13515 comments ·

What Have I Been Up To? Part 1 - The Train Has Left The Station

What Have I Been Up To? Part 1 - The Train Has Left The Station

Well hello there my much neglected, but never forgotten, email subscribers and blog readers. We’ve been quite busy at PILLLAR over the past 12 months, thus the delay between writings. I suppose it’s time to bring you all up to speed on what I’ve been up to.

It was a warm May 2021 morning, in St. Paul at Palace pop-up skatepark where I met Brad Hay for an early morning session. Like most times when I skate with Brad, we ended up talking more than skating, and I’m always good with that. The conversation drifted over many different topics when we finally landed on future plans for our respective companies. Brad with ReGenerate Wood and me with PILLLAR. I love these conversations because they allow for your mind to run wild with ideas and dreams which can hopefully one day become reality.

I talked about this idea that I had been carrying around for a while about starting a cafe/skateboard shop for PILLLAR and finished by saying “maybe someday.” When Brad quickly and emphatically replied, “you have to do it!”

The next day I started browsing the internet for commercial real estate.

Knowing nothing about commercial real estate and even less about what it takes to open a coffee shop, I had no idea what was in store for me next.

I found, what I thought, was the perfect location for this new endeavor and I began the process of working with the landlord on signing a lease. I drew up a business plan, put together a budget (what the fuck do I know about budgeting for this kinda thing?), applied for a business loans, found an architect. I’m already in over my head, but this train had left the station.

About 4 weeks of haggling with the landlord over my business plan, negotiating on what improvements he would cover on the space versus what I would have to pay for and discussing financing, I knew this pairing was not a match made in tenant/landlord heaven. After a particularly contentious meeting, I made the decision that I had to move on. I could not continue to work with him.

On my drive home, which was rerouted down Central Ave in Northeast Minneapolis, due to construction, I drove past a freshly painted black building with a “For Lease” sign hanging proudly in the window. I pulled over, pushed my nose up to the glass to see a much neglected office space, which had all the potential in the world, and took down the phone number on the sign.

Three days later I met the leasing agent and as I walked through the narrow hallways, pulled up corners of cheap carpet and popped up sections of the discolored drop ceiling, in my head, this was already my space.

13515 comments

Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

  • sdfsadrfg

    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?oeif
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?idfe
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?iwhuj
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?euid
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?ihes
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?djoe
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?isjd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?jshd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?ushd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?sugd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?suhg
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?sdj
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/OG8qZb
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618ADW
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?ADAC
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?AAA
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?SAAS
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?ASDA
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/JvXayz
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qeqL8z
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/n03wo9
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/8bAWQx
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/JvXlld
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611229
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611227
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27610853
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27610850
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264?hju
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264?hjy
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264?ftb
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252?vgf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252?bhu
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252?rfv
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245?red
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245?vgf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245?guy
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237?ghf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237?uty
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237?gyf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611229
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611229?gdf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611229?tre
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611229?fgr
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611227
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611227?ghb
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611227?kju
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611227?hng
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27610853
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27610853?fxd

  • dgfvsdrtfg

    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?oeif
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?idfe
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?iwhuj
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?euid
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?ihes
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?djoe
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?isjd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?jshd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?ushd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?sugd
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?suhg
    https://www.artstation.com/watch-inside-out-two-full-movie-freeonline-sub-english/profile?sdj
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/OG8qZb
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618ADW
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?ADAC
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?AAA
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?SAAS
    https://github.com/ultralytics/ultralytics/issues/13618?ASDA
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/JvXayz
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qeqL8z
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/n03wo9
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/8bAWQx
    https://www.artstation.com/artwork/JvXlld
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611229
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611227
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27610853
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27610850
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264?hju
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264?hjy
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611264?ftb
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252?vgf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252?bhu
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611252?rfv
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245?red
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245?vgf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611245?guy
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237?ghf
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237?uty
    https://www.herbislandmarket.co.kr/23/?bmode=view&idx=27611237?gyf

  • anjayyyyyy

    https://x.com/InsideOut2T
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T?gytuy
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T?gytui
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T?GTyuj
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T?gytu7
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897184268538133
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897184268538133?dry
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897184268538133?rty
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897184268538133?tyu6t
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897184268538133?6tyu6yt
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897437365502153
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897437365502153?ersdtgr
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897437365502153?drtgyr
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897437365502153?tyu
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897437365502153?r5tyu
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897984197550193
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897984197550193?tyiu
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897984197550193?y7ui
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897984197550193?Yuik
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801897984197550193?GTYik
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898234585256352
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898234585256352?gyt
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898234585256352?gytytu
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898234585256352?yuik
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898234585256352?Gyuiky7u
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898463275389429
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898463275389429?deryh
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898463275389429?sertg
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898463275389429?ZSdetg
    https://x.com/InsideOut2T/status/1801898463275389429?AQwr
    https://hackmd.io/5jbzNwUURtGOEQF5ekrgFg
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/3352106d
    https://jsbin.com/kiluhavoce/edit?html,output
    https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/awertwe4
    https://snippet.host/wkhhhh
    https://jsitor.com/0wjA_zure
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/e7d7fe4c
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/f2fd6024
    https://jsfiddle.net/j8vnbch9/

  • anjayyyyyy

    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441843/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441844/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441890/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441895/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441891/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447753/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447759/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447157/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447151/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447126/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447122/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447353/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447375/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447343/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447348/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447676/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447618/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447216/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447235/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447408/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447451/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447443/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447447/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447935/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447931/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447805/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447803/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447847/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447842/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441041/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441090/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441593/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441599/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441177/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441175/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441180/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441185/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441365/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441320/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441615/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441619/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441200/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441203/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441239/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441267/
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?ndftj
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?ngnng
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?hnhhd
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?tjhdg
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?hdrju
    https://hackmd.io/zas7Aa4jQgWNNhyLKOMZ3A
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/adbfd8e1
    https://jsbin.com/bohomezoco/edit?html,output
    https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/aswrte
    https://snippet.host/mumyii
    https://jsitor.com/m7VRdOt7J
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/19b33c80
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/9092aca7
    https://jsfiddle.net/bh31Lsvc/

  • anjayyyyyy

    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441843/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441844/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441890/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441895/
    https://m.imdb.com/list/ls547441891/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447753/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447759/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447157/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447151/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447126/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447122/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447353/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447375/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447343/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447348/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447676/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447618/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447216/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447235/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447408/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447451/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447443/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447447/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447935/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447931/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447805/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447803/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447847/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547447842/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441041/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441090/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441593/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441599/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441177/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441175/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441180/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441185/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441365/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441320/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441615/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441619/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441200/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441203/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441239/
    https://www.imdb.com/list/ls547441267/
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?ndftj
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?ngnng
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?hnhhd
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?tjhdg
    https://github.com/CB01-Inside-Out-2?hdrju
    https://hackmd.io/zas7Aa4jQgWNNhyLKOMZ3A
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/adbfd8e1
    https://jsbin.com/bohomezoco/edit?html,output
    https://lifeisfeudal.com/Discussions/question/aswrte
    https://snippet.host/mumyii
    https://jsitor.com/m7VRdOt7J
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/19b33c80
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/9092aca7
    https://jsfiddle.net/bh31Lsvc/

Leave a comment

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

PILLLAR Blog