This is us:
It was about a whole year (2009/10) that our daily way to the kindergarden on Hasenheide has lead us past the empty café next to the park. I didn’t even notice it until my boyfriend brought it up. Immediately I suggested the place to my neigbour Sarah and her boyfriend because they have wanted to open up a café. Meanwhile I tried to wrap my head around going back to work after my maternity leave. But I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact, that all interesting jobs probably would lead to a six- or seven-day week and probably until 10pm everyday. But that was not something I wanted for my family. I was truly frustrated about my previous career choice until I realised how promising that empty little café next to the park (and our home) looked like… and didn’t I always say how much a place like the Dschungelcafé or the Museumsquartier in Wien is missing here!?
A little blue-eyed I started visionizing an easy breezy café-bar, with lots of space for children to play and run around and the possibility for adults without children to feel comfortable as well – even music events popped right into my creative and rattling mind. Every concern from friends and family just got pushed aside – I was totally in love with my idea! And that’s how it got started – as soon as possible I was gaining all the knowledge around owning a café, I was renovating the place with the blood, sweat and tears of my partner and then desperately looking for a brand name and logo and of course trying to find our staff. I was so blessed to finally put together an amazing team – next to Sarah (my neighbour), who saves me to this day when I am fighting paperwork, Rosalie, who is the good soul of the Blume (and works even with a herniated disc!), and our lovely Tom, who works everywhere needed, we have now got so many great employees – which I am very thankful for.
A little blue-eyed I started visionizing an easy breezy café-bar, with lots of space for children to play and run around and the possibility for adults without children to feel comfortable as well – even music events popped right into my creative and rattling mind. Every concern from friends and family just got pushed aside – I was totally in love with my idea! And that’s how it got started – as soon as possible I was gaining all the knowledge around owning a café, I was renovating the place with the blood, sweat and tears of my partner and then desperately looking for a brand name and logo and of course trying to find our staff. I was so blessed to finally put together an amazing team – next to Sarah (my neighbour), who saves me to this day when I am fighting paperwork, Rosalie, who is the good soul of the Blume (and works even with a herniated disc!), and our lovely Tom, who works everywhere needed, we have now got so many great employees – which I am very thankful for.
One week before the gand opening the new (and expensive!) coffee maker had just arrived and everything was getting ready – we got robbed! And the new coffee maker was gone. On May 28th 2011 we had our grand opening – and nobody really knew how to operate on the new cash system (which was not the only reason for sweating that day!). Meanwhile three registers had been robbed (which I think is pretty funny, because we never keep cash in there but okay).
One week before the gand opening the new (and expensive!) coffee maker had just arrived and everything was getting ready – we got robbed! And the new coffee maker was gone. On May 28th 2011 we had our grand opening – and nobody really knew how to operate on the new cash system (which was not the only reason for sweating that day!). Meanwhile three registers had been robbed (which I think is pretty funny, because we never keep cash in there but okay).
The Blume has come a long way… she has grown to a beautiful restaurant and to a family business (even though the employees are not related but it feels like it). Our staff works hard, enriches our menu and cake variation with new recipes and makes the café to a homy place. Even though my plan ten years ago might have been a little naive – I couldn’t be happier about the outcome and the beautiful experiences I was able to make together with my amazing team.
The Blume has come a long way… she has grown to a beautiful restaurant and to a family business (even though the employees are not related but it feels like it). Our staff works hard, enriches our menu and cake variation with new recipes and makes the café to a homy place. Even though my plan ten years ago might have been a little naive – I couldn’t be happier about the outcome and the beautiful experiences I was able to make together with my amazing team.
So this thank you goes to you: to all the flowerchildren, the helpers all around, the lenient neighbours and of course to our lovely guests for your encouraging, patience and loyalty. I am looking forward to see how our little Blume will sprout in the next years.
Yours truly, Tatjana
