Mr. Runyan,
Bravo for directly addressing the list. Nothing can be more harmful than
false conjecture or misplaced RIP's to a business like TRF.
I'm glad to hear that you've renewed your committment to TRF, since I have
no plans to ever visit your pub, as nice as it appears to be. I love
British cars, but I hate British food -- and the drive to Indiana is a bit
out of my service area...
I empathize with your going after a dream you held dear, but I respect that
you've come to realize where your bread and butter is. If you can develop a
better inventory of items in stock, I'm sure you'll enjoy plenty of
business. I hope that one of those publications your working on is a new
Spitfire Mk1,2,3 catalog!
Good luck,
Jeff in San Diego
----- Original Message -----
From: <TRFWeb@aol.com>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2000 5:06 PM
Subject: From TRF regarding The Coventry Inn
>
> 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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