bar reopened as Caffe Medici in June 2008. We became stewards of the very space in which our relationship took root, which is why this store has such a deep, enduring place in our hearts.
And it's a good thing too. Because running a business on the Drag has not been a walk in the park...
Then one night in April we were at Metro, and I offered to drive him home. I pulled up outside his house but he didn't get out of the car and didn't say anything; he just sat there staring out the windshield. After a painfully awkward pause he said, "Alison, I need to ask you something..." The next day we were officially dating. Seven months later we were engaged. Eight months after that we were married, young and unafraid to dream big.
Ironically, the path to pursuing big dreams started when Michael was laid-off from his job with the state in 2003. He took a part-time job at JP's Java, which was the only place in town truly crafting specialty coffee at the time. The true "seeds" of specialty coffee were planted in us there, and it was there we met many folks with whom we would sojourn into the coffee world. By spring 2004 we were busy creating the first Medici, which finally opened in autumn 2006 (which is a whole other glorious story). But THEN... in late 2007 Michael had a serendipitous encounter with the owner of Metro who, of course, remembered him fondly.
The long-time owner was ready to sell his business, and (as I would say it) did not want the space to be eaten up by the monster of inauthenticity that already plagued the Drag. Other local shops on Guadalupe such as By George, The Cadeau, Einstein's Arcade, Tower Records, etc... had all closed or relocated because leases for retail spaces on the Drag were exorbitant. I have no doubt that Metro's owner could have sold his business in a jiffy to some drooly-panting chain store waiting to sink it's teeth into the UT demographic. But instead he sold to us. Newbie entrepreneurs with a huge heart for places were people drink coffee.
So in a manner of speaking, it came full circle. Metro Espresso Bar reopened as Caffe Medici in June 2008. We became stewards of the very space in which our relationship took root, which is why this store has such a deep, enduring place in our hearts.
And it's a good thing too. Because running a business on the Drag has not been a walk in the park...
3 comments:
I love hearing this story, and knowing that it's tied to such deep and meaningful roots? What a wonderful adventure!
Thanks Steph. I find it so interesting to reflect on the spaces that became the backdrop for some of the most formative seasons in our lives. So it's fascinating to me that this store has been the backdrop for two completely different seasons of life.
It's like the Lord drew you both there to build his Kingdom. It just confirms things :)
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