Jake's on the Water
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Champagne Moments

7/29/2016

 
I am often asked if - knowing what I know now - I would do this again.  The question always causes me to pause.  While the two years of managing the hugeness of what has become Jake’s has taken a toll on me mentally and physically, and certainly led to some adjustments for my family, it has also come with so many rewards.  I call them champagne moments.
 
I have been an entrepreneur, or taught entrepreneurship for what has now become the majority of my life, and have heard over and over that the restaurant business is the hardest. 
 
I agree.
 
I have always wanted to own a restaurant.  I recall courting Chris and pretending to do homework in college when I was actually drawing up plans for my first restaurant as a 20-year-old dreamer pretending to be a student.  From the perspective of the guest, owning a restaurant is awesome, and it is.  You get to socialize and eat great food; you work in a beautiful place with lots of happy people.  For sure, but in addition, the day to day grind is taxing: hours are long, margins are thin, payroll is massive, buying right is an art; you need elephant thick skin and stain resistant clothing.  Really owning means really working,  for more hours than each day provides. Working harder than I ever imagined.

When the compressor for the cooler burns out, a dishwasher calls in with car trouble and you realize that your sales rep forgot to push submit on your order for house wine, right then comes the need for those champagne moments. 
 
Last night, I met a young woman who took a seat at the bar.  Nothing unusual about her except for the giant, perfect smile; a smile so inviting that a conversation had to happen.  She was leaving today to start the next phase of her young life, a new career in Rochester with a fiancé and a wedding date now only 11 months away.  She was soaking up every last moment in our little slice of heaven, a community that meant so much to her.  We enjoyed conversation and while  she enjoyed her dinner,  I offered her a personal size bottle of champagne to celebrate the moment and that big smile got just a bit bigger.   She left with a to-go box that she planned to have for lunch today, reminding herself that the microwave should be the last item she packs.
 
I headed out to the dining room to clear a table and my eye met a familiar face, a regular customer with his chest puffed up a bit. His daughter had just gotten engaged earlier that evening and they came to Jake’s to celebrate.  Two more bottles of champagne came out of the wine cooler and a proud father got even prouder that he chose Jake’s as the place to celebrate a moment he had thought about since she was in diapers.
 
Champagne moments don’t only happen in the dining room.  Little Abbie, the young lady we hired as an 18-year-old dishwasher, recently “called tickets”, the leadership
position in our kitchen, on a wild and crazy Friday night and she did it perfectly.  Another champagne moment for all of us behind the scenes, one that meant just as much to Chris and me as the engagements, graduations, birthdays, promotions and first dates that mean so much to our guests.
 
So the answer is yes, I would do it again.  The hours are long and each day there are new challenges but champagne moments always arrive at just the right time.
 
Good Things Happen at Jake’s.
Marty Ritchings
7/29/2016 08:40:50 am

I enjoyed your blog almost as much as I enjoy your hospitality.

Marc Compeau link
7/29/2016 09:23:22 am

Thanks Marty, we are working the kinks out and having fun doing it.

Paula link
7/29/2016 09:24:40 am

We love Jake's and are very grateful for everyone's hard work to make it keep happening.

Seth Chichester
7/29/2016 10:54:49 am

I can not begin to tell you how much I appreciate and love Jake's and everyone involved. When you originally told me you would be open 7 days a week lunch and dinner I thought wow you will burn out for sure as I know the stress and burdens involved. I am so happy for your success and friendship.Truly good things do happen at Jake's!

Seth Chichester
7/29/2016 10:57:43 am

Thanks everyone for a great place to dine and meet so many friends.

Seth Chichester
7/29/2016 10:58:04 am

Tricia Heon
7/29/2016 11:54:41 am

So proud of you for taking the risk and making your dreams come true! You guys have done an amazing job.

Danielle Wilson
7/29/2016 11:57:45 am

I am so astonished at the quality of food and hospitality of the staff at Jake's. The North Country is a great place to live, and Marc and Chris have turned Jake's into an extension of the North County with its kind people, relaxed way of life, and overall appreciation of the simple things...like champagne moments.

Thank you for your dedication to doing it right....as we all know you would😀

Danielle Wilson
7/29/2016 01:48:18 pm

Okay, as soon as I hit the submit button, I recognized the grammar error : KNEW! Regardless, I am sure that Marc forgives such errors and will reward it as a "champagne moment" the next time I come in...right Marc???😁

Marc
7/29/2016 04:08:37 pm

Champagne for sure, see you sune,

Eileen link
8/1/2016 03:53:54 pm

Had a wonderful engagement celebration dinner with our son and future daughter in law last week. Mark was so very generous with the champagne he brought to th table. We all orderd something different for dinner but tasted each other's meal. They were all most delicious and had a beautiful presentation. Then to top it all off, they found something our son had dropped, called us so he could identify it and have it returned to him. We are so very impressed with their honesty. We had dined here several times last year and were never disappointed, so figured it was the perfect place for this special celebration. Thanks for making it so memorable for our son and fiance from New York City.

6 bottle wine cooler link
7/3/2021 05:42:54 am

When you want to own a restaurant, you definitely need wine coolers to keep them tastier. That's what I think. You should refer to them if you need to use them for your restaurant.


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Jake's on the Water
Reservations : (315) 274-9300

5726 State Highway 56
Hannawa Falls, NY 13647

In 1994, a little ball of yellow fur entered our world and stole our hearts. For eleven years, he was a constant companion showering our young family with unconditional love, energetic greetings and a pure, playful spirit. So, in his honor, we named our restaurant Jake's. May our restaurant offer you all Jake embodied: a friendly, welcoming place where you can come and be as you are.

Welcome to Jake's!

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  • Home
  • Dine In Menus
    • Brunch Menu
    • Lunch Menu
    • Dinner Menu
  • To Go Menu
  • Directions
  • Gift Cards
  • Jake's Foundation
  • Employment
  • Good Things
  • Contact