CLICK ON THIS TITLE TO VOTE FOR PARK PLACE BIZ GRANT!

As many of you know, Park Place Coffee and Crepes moved into the Rockwood neighborhood a little more than 2 years ago. As my lease has been wrapping up, I have sadly had to consider closing down the business. I am proud to say that most businesses don't break even within 2 years time, and PPC has, despite the bad economy. However, "breaking even" doesn't pay the mortgage. I have been looking to close the doors in October when my lease ends.

BUT NOW...! due to a small business grant available through Intuit (the makers of Quickbooks, TurboTax, etc) I may have the chance to keep PPC in our community. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP, AND WOULD ASK YOU TO RECRUIT EVERYONE YOU KNOW BY SENDING THEM THE LINK!

This business grant/contest has businesses write a short submittal. This submittal is then voted on - 40% by the Public; 60% by judges. The top 50 get some money and move on to the next round. The next round wins the finalists a $10,000 business grant!! The last business standing gets a $25,000 business grant.

1. Please click on the link to vote. At the bottom of the page it asks "do you think this is: Inspirational/Useful/Funny.

2. When you click to choose one it will ask you to register. You have to go through a minor registration in order to do so, but I ask you to please take a moment for a chance to save Park Place!

3. I am not going for the "funny" category, but most likely "INSPIRING." I'd like to ask you to vote for "INSPIRING" and then "USEFUL." (In case I have any heavy competition it gives me another chance.)

Thank you so much for doing this. I have been told by so many people that I am "NOT ALLOWED!" to ever close Park Place Coffee - and this could make it so another good thing doesn't leave Rockwood.

Next Generation of Customers

As the owner of this cafe, I have grown close to many dear customers. The conversations here are colorful and varied, but there still remains that taboo question that you don't dare ask - and you hope that will just come up in conversation. . . "Are you preggers?" Much to my delight, I learned along the way that all of those who I suspected were preggers, indeed were. And because of that, I have many new little customers too. Five of my regulars have had babies since being customers here at Park Place. I have enjoyed getting to know these parents prior to having babies, and now see them doting over their little ones. I can tell they are all going to be great parents, and it is fun to watch the different lifestyles these babies will grow up in.
We have Disc Golf Caleb, whose proud parents, Sarah and Zach, had him out on the course within one week of being born; Sullivan, whose mom also holds a special place, cuz she asked for a chai from my cafe right after giving birth. I almost feel like I got to be part of the experience in some odd way! Sully has a great mom and dad and lots of dogs to keep him company. Study baby, who comes in with Dad as he tries to use the internet and computer but inevitably the baby gets more attention then the homework; Baby number four - born into a larger family with lots of older siblings to carry her around and dote over her; Nurse's baby, her mom craved crepes with cottage cheese, cheddar and chicken through the pregnancy and still does. She transcribes her patient information over the phone while eating her crepe and holding her daughter.
This weekend the tradition continued as another disc golf couple brought their new baby in, less than a week old, to introduce him. Out of six babies, I am happy to see that we will have at least two of them that will carry on the disc golf tradition in the park next door. And, I hope they all crave the drinks and crepes that mom fed them inadvertently before their birth so I can watch them grow up!

Multi-Cultural Community

Some people judge a good neighborhood by its normalcy. Some, by whether it has pristine lawns and quiet residents who all seem to fit into a perfect picture of "American" life. One of the most intriguing things about Rockwood is that it doesn't fit that perfect mold, and the interesting people and cultures makes me appreciate how rich and diverse our community is.

I have many rich experiences to share about the residents, but for now, let me explain Rockwood with a broad stroke. Attached to this blog is a picture which contrasts only two of these cultures - the Hispanic and Russian populations.

Rockwood is a neighborhood that was built up mostly in the 60s as a home for middle class families. The Anglos that live here now are mostly elderly who raised a family here, or young couples who purchased an affordable first home here.

The Russian/Slavic population mostly attends the Home of God Russian Church, located next door to Park Place Coffee. The population is varied from the very young to the very old, who walk to church on Saturday by the droves. The view of hundreds walking to church is seen by some as a beautiful sight, by others an annoyance.

The Hispanic population in this community has grown very large. Many of the local markets and services are built to support this growing population. The Catholic Church across the street from my cafe has been designated as the Hispanic Catholic Church for the area, and hosts many masses and celebrations for the culture.

The black population is more recent to Rockwood, after a large community became relocated to this community from North Portland. It was partially gentrification, and part a travesty on the part of the Housing Authority of Portland when they remodeled Columbia Villa and displaced many of their tenants.

Put this altogether and you have Rockwood. I believe, by viewing the people walking by from my cafe window in just one day there would be many amazing stories to tell. I hope to share some of these stories of my special neighbors one-by-one.