Thank You for Being Here

The best part of my job at Madison+Main is getting to do something fun every single day. Yes, there’s a lot of work, deadlines, and spreadsheets — and I really hate spreadsheets — but each and every day I get the freedom to do something creative. 

The second best thing about my work is that I can do my job from anywhere, as long as I have a phone, a laptop, and reliable Internet connection. After all, I spent most of COVID on a boat and no one missed me.

For the past six weeks I have been working at 2901 Park Ave., 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days, at the Richmond location of the Texas Inn. Dressed in khakis and a black Texas Inn T-shirt, I can lift a box of bacon off the truck, put it in the fridge, and then jump on a Zoom call in less than three minutes.

That means I’ve been working there (or mostly there) for more than a month and a half without a day off, but I’m still having fun. I greet customers. I shake their hands and welcome them. I answer their questions and tell them the long history of the place. Heck I’ve even cooked a few Cheesy Westerns and made ice cream floats when we were understaffed and overwhelmed (the Richmond Times-Dispatch put us on the front page.) 

The long days and hard work have been worth it though. At least half of the people I’ve met — neighbors, new customers, and Lynchburg natives — have told me “thank you for being here.” I expected them to say things like “welcome” and “good luck,” but people are generally happy and appreciative that we brought this little piece of Virginia history to the Museum District. 

“Oh wow, all day breakfast? Thank you for being here.”

“We needed something like this in Richmond. Thank you for being here.”

“I haven’t had a Cheesy and a Bowl in 30 years. Thank you for being here.”

And that’s why I focus more on the smiles than my own tired feet and lower back pain. The Texas Inn is now open in the Capital City. Thank YOU for being here.