Pry Bars and Sledgehammers
"Oh, our bones are clothed with an amorous new body!"
-Arthur Rimbaud
It started innocuous enough. We had pry bars and sledgehammers. Under the impression it would take an afternoon or two to wipe clean the slate. But, as we began to peel back the onion; we had no clue what a circuitous route we would have to wend to get to where we are today...
Like so often happens in old buildings, we expected a few surprises, but we began to find so many aspects of the building in complete disrepair that soon the reality of the situation began to be evident. To do this right, (to be worthy of the beauty found in Rocheport and on the Trail) , we would have to peel away the rot and decay, exposing the sturdy bones and reclothe them in a body lovingly prepared and constructed by local craftsmen(and woman). Skilled craftsmen who care more for the building and its purpose than for their own schedules, knowing the pride they have in their respective trades is as apparent as the results of their unending dedication. I have had the pleasure of working beside(mostly getting in the way) these men and woman for the past months constantly awed by their knowledge, their indefatigable work ethic and honored by their steadfast dedication to our dream.
It is this love of craft that has instructed our business from its inception. We loved it in gestation as we developed the concept. We have dedicated ourselves to its birth as we built it piece by piece agonizing over the smallest details, knowing they would be as important as the underlying principle. And now as we approach the debut of Meriwether Cafe and Bike Shop, we have not been sated by our successes nor discouraged by our defeats. We have celebrated and we have lamented, but we have never wavered in the vision we set forth when we started in with sledgehammers and pry bars.