So, earlier this year, Drake and Rachel Pothier decided to buy a business, Village Deaux. Well, no one—the Pothiers, no one- could have known what was coming just a couple weeks later.
“We actually closed on the business on February 20th, with wide eyes and an eagerness to get the last couple of weeks of Mardi Gras and King Cake season, so we had a great first couple of weeks,” begins Village Deaux owner Drake Pothier.
Deciding to roll the dough in Maurice was looking like it was a fabulous idea. But then….
“We actually closed our doors the last week of March and throughout all of April,” Pothier finishes.
Enter the clearly unsweetening environment of the Coronavirus.
“Obviously this is something no one can prepare for,” says Pothier. “We were still learning the donut business, let alone how to close a donut business.”
The Pothiers didn’t lose faith…. And a loyal staff—which they were able to continue to pay--- kept them going. Then, on May first, came the reawakening of Village Deaux.
“On Friday, when we did open, we had customers crying at the window they were just so happy to get their coffee and donuts that they were so used to,” he smiles.
Opening…. Closing… Reopening. It’s been a whirlwind, but the reasons are ones that Drake Pothier fully understands. “I think closing is a civic responsibility and I think opening is a civic responsibility.”
“But at the same time there are things more important than donuts.”
For lovers of pastries and coffee, the future of Village Deaux is bright. “(If you guys can handle something like this, the Pothiers are pretty much ready for anything,” I ask. Pothier laughs. “Don’t make me knock on wood, Scott.”
Handling the challenges of a new—and delicious--- business, and weathering the Corona storm--- has fired up the Pothiers even more.
“But I think now that we have the opening, the closing and the reopening behind,” says Pothier, “We’re really looking forward to the future and making this business more successful.”
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