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!

  • rdytdytfy

    https://github.com/ththtd/Wefdg/discussions/1
    https://github.com/ththtd/Wefdg/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Ertyyus/Xchu/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Ertyyus/Xchu/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Swertf/Sqazx/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Swertf/Sqazx/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Zwartsd/Jkop/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Zwartsd/Jkop/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Xsertys/Kjun/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Xsertys/Kjun/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Xsertys/Kjun/discussions/3
    https://github.com/Xsertys/Kjun/discussions/4
    https://github.com/Xsertys/Kjun/discussions/5
    https://github.com/Xsertys/Kjun/discussions/6
    https://github.com/Zwqad/Lkjd/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Zwqad/Lkjd/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Lkdes/Plokj/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Lkdes/Plokj/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Dhjhju/Vbnk/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Dhjhju/Vbnk/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Cvbhds/Xdres/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Cvbhds/Xdres/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Khfde/Fgts/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Khfde/Fgts/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/1
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/2
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/3
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/4
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/5
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/6
    https://github.com/Cfrgr/Fftd/discussions/7
    https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/c79d5731
    https://www.wowace.com/paste/afd7a8f5
    https://authors-old.curseforge.com/paste/202d2d10
    https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/023e84ea
    https://jsfiddle.net/omdsphn4/
    https://pastelink.net/1f4gfs3x
    https://jsitor.com/3K2outQKgY
    https://glot.io/snippets/h02yqp0izw
    https://snippet.host/bmeqcy
    https://paiza.io/projects/wqy1W1f9Bj_lAndQM0X24A?language=php
    https://paste.ofcode.org/xMSBg4T3gNqD9bPeP877v5
    https://hackmd.io/BkJqPtQ1RCK6aViA_Ixv5g
    https://yamcode.com/dtytrfuyfu
    https://pastebin.com/W9iybm9C
    https://bitbin.it/Q9CVY7CQ/
    https://www.forexagone.com/forum/questions-debutants/drytyfu-159699#258253
    https://wokwi.com/projects/409461479379878913

  • HKCGLCGL

    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383517/posts/32402447
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383517/posts/32402451
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383517/posts/32402461
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383517/posts/32402463
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383517/posts/32402465
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383759/posts/32402481
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383759/posts/32402486
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383759/posts/32402487
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383759/posts/32402489
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383759/posts/32402490
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383920/posts/32402494
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383920/posts/32402495
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383920/posts/32402496
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383920/posts/32402497
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383920/posts/32402493
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147372686/posts/32402503
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147372686/posts/32402504
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147372686/posts/32402505
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147372686/posts/32402507
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147372686/posts/32402502
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146650484/posts/32402514
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146650484/posts/32402516
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146650484/posts/32402517
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146650484/posts/32402519
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146650484/posts/32402513
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651342/posts/32402706
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651342/posts/32402707
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651342/posts/32402708
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651342/posts/32402709
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651342/posts/32402710
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651736/posts/32402715
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651736/posts/32402716
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651736/posts/32402717
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651736/posts/32402719
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651736/posts/32402713
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651767/posts/32402722
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651767/posts/32402723
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651767/posts/32402724
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651767/posts/32402725
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651767/posts/32402726
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147525196/posts/32402733
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147525196/posts/32402734
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147525196/posts/32402735
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147525196/posts/32402736
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/147525196/posts/32402737
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651780/posts/32402747
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651780/posts/32402746
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651780/posts/32402748
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651780/posts/32402750
    https://www.strava.com/athletes/146651780/posts/32402742
    https://wokwi.com/projects/409460926519133185
    https://www.bankier.pl/forum/temat_dytjsrdjhsrjh,68237515.html
    https://paiza.io/projects/NXZAHtzZUXUCiBwfj31mJA?language=php
    https://pastelink.net/whszohoy
    https://rentry.co/w6u9eum7
    https://jsbin.com/mujicibaru/edit?html
    https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/0c07883a
    https://nodebb.klangknecht.com/topic/3089/trshjdrjhs
    https://forum.thecodingcolosseum.com/topic/9497/resyhutrsh
    https://forum.daoyidh.com/topic/1931/erhurtudtru

  • dyrt5y

    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407378
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407496
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407502
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407685
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407705
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407722
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407779
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407804
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407846
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407860
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407926
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407953
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407972
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32407993
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32408016
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299157/posts/32408060
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408206
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408281
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408310
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408332
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408348
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408390
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299221/posts/32408402
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299249/posts/32408524
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299249/posts/32408545
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299249/posts/32408569
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299249/posts/32408584
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299249/posts/32408602
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299258/posts/32408677

  • fgrtgd

    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407768
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407803
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407840
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407853
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299189/posts/32407864
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407936
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407950
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407966
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407980
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299201/posts/32407998
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408134
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408168
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408179
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408197
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408211
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299216/posts/32408230
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299229/posts/32408290
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299229/posts/32408307
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299229/posts/32408333

  • fdf

    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299166/posts/32407469
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299166/posts/32407477
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299166/posts/32407489
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299166/posts/32407503
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299166/posts/32407515
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299175/posts/32407602
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299175/posts/32407615
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299175/posts/32407629
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299175/posts/32407638
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299175/posts/32407646
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299188/posts/32407761
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299188/posts/32407772
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299188/posts/32407780
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299188/posts/32407790
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299188/posts/32407801
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407883
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407890
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407908
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407920
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407934
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407964
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407981
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32407997
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299196/posts/32408015
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299211/posts/32408076
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299211/posts/32408096
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299211/posts/32408115
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299211/posts/32408131
    https://www.strava.com/clubs/1299211/posts/32408152

Leave a comment

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

PILLLAR Blog