This letter was supposed to have appeared on this list on
3/15/00, if it did, I missed it!! Charles started this company
back in the 70's to supply us "Triumph" owners with much
needed parts and only in the last few years added the MG
line of parts. I have been buying parts from him since 1982,
sure there were some backorders just like all sources
experience, but I was willing to wait for a "Quality" part!!
Charles, John and many of their employees drive British
cars on a daily basis. No, I'm not a relative, nor an employee,
I just know they are really great people as I have been to
all their Summer Parties since 1988 and I live 1200 miles
West of there!! When I need a part, it will be supplied by
them, they need and deserve our support!! Bill. (MK1)
> Dear Triumph List,
>
> There has been some discussion on the list again about what is going
on
> in my life as it applies to The Roadster Factory, my Triumph parts
company,
> and to The Coventry Inn, my English pub and restaurant. I sincerely
> appreciate the genuine concern that has been shown for the businesses to
> which I have dedicated my life. I'd like to provide some quick
explanations
> regarding very complicated subjects.
>
> The fact is that restaurant work, for a small stand-alone operation,
is
> extremely difficult and time-consuming. This is nothing I didn't expect,
but
> I have had to rely on a very small staff because I haven't had the kind of
> response from the local community that The Coventry Inn deserves. The
more I
> cut back to make ends meet, the more work falls on me. Being open less
hours
> raises less money and supports less staff, which costs me more time.
>
> Because of time and money factors, I considered closing The Coventry
Inn
> entirely last week. I am currently reconsidering this decision and
opening
> again this weekend for St. Patrick's Day. I have good entertainment
Friday
> and Saturday, and a simple Irish pub menu. This will give me a chance to
> sell off the five barrels of beer I have in stock. The responsibility for
> maintaining jobs for people employed is also something I take very
seriously.
> My plan right now is to open The Coventry Inn when I can afford to and to
> close it when I can't. For next week, the bar only will be open Monday
> through Thursday, and we will sell meals on Friday and Saturday. It will
be
> closed on Sunday.
>
> The Roadster Factory is my primary business. The Coventry Inn was
only
> opened as an adjunct to it. The Coventry Inn has absorbed the greater
> portion of my time since it opened in August 1996. I have been back at
The
> Roadster Factory this week, working on publications, and that is where I
> belong. It is very important that The Coventry Inn not be allowed to take
my
> time, my brian power, and TRF's money.
>
> No matter what, I will spend four or five days at TRF each week from
now
> on. I think we all agree about the importance of TRF with regard to the
> Triumph sports car hobby. We are very short of cash, but we are getting
> ready to sell parts this spring. John Swauger and I are writing
> publications, and Deb Gawlas is ordering inventory to sell, shipping it
out,
> and immediately reinvesting the money in more inventory. For various
> reasons, mostly the time and money drain of The Coventry Inn, we have had
a
> hard time for several years. Please stand by us this spring and summer,
and
> I will renew my long term pledge to you to offer the best possible spare
> parts service for Triumph sports cars.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Charles A. Runyan
> Proprietor
> The Roadster Factory
> March 15, 2000
>
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