07/01/2026
Friends, Neighbors, Random internet people who follow us:
Waldo Cafe closed their doors this morning.
In my six years as owner at FCF, this is the third time the Cafe has changed hands next door. And this morning, standing in the parking lot early like I do most days, I found myself thinking about a few things.
First: small business ownership is brutally hard. I've had a small relationship with the owners there, mostly just passing looks under the overhang on the really tough days. There's a certain nod between small business owners that says "I get it." Every morning, I'd park next to Robin, the opening server, at 4:45 AM, heading into our respective jobs, both ready to serve this community. I'm going to miss that, and her.
Second: I'm grateful.
Genuinely grateful.
Not everyone gets to build something in a neighborhood that actually supports it. Brookside and Waldo choose local over chains, and that matters. I don't stress about my bills getting paid at the end of every month. That's not guaranteed for everyone trying to do this. I know how lucky that is.
Third: Losing one business changes everything. Every Friday after our morning class, we'd take a group of athletes over to Waldo Cafe for coffee. It became ritual. Some weeks (most weeks) there are more ex-members there than current members. It became so meaningful that my teenage son started waking up early to come along. That's the kind of thing that happens when a community actually works, when small businesses feed each other, literally and figuratively.
So as I wish both the old and the new owner well, I want to say this:
I'm proud to still be here. I'm proud that FCF has become a staple in this corner of Waldo. And I'm committed to being exactly what Brookside and Waldo have been for us: a place that shows up, that serves, that cares about the people around it.
If you haven't been by the gym, come check us out. Better yet, come build something with us. That's what this neighborhood is about.
