It almost seems too good to be true.Tear. Today the cupcake contractor has informed me that he will be picking up the building permits tomorrow morning!!!!!! Ahh! I cant tell you how good it feels to finally know that we have the permits and that we can get to building. This does come with a big hesitation however.Im sure you are thinking how can this be? Well, let me give you a bit more of the fat of the matter. Lets start at the beginning of finding this space. I was set on not being in Shorewood. I didn't want to be in the area for fear of what I had heard from residents and other businesses trying to open there. I did not want to succumb to the "North Shore hauteur" If you live in this area please know I mean this in the kindest of ways. So, while on the hunt for the space with my broker Marianne (whom is amazing for not only finding my space, but for also putting up with my extreme girlyness) she made sure to include a space in Shorewood. I was sure that I was meant to be on Downer Ave, ie the old Lixx location (swoon) But! that space was not only not only unaffordable, it just did not feel right along with other spaces on that street. Marianne, showed me spaces as far north as Fox point and down as far as the Third Ward. The spaces were nice and OK, some immediate nos, but in my heart there was only one spot for me. The very spot I plan to open up in; the spot that I knew I had to have. I soon got over my airs to being in Shorewood, and now I know that Miss Cupcake was meant to open its very first retail Boutique Bakery in Shorewood. I had heard some stories about it not being easy to open in Shorewood and I would listen, but think in my head " Oh that wont happen to me, they have been great to work with" Well people, let me tell you.... As much of a pleasure as it has been working with Shorewood to open, it is DIFFICULT!! I am in no means pointing the finger at just them, or them in particular for this matter. Everybody is just trying to do their jobs. But for goodness sake can't we find a way to do this more efficiently?!? EXAMPLE: We have to pay for the building permits, totally fine with that. I get it. This is how the Village makes its money. But to tell my contractor that they need more money for an examination fee?!?!?!? Ummm isnt that part of a permit fee? And or why would it not be? EXAMPLE 2: I need a permit for my sign. The sign that is to hang on the side of the building to let all you know where the beloved Miss Cupcake will reside. I have to get a permit ($$) for the sign. I then have to submit an application ($$) for the design review board to review the sign. This is also another fee. Yes, a fee for the village board to look at my sign and aprove it and give me a permit that I have to pay for. Thats not all. Ok so we are at the sign permit, and the review board application fee, oh yes! The sign that was designed for Miss Cupcake Boutique Bakery is gorge. However... the sign is flag mounted which means that the sign will hang over the sidewalk. Alas it will be 9ft above, but it is still over the public walkway, so I need to get what they call a special privilage permit ($$). I also will need a permit for my tasteful sandwhich board sign outside to show specials, and another permit for outdoor seating. That brings us up to a grand total of so far 5 $$$$$ permits. While on the phone the other morning with the village, I asked the sweet dear that I have nothing but love for over at the village, if they have a punch card frequent shopper program for permits. Buy 5 get one free?!?!? She laughed and said absolutely not. So before I hung up the phone with her I told her it was nice speaking with her, and that I had to get to harvesting from my money tree because they must think I have one for all these fees :-)
On a side note: I think that when the bakery is open, I will deliver a beautiful triple chocolate cake to the Village of Shorewood. I will call it Death by Permits Cake.
<3
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