04/10/2022
URGENT CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION!
Please, read this short story about your neighborhood pizza joints unfortunate fate.
A Fool for Righteousness
There once was a fool, living in the Uintah Basin, who thought he could do right for their (his and his wifes') community, through the little pizza shop that they founded. They did as much as they could and more than most could have imagined, out of a hidden little spot in a town called Myton. Supporting school and medical center fund raising, local events, feeding fire evacuees, and displaying and selling local artists paintings and culinary creations along with employing a few local residents. With all their success the community wasn't large enough to support the goal of building a desirable business for a new owner to take over. So, the fool went looking for a new location.
After more than five years searching, their big break came when they finally got a lease on a big building in a perfect visible main street location, in Duchesne City. They got a two year lease with an option to buy. Excited about the new location, the fool laid out his plan for community involvement. So, the fool put together his designs to provide a community center, with food court style services, with display space for local arts and crafts viewing and sales, and a community stage for local artisens to present their talent and entertain the community and our visitors. He was hoping to create a place where everyone can benefit and build memories.
Opening the new shop after a complete renovation, even during the 2020 pandemic, the community welcomed them with overwhelming support. Then the fool began advertising space available for a pastry, drink, and/or ice cream shop. It didn't take long for a savy business person to recognize a low cost opportunity to introduce their coffee, soda, pastry shop idea to the community. Rustic Roots opened their shop adjacent to Aunt Nee's.
The fool even built and opened a stage and offered it to the community. He sponsored open mic night at the request of a few artists but, after a couple nights of bringing their own sound equipment, of which no one wanted to leave at the shop, they decided it was too much work. So, the fool began looking for an audio designer to set up a top of the line sound system. It took more than six months but, finally got a quote from one of the Salt Lake audio companies. In the mean time the fool rounded up sponsors to fund the sound system and community stage.
Nearly two years passed, the original coffee/soda shop owners were moving and sold their equipment to a new operator that asked to assume the lease, the fool approved. Black Sheep Coffee took over management. They proceeded to bend, break, and violate the lease agreement they signed and failed to create a business model that could attract new customers or capture our patrons.
With the building purchase drawing near the fool, after the building owner refused to make necessary repairs to structural deficiencies, decided not to purchase the run down building. Not, wanting to enter into litigation to get the work done or compensated with a reduced sales amount, which the fool knew the owner would fight against, the fool canceled the purchase.
Letting the place remain the leasors property and being the end of the two year lease the owner decided to cancel the fools lease. The owner had met with the coffee shop owners (Black Sheep Coffee) and offered them the primary lessee position. He told the fool, that he said, 'he wanted the pizza shop to be sub-leased from them' but, left it up to them.
Black Sheep Coffee, said they would have a lease contract, for the fools review, March 28th they didn't and said they'd have it Friday. On Friday, April fools day, they informed the fool they weren't extending a lease to us, no joke, and we have thirty days to evacuate. Getting rid of us is their answer to their failures.
So, as much as it grieves us, the fool is forced to announce that Aunt Nee's Edible Platter Pizza & Company will be closing. With $50K indebted to the bank, $50K indebted to the fools labor, and all opportunities to recoup his investment now destroyed, it is doubtful that the Edible Platter Pizza & Company will be able to open another shop, anytime soon.
Despite the fool's plees to reconsider their decision, Black Sheep Coffee and Blue Sky Equipment have chosen to stick with their plan to; end four associate owners' carrier opportunities, end two privately owned contract delivery drivers businesses, end Aunt Nee's hope that she would be serving and befriending you all, as she so obviously has been doing, long into the future, not to mention Duchesne's loss of what has proven to be a welcome service and growing attraction.
The fool now apologizes to Duchesne City, their residents, and our extended customers and patrons for his inability to sell and gain the support of, the building owners (Blue Sky Equipment property manager), and Black Sheep Coffee's management.
I, the fool, have never felt more foolish than I do now for trusting that the community and people he provided opportunity to would embrace the fools idea for communion, opport'unity', and righteous service and treatment for all who walk through their doors. Sadly, for the fool, it appears the world isn't ready for a selfless 'fool for righteousness'. The End!
Please, don't tell us how sorry you are for our loss. This fool will survive and isn't sorry for trying. As far as the fool and God's view are concerned, this was a test of human respect, support, communion, and selflessness; for which the truth has revealed. God will provide; this fool knows, this isn't the Lord's work; it's selfishness.
Regards and blessings to all who have so generously supported Aunt Nee's Edible Platter Pizza & Company.
With love and appreciation for these past 2 years,
Rev. Ken Palmer (the fool) and Aunt Nee
P.S. We, Aunt Nee's Edible Platter Pizza & Company, unless righteousness prevails, will be entertaining our customers for one last week; to commence on Saturday, April 16th.
