Continuing my articles about the jobs I have worked...
The Store
Towards the end of my paper carrier days...my Dad opened up a ice cream shop in town.
A short background on him. He had planned on going into the Diocese to become a Catholic priest. He then changed his mind for some reason or another and went to college to get a degree in Business. Afterwards, he worked as a salesman for a large international mining equiment manufacturer. After about 15 years, he was let go in favor of a younger workforce. He then went to work for another mining supplier and after five years or so...he was hired back at his original job. He stuck with them again for....hmm...maybe five years or so and was let go again for the same reasons.
My Dad isnt the kind of person who just sits and does nothing. He likes to be working and always has been doing something of some sort all his life. He then worked for a small mining supplier and then eventually decided to go into business for himself and had the idea of running an ice cream shop.
I dont remember what the store was before he started renting it out...I just remember going in there and him telling me what he was going to do. He built everything in there himself...new walls, bathrooms, the back room and prep area...etc. He is very handy and very good at building stuff. He only had people come into install the electical and plumbing aspects of it.
The store served an ice cream that is made here in MN, in a small town. The company itself has been around for years and its ice cream is by far the best out there. They had many many flavors to choose from as well as yogurt, sherbert varities. No Soft Serv - YUCK!
We made everything from regular cones to home-made waffle cones to sundaes to banana splits to parfaits. We then had a fountain pop machine and made some sodas like they used to with carbonated water and syrup.
After about a year or so...my dad figured out that the winter wasnt really a good time for a ice cream shop, so we started selling sandwhiches, 1/4 beef hot dogs, soups; and we became a local distributor for a nearby chocolate and nut company.
My dad taught me how to make everything and after a while, I became a pro at it. I loved it when it was busy there and us two were the only ones working and it was crazy...orders left and right. Id take the orders and he would make them or vice versa. Maybe hed be in charge of the sundaes and cones and Id be in charge of the shakes, malts, parfaits...etc. I loved going there and opening the store at 7 or 8 am on a cold winter day when it had just snowed. Id have to take a shovel and clear the walk way and back door area...and make a fresh pot of coffee.
It was fun washing a entire load of dishes in 60 seconds. I guess that isnt really anything to be proud of..Im not. Im just amazed at the super fast dishwashers out there that blast hot water and soap at dishes and get them 100% clean in one minute...when the dishwashers we have at home do a poor job taking 45-60 minutes.
I worked there for the entire 2 1/2 years it was open. He decided to close it down because he was making enough to keep it open, but not enough to bring any home. I know he loved it...but it also took up alot of his time.
I myself had a blast working there. I loved taking orders and making them and making them look the best they could. I loved when people had new ideas and we tried them to see if they worked (like...chocolate cherry coke or coffee shakes...interesting!).
I learned alot of things...I became very responsible as my dad had high expectations of me. One thing he told me was when he saw me sitting down while I was at work. I just didnt think I had anything else to do. He saw me and said that he didnt pay me to sit on my ass, that he paid me to work. It makes sense...I just never really thought about it. Since that day, when Im at work...Im always working and if Im not, I try to find something to do to keep busy. Now it drives me nuts when Im working as a para professional and I have nothing to do. I start going from room to room looking to see if anyone needs help.
Since then...he has worked for a local computer parts maker as a warehouse manager, and now he works at another mining equipment place rebuilding and working on large industrial pumps used in the mines. Next year, he is going to retire and then move when he gets remarried; and he will then most likely get a job at a home depot or Menards in the area as he doesnt want to sit at home. He likes to keep busy.
So...I guess that is what that job taught me...just to stay busy at work...get help when needed and always have something to do, take action for yourself to get the job done. Look for things that need to be taken care of, dont just overlook things...but stay busy.