The Mole/The CIA/Breukelen Coffee House

tonyfisher · October 2009

Hello everyone. This morning I woke up to come to work like I usually do. I was sitting down talking to my wife and playing with my daughters and left my house in a great mood. As I am driving to work the BQE is empty, no traffic. The day could not be any better. I stopped on the way here at Connecticut Muffin on seventh ave to get me a cup of coffee. I chatted with the guys there for a couple of minutes and I left. They have great coffee. I get to Fishers about 30 minutes early. I didn’t open right away. Rather I went into the office to do some quick paper work and check my emails. As I am checking my inbox I got the following message from a person that I hired to work in the coffee shop for me:
Hey Tony

Sorry to let you know but I'm going to be working at Breukelen Coffee
House instead. There were just a few things where I really felt like
they'd be a good fit for me. Nothing against your place, I wish you
all the best!

Jeremy
That’s when my mood shifted a bit. I sat back and thought for a second. Then I got up jumped in my car went to seventh ave for another cup. When I got back that’s when I decided what to write.
I find it very unfortunate that these people at Breukelen have to stoop this low. Going out and hiring people that were going to work at my shop. This lead me to believe that this was done deliberate in order to get some insight into the format of my operation. Or it was an attempt to throw me off balance. It won’t work.
Unfortatlly, this person gained some insight into my operation. He saw my coffee menu. He was aware of the various types of teas and smoothies and pastries that will be offered. He might have even known my sources. Information that I am sure that he passed along to the people at Breukelen. This is the kind of stuff the CIA does. It’s like they had a secret mole.
What this has done is strengthen my resolve to finish my coffee shop faster than before. Not only will I offer a café with the highest standards of product and service. But I will make it my business to make it affordable to all the residents of the area.
To the owners of Breukelen, I hope your mole provides you with all the info you want. That was a great “covert op”. I made it my business to go over to you and wish you good luck and to offer and help if you needed it. I take it back. By doing this you have given me insight to type business you operate. All I have to say to you is I will buy your coffee machines in about eight months when you decide to close up.

kiwiservices · October 2009

I don't know a thing about either place, but based on your post, I can tell I wouldn't want to work for you either (as if your previous spam on every single board looking to hire baristas wasn't enough to clue somebody in). Maybe he got more money, it was more convenient or he just got a better vibe from the place.

The whole world is not conspiring to steal your coffee secrets. Besides, that shit is more KGB than CIA.

megalomo · October 2009

No, this employee pretty much sounds like a scumbag! Tony should consider himself lucky, that this skunk showed his stripe early. :evil:

carnivore · October 2009

Flexichick wrote: I don't know a thing about either place, but based on your post, I can tell I wouldn't want to work for you either (as if your previous spam on every single board looking to hire baristas wasn't enough to clue somebody in). Maybe he got more money, it was more convenient or he just got a better vibe from the place.

The whole world is not conspiring to steal your coffee secrets. Besides, that shit is more KGB than CIA.

Yes, or maybe they needed to start sooner and Breukelen was closer to opening.
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=53647

choquito · October 2009

At least the potential employee sent a note. Plenty of people would have just been a no-show.

5x5 · October 2009

I worked for many, many years as a barista. This was before "barista" was an accepted term. I was "the coffee shop girl." It sounds to me as if Breukelen probably had little if anything to do with this. Why would they want to steal the "secrets" of a shop that has yet to open? It's not like you're already a success and they need an insider to see what you're doing right. More than likely, they hired Jeremy for the same reasons you did originally. As for Jeremy as an employee? He probably has no idea how much you've put into the business and is simply looking for a job he's going to like.

The only time I've ever seen a competing company go the KGB route was when Starbucks tried to break into the Boston area. They had people pose as employees to try to find out how the competitors ran their business. And, of course, Starbucks bought out the other company within a year. It's not really a comparable situation to yours, and most likely, no one is spying or trying to wreck your business before it opens.

xlizellx · October 2009

it still sucks for fisher whether they had motives or not.

megalomo · October 2009

The "note" was probably a way to angle for more money. He's still a scumbag. No business ethics, nor personal morals. As for the Breuklyne (whatever) try looking that name up in a directory, coffee place. I would like to agree that they had nothing to do with the theft of an employee, or potential employee (Yea cause that never happens in the real and perfect world). Then again, how do you explain the premature defection if neither has yet to open. It's not like this Jeremy guy was in a rush to make a living.
If (and that's a big if) he indeed started to help Tony with his menu, and indicated to him of his intention to work for him, then he truly is a scumbag, no matter how you want to look at it.

catwalkertexasranger · October 2009

I am not sure if you broke any written ones but you sure broke a few unwritten laws. Why in the world would you lash out at another new establishment saying"I will buy your coffee machines when you go under". Just fowl,plain wrong. You call out some would be employee about his reconsideration of you and your unopened shop. Wages the same why in the world would he want to work with a guy that can snap this easy? Most important why would you want to foster a feud between rival coffee houses? Why would you want the local Gov to look into how the Franklin Ave groceries are run? You jumped into the spotlight to reveal yourself as a shithead . I am further amused that you started new when you felt slighted but posted all your "I wish them well" BS in your other posts. When you twitted that you love to engage in all things creepy like eye cute girls while they shop, and goof on people you suspect of being poor and on drugs, it seemed to be your form of comedy. Nobody would really say this to the Daily News? Would they? Now you post that some guys scrambling to open a coffee place are ripping off your employees and secret recipes. Are you f####ng kidding me? You should change your place to Punk Brew. I will still buy coffee from you because you will have to let me use the bathroom. PS any poor people or folks smoking the rock I will get you a free cup at Tony's. This is the strangest shell game ever. Don't remodel the store....Move the construction office for the bldg not to be built and then open a little den of caffine horrors. I can't wait to see who works for you. Jeremy whoever you are consider yourself lucky that you didn't attach yourself and your income to this spiteful bag of dog s it.

chekhovian · October 2009

Why would a mole overtly admit he's working for the coffee shop down the block? I think Tony's establishment should be able to overcome this prospective employee's absence.

If nothing else, he could have set off the first rivalry between Franklin Ave coffeehouses. Take that, Park fucking Slope.

shani2254 · October 2009

its all about the glass shop anyway. Great coffee and an awesome owner. I will not be going to Fishers - neither the supermarket nor the coffee shop - ever.

tonyfisher · October 2009

To shani2254, you wont be missed. And to the catwalkwhatever person, I have no problem getting dissed by a person that looks like the female version of iggy pop meets joan rivers. I wouldnt put much faith into using the bathroom. Rather i will give you some used tissue and you and all your reject friends and you can go smoke them in your place instead of the crack you smoking.

The Mole/The CIA/Breukelen Coffee House

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