So, on Monday I lost my job at the local coffeeshop/bakery, Jerabeck's New Bohemian. But that isn't the true reason for the disappointment. It's that the oldest business establishment on the West Side of St Paul has to close its doors. It's that an owner who makes excellent soup, quiche, and pastries has to close up the shop because of problems other than the purely financial. A community space is shut. Hopefully the locked doors will soon reopen as another owner revives the place.

This place is definitely a community icon and gathering space. As such, the locals and regulars have displayed a disgruntled sense of entitlement as they have learned that the shop will be shutting down. I can understand their frustration that a business that they frequent regularly and openly support is closing down to what they feel like is insufficient business acumen, but ultimately they are not the owners. They do not know the pressures of running this particular business, and it is not open solely for them. The owners must make business decisions as they see best (given our societal understanding of onership). "Yes sir, I'm sorry I don't know where you'll have to go to get your coffee now." "No ma'am, I'm sorry we won't be able to take an order for your work now." It's obviously very inconvenient to many West Siders that Jerabeck's won't be open. Perhaps some will buy the place and reopen it. But it will always be a business as much as a part of the community.

I can't see it staying shut for too long. It's the only bakery on this side of town with the massive amount of cultural pull, and one of the very few cafes for miles around. But the upshot is that I'm back in the job hunt (I'd rather not stay at Macy's) and probably not looking for housing for another month, as my parents have graciously extended the offer to live with them for a month so that I can save up for rent. And as my loan payments eat up a huge chunk of my income each month (30-40%), though I'm looking into lowering them, I may be back on the food stamps when I move into a new place. Now that's a debate worth having. As ironic as it may seem, losing a bakery job means I'm back slacking on the government's greenback. Which I don't have a problem with per se, but many might, I imagine. A later post.