Friends,
I punked out on sending a letter to the editor of the Idyllwild Town Crier this morning. Went to the trash bin, actually. It was a little quiz:
In 2007, what day of the week does July 3rd fall? Tuesday.
If an out-of-town visitor was to arrive on time for the morning Fourth of July Parade, when might that visitor arrive in town? Tuesday.
If visitors wanted to visit a local restaurant for dinner before the parade, when would they attempt that? Tuesday.
When do Idyllwild businesses historically take the day off? Tuesday.
When can those Idyllwild businesses bitch about the loss of business and the difficulty of making a go of it on the hill? Sorry, not today. We’re closed.
I received my copy of the paper today and discovered that some local institutions are now up for sale. Listed in order of institutionness…
The Rustic Theatre is on the block for about three-quarters of a million dollars. Maybe they’re going under because I haven’t visited since I’ve lived here. Since Friday The 13th was a first-run movie, actually.
Oma’s Restaurant and Bakery is for sale too. The owner has health problems and sadly must let it go. She was able to keep her enterprise running for years and years, despite dropping tourist dollars. Oktoberfest at Oma’s is not to be missed, if only for the accordians. (thought you were in to the lederhosen. – ed Dude, that’s not right.)
The Fireside Inn is for sale for a touch over one million dollars. Eight mountain-themed guest units, people. When will you make your money back? It might look promising in the summer months, but Winter? Anybody’s guess, isn’t it?
Faux Ever After is full of too many angels, gargoyles, candles, and portable water features. I’m barely inclined to mention it, but the guys who own the place do a good job of keeping it up and the architectural gingerbread is some of the first you see when you enter the town center.- Cafe Rendezvous has been open for eight months or so after an extensive remodel. We think it’s two double-wide trailers with quite a bit of brick work. The food was good, but way (and by way, I mean much too way) too expensive. The Maple Glazed Salmon is fantastic, so catch it while you can. Or hell, just buy the place.
Cripes! I was looking for a Cafe Rendezvous picture, and found on the Coldwell Banker site that Country Farms is on the block! Holy crow! Who knew? Fruits, nuts, and the unwillingness to wait for their neighbors who have been closed to reopen. Bad timing, chaps.
So, will you buy? Will you stay open on Tuesday? There are new ads in the paper for businesses in town bragging that they’re now open SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Seriously, it’s a tourist town and those folks who hope to last in retail or hospitality really need to do basic things. Stay open when people are here. Stay open later, when people are taking their after dinner walk, hoping to spend money on tchotchkes. Have regular hours (looking at you, Rendezvous). Apparently, it actually IS that hard.
Your best pal,
bob
UPDATE:
I completely forgot about Two Babes In The Woods until it was brought up this evening. A former log cabin company model home, it’s currently an art gallery and antiques shop. The sale’s pending at $679,000. What will it be next? A german pancake, unicorn painting, movie theatre and dried fruit emporium? The mind reels.