“Ah, well, Jared,” Hope said. “I’ve got a dripping faucet that needs a washer back in the kitchen. Could you go look and see what size I need? And Lila and I can talk.”
“Yep.”
Jared made himself scarce, and Hope focused on the young girl.
“How old are you?”
“I just turned eighteen, so I can serve.”
Hope did not say that she would have guessed Lila as younger than eighteen because no eighteen-year-old wants to hear that.
“Excellent. Do you really hate the hardware store?”
“Uh, my dad—no, I don’t. I just have more interest in earning tips. I waitress back home, it’s a Bob Evans, so not as nice as this, but I do have experience.”
Lila was pretty. Hope could actually see a bit of a young J.J. in her face. Her little turned-up nose was adorable, cute as a button really, but there was something fiery inside, just like J.J.
“The plan is to be open four days a week, to start. Thursday through Sunday, and we’ll do lunch and dinner. Maybe, if it goes well, next year, or the year after, we will expand to five. But I want to set us up for success with a more manageable schedule.”
“I’m available.”
“You’d work all four days, probably eleven to nine. You’ll get lunch and a break, but you’ll be busy when you’re on shift.”
“I’m not afraid of work.”
“And depending on how busy we are, and how it works out, it could switch to lunch shift, and dinner shift kind of thing. But for now, I need a team that is all in, all the time we’re open. But then three days off each week. Does that sound workable?”
“Yes, totally. I want to learn everything I can about the restaurant business and make good tips.”
You and I both, thought Hope, but she didn’t say it. She wanted to instill a sense of leadership, even if some of this she’d be making it up as she went.
“Wonderful. I’m going to give you the application, but I just need that on file. Fill it out, and I’ll call you, probably by tomorrow.”
“Thank you, will do.”
In her mind, Lila was a lock. Hope conducted three more interviews and felt good about two of those candidates. Both women in their thirties gave her a great vibe. They showed enthusiasm for her restaurant concept and asked good questions about it. She had their applications and was confident that if their references checked out, they’d be great additions.
And then Camila Rojas walked in for her scheduled interview.
Camila was Hope’s age, maybe older. It was hard to tell.
The moment Camila opened her mouth, it was clear that Camila was interviewing Hope, not the other way around.
She introduced herself confidently, handed Hope her resume, sat down, and then took charge before Hope had a chance to pose a single question.
“You’re going to have to get the latest point of sale system. It will seem expensive now, but it will save you in the long run.”
Hope hadn’t even looked at things like iPad menus and check-out systems. Camila referenced the one she recommended. Hope started taking notes.
“I’m not sure you’re aware, but we have almost a dozen wineries in the area. You need good relationships with them. Also, it would be nice if you highlighted local artisans here, from the art on the walls to the bowls on the table.”
This was exactly what Hope wanted to do! And it was coming out of Camila’s mouth as though the woman had read Hope’s mind.
“So, you clearly have experience.”
“I worked at Irish Hills Country Club, at Hathaway House, and was brought in to manage the expansion of Randy’s Hot Dogs in Toledo, before I had to step back. I’m rooted in local cuisine but skilled in managing expanding restaurant operations.”
“There is a gap here, of a couple of years?”
