name changes
Brent Finnegan -- July 2nd, 2007
So, Calhoun’s is now Cally’s, because there were other Calhoun’s restaurants in Tennessee. Now The Daily Grind downtown is changing over to Old Dominion Coffee Co. & Cafe (not to be confused with Old Dominion Coffee Co of Norfolk). The other two Daily Grind locations in town are changing their names to Cool Beanz (I assume this is unaffiliated with the Cool Beanz of NY or MN).
I wonder if any of these name changes will affect business. I was in Cally’s yesterday, and it didn’t seem any less full.
I applaud shedding the franchise, but Cool Beanz? Ugh. Do they sell Slurpies?
Maybe I will be able to stop my boycott of Daily Grind now. They need consultants on this name changing thing.
The idea of leaving a franchise has great potential. You have much more freedom but no longer the support of a big brother. Just like the owner said, she now has to come up with menu items, buy products with a differnet label, sign changes, ect. that has to come out of their pockets.
We spent ALOT of time coming up with our own menu ideas and continue to change it to fit the towns needs. We too had issues with our name choice. We started out doing more full lunch and dinner items but the customers guided us to our qsr menu that we use now. We were also threatened with a “cease and disest” by one of the towns businesses becuase they charged us with trying to become successful using their good name and business practices.
The new names that the Daily Grind took might lead them into dangerous waters, I can only wish them the best of luck. There are a lot of big sharks in this pond of ours and we are but minnows trying to get bigger.
I noticed the new Cally’s sign yesterday. “Cool beans” is one of the worst combinations of words in the English language. I don’t know why it elicits that response from me, but it sounds so stupid. Anything is better. “Cool plague,” “cool third term for W,” “cool traffic accident,” “cool adult diaper.” I like them all better than “cool beans” and I could go on. I hope they have a funny little bean with sunglasses on as their new mascot.
Oh man, I just clicked the link and the MN Cool Beanz already has a funny little bean with sunglasses as their mascot. Hope the VA Cool Beanz can come up with a cooler looking one. How about bigger sunglasses and it’s doing a funny dance?
I hope that by shedding the franchise the owners will look into coordinating with some local suppliers. I would support that. As far as Cool Beanz, yeah the coffee shop by my college campus in Ohio also took on that name, after changing ownership. Since the article didn’t mention the Daily Grind on N 42, I’m assuming they are staying with the franchise. I like that Daily Grind except that they tell customers they have free wi-fi and then encourage them to use unencrypted neighboring signals b/c they don’t actually have their own service. Kind of shady.
http://www.aaanimations.com/raisinsing1dp.gif
without the glasses though.
Personally i think “Cool Adult Diapers” is well, kinda cool!
raisin…bean..whatever…
Hilarious. Why not use it? At least then a local restaurant would actually be infringing on a nationally known trademark/copyright. Who else had every single one of those Hardee’s California Raisin figures?
The Daily Grind on 42 is different ownership. From what I hear, you don’t get much territorial protection with a Daily Grind franchise.
Maybe I’m missing something but, who cares what the name of an establishment is, as long as it has good food & drinks and the atmosphere is FUN!!!!
Here here.
I think the name change fallout was all in fun. I can’t believe anyone would not go to Cally’s because of the name. Maybe new people who have never heard of Calhoun’s, but for shame on those who have. :)
I just wish I could have bought a set of glasses or something.
Justin’s right. It’s all in good fun. They’d have to change the name to something unspeakably worse than “Cally’s” to keep me out of there.
But, what did happen to the big rumored glass sell-off? Should I be looking for them on eBay? A Cally’s waitress was nice enough to look the other way a couple years ago when a friend of mine from out of town was visiting and she let him take a souvenir home. Maybe I should tell him to put that baby up on eBay.
Yeah I love the grilled chicken salad at Calhoun’s or Cally’s or whatever, so I’m not going to stop eating there. I do boycott the Daily Grind but that’s because they are so insanely expensive, they can’t pick a name for their coffee sizes (I don’t drink coffee, but if I did, I would be very confused) and I’ve never had good service.
Perhaps coming out from under franchise will cause them to fix some of those things.
Yeah, you could barely get a smile out of any of those people at the Daily Grind, honey! I asked one girl if she had a death in the family. ( it was a joke). She didn’t think it was funny. NOTE TO OWNER OF OLD DOMINION COFFEE – Hire friendly people who smile every once in a while!
I don’t know, TM. I know that Mike C told me that he had 700 of them, and I know that I bought two of them. On Friday, people were carrying them out by the boxload.
The glasses are for sale as long as supplies last. I bought a dozen the other night for $2.00 a piece. Just ask at the bar, and they should be able to help you.
In reference of help ~ what can I say. In my now 3 jobs in the valley, 1 as Food Serice Manager for Pioneeer College Caterers (EMU contractor),2 as Food Avene Team Lead (Target) and now my own business, we have nothing but mediocre luck finding younger (18-31) people to show up on time, dress well enough to serve someone, clean enough in their personal hygiene and dedicated enough to show up. May GOD bless their sole if they could muster a smile. The MAJORITY of our customers in all 3 ventures are more than pleasant to deal with. If these kids think it is horrible to work in this town, may heavan help them if they try and work in a colder climate where the people are much more ignorant and tight budgeted as our southern folk are here. They need to understand that it is a pleasure to meet different people everyday and understand the importance of making people happy.
Now, that is not always easy but in this valley it sure seems to be !
A friend of mine was complaining about the service at the Daily Grind (downtown) and I thought she was exaggerating. Then I went in there with her once… very unfriendly. Not a smile, barely a word. Not everyone, and the owners seem extremely nice, but I’m sure it does affect their business – my friend stopped going there because of it.
And one more thing. These employees need to be told about the 1 to 10 rule. For everyone 1 bad experience someone has, they tell 10 people…and so on…and so on…
Mary Lou, you didn’t call the person behind the counter ‘Honey’ did you? Because I find the way you call people honey all the time rather demeaning. I wouldn’t smile at you either.
How does Chic-Fil-A find friendly employees? I’m really asking… Have you noticed the uncharacteristically friendly service there (especially for a chain fast food joint)? I’ll go out of my way to go there just because of that (and the decent food). I’d love to support more locally-owned restaurants more often, and better service would be a primary driving factor for me.
You’re right Mike! I actually tried to find a manager at Chick-fil-a the other day to tell them how wonderful I was treated by the woman cleaning up the dining area. They were very busy and the managers were all helping out so I didn’t bother them. I have always been treated wonderfully there.
Chic-Fil-A’s drive through staff is awesome. They’re always so nice!
A funny not-so-nice C-F-A story: One time at the on-campus JMU location, I asked for a chicken sandwich w/ extra pickles. What’d they do? They gave me a chicken sandwich in the foil pouch, and on the side, another pouch STUFFED with pickles. Like a small jar’s worth. :-) Not-so-nice, but it made me laugh… and cringe when I had to throw food away.
A company like CFA starts with an owner that knows how to treat the employees right. Sundays OFF, discounted food, proper break rotation and an abundance of help leads to happier employees. If there are 10 cars/people in line and you are the SOLE person in charge of their orders, you can see the look on the employees face. Dispair sets in and then nothing good can come of it.
Just think back to when CFA opened and they gave away all those chicken sandwichs…kinda tells ya they must be great to work for.
Also, if the customer returns consitantly then the employee has a feeling of they did a good enough job to bring someone back for seconds, ect…
A great owner is the best friend to an employee…to the customers and to the surrounding area. Job well done to the empoyees and owner of CFA !
Frank I just want to tell you that I love your restaurant! We’ve used you all twice for baby shower’s and have been so pleased with the food and amazed at the service you all have provided! Thanks so much for caring about your customers!
….just curious,what restaurant does Frank Witt own?
I’m friends with the owner of Chick-Fil-A. I’m going to send them this thread. I’m sure they’d be encouraged to know that their good service is noticed and appreciated.
Frank, I had no idea that your restaurant *was* a restaurant. My office is on Neff and I was disappointed when Bowl of Good closed. I know I can get the soups at Downtown Market, but that’s not too convenient during the day. I’ll have to eat at your restaurant sometime.
Click on his name Benny.
Thanks for finding out about us. Naming WAS a huge obstacle but the advertising in the Breeze, Rocktown and DNR didn’t churn the water much for us. It’s been about word of mouth. Right now, we don’t do the soup thing…summer is a slow time for home-made soups.
I welcome you to our restaurant with open arms and SMILES !
Thanks,
Frank and Barb
PS ~ Just last week we started FREE DELIVERY, so if you need it, we can get it to you.
Thanks Emmy.
Do you deliver downtown? We are always looking for more lunch choices and all of us here love your food!
I’d get rid of all that spam, but I don’t think I have the ability to.
Dang spammers!
Yes we do…..just give us enough time so we can get it to you when you want it.
Deliery starts at 11 am, and cut off is at 7 pm. Someone is always here by 9.
Went by Calhoun’s today. They’re all out of glasses. Curses! Missed out on a piece of Hburg History. Maybe I can get some at that antique shop in the Shenandoah Farmer’s Market in a couple years.
Sorry Tm, my purchase of 24 probably didn’t help. Now i need to know what I’m going to do with 24 pint glasses
Hey Benny, please do not take MY capitalization of GOD as an insult. I was raised Catholic and have always done that. I do not know if it is correct or not but my knuckles have been bloodied by many a nun during my caticsm (sp) for not folling the rules.
Have a great 4th !
Same here Frank…I always hated when we got caught skipping caticism…those nuns were abusive!
Since the subject is restaurants, can anyone tell me what’s going on with the Broadway Jess’s? My niece had a friend call the downtown Jess’s to find out where to get an application and they told her they had nothing to do with that and hung up on her. What’s up with that?
I have no idea, Marci. That’s weird. I was told that it was going to be a Jess’s, but the Keitsa’s sign is still up.
It’s going to be a Jess’. The wife of John Floros, who just died, is opening it up. That would be the brother that owned Jess’ #2.
Frank Witt, No offence taken. I actully realized it right after I posted it.(not to mentioned my wife pointed it out to me).
Christa,
Is the family upset with her or are they just like that on the phone?
Not to open freshly closed wounds but I am curious if anyone read the article in Market Watch magazine about the Calhouns in TN. Talking about proprietary beers and big name brands. Says here that only 7% of total sales for their 9 units is beer sales. Seems low to me. If you would like a 8 free copies of Market Watch (this article is in the July/August) follow the link. http://www.magazines.com/ncom/mag?mid=6978
Hey everyone, just recieved an email about the midatlantic expo coming up and thouth about you. Here is a link that some of you might be interested in. Doesn’t say how much sampler tix is but…
http://midatlanticexpo.com/beer.html
On my many trips downtown on deliveries I have noticed that the Blue Nile still isn’t complete and also lacks the permits required. And now why browsing thru the city’s website, I see the Daily Grind on the corner is up for lease. Any news on these properties?
http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/index.php?id=207
Thanks
Interesting. I think they already have people living above Blue Nile because I noticed plants in the window. Maybe they’re waiting on the permits and that’s why its not finished. The Daily Grind building seems to always be for sale or lease.
Thanks Emmy.
Not sure about their situation, but at the HDR reception Eddie Bumbaugh said they’re expecting it to be open in the “coming months.” Sounds like everything else is ready to go and a permit is what’s keeping the doors closed. On a related note, Celementines in the old Mainstreet looks like it’s coming along nicely and Eddie said their sign is amazing. Also, Pennybackers is opening up in the old Laughing Dog building on Water Street.