and Cooking Finery
Since 1971
Sudbury,
Massachusetts
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QuackQuackQuack.com News
June
07, 1999
News Update
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Progress as of June 4 -- foundation forms going up as ground is leveled for basement floor. |
It’s Official! We’ve signed our lease!
After very productive meetings with our landlord, and the "official" groundbreaking on May 21, we are ready to roll. A tenant association has also been formed to ensure positive involvement for all tenants.
Over the past few weeks it seems that one question that has frequently been asked is, "You say you are coming back…have you signed a lease yet?" Great question, and it was not one we Ducks wanted to take lightly. The implications of rebuilding are many, ranging from the timing of the construction to the size and location of the Duck Soup Store itself. A number of pieces needed to fall into place before we signed on the proverbial dotted line. Fortunately, they all have. And we’ve signed.
We have been assured by Randy Goldberg, our landlord, that the project timing would be such that we would be able to be in the new store and operating in plenty of time for our traditionally robust 4th quarter. This is a key time of year for us (and all retailers) and were we to get in too late, those key sales would be missed. Pierre and I agreed that if we couldn’t reopen the store by mid-October, than it would be most prudent to wait until after the first of the year to do so. That would hurt us (a bit) and certainly you, our customers…and we are glad it’s looking like we won’t have to do the latter. We are eager to reopen our doors and get this quack-fest underway.
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Official groundbreaking took place May 21 although digging began before. |
As you can see when you drive by the site, the foundation is being dug, and footings have been poured. Next comes the laying and pouring of the foundation itself…and then steel, steel, steel. You will really be able to see progress then! Sometimes it will look like tremendous progress is being made. Other times it will seem like ages since anything has happened. But rest assured that at all times we are moving forward.
While the foundation digging has been going on for a few weeks, we officially "broke ground" on Friday May 21. Approximately 30 people were on hand, including Fire Chief Michael Dunne, Building Inspector Jack Hepting, and lots of tenants and supporters. Ribbon cutting, handshakes, and buffet lunch…the whole works. I guess there is no turning back now! This is great.
To keep all of us tenants (and thus, all of you) apprised of the progress of the construction timeline, Randy Goldberg and I speak each Wednesday afternoon. We discuss progress of the week, how we are doing against the projected timeline, and answer any questions that have come up in the interim. Then each Thursday morning at 8:45 a.m., I meet with the newly formed Mill Village Tenants Watchdog group to pass along this information.
The Watchdog Group has been established to keep all channels of communication between the tenants and landlord as open as possible. There are a lot of issues to address, questions to be asked and answered…as well as personal tenant concerns to be addressed during the reconstruction process. It made best sense to set up a formal channel through which to funnel these items, and believe me, it is working wonderfully.
There is no landlord bashing allowed (it can tend to be a popular pastime in view of the trauma and loss every one has suffered), and we encourage each other to stay upbeat and optimistic. Our mission is to move forward positively as a group to the benefit of all involved.
And that’s pretty much been our week. We have been very pleased with the response we have gotten from all of you in regards to our new site. It is great to hear from you, to hear your stories and memories of Duck Soup…and that really helps cement our conviction to rebuilding as quickly as possible. Thank you all so much.
Last but not least: Coffee! Coffee! Coffee! Don’t forget that you can once again acquire your favorite Duck Soup coffees. Give us a call to place your order…or drop by our luxury suite to pick up an order form. Soon you will be able to order online as well.
Be well,
Richard
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