Dusty Wahl: Brewing Community

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So, another thing that’s why they’re it’s it’s a good manageable size, too. Yeah.
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Who the [ _ ] wants I don’t want to eat a burrito this big. I get pissed off at Chipotle. 0:11 11 seconds I don’t want to put my face in your mouth. 0:13 13 seconds I don’t I should have I should never open my mouth that wide. 0:17 17 seconds Dude, there’s two things. I’ve never thought of that. 0:22 22 seconds There’s three There’s three things a man should do. There’s three things. That’s one of them. 0:28 28 seconds special track to do this sauce. It’s just a fluid. It’s a chef. 0:32 32 seconds I’m here to remind y’all I’m sick with it. My name is ubiquitous meaning it’s one and the same. Simple and plain. I’m 0:40 40 seconds all about my paper. The bacon chitter and pain. I got these running for the talented Mr. Porter. Keep it flowing 0:47 47 seconds like it’s water. Here we go. There we go. Creeping to a low speed. Is it him and his friend sitting in the nose? Play it cool. He ain’t special just cuz he’s 0:56 56 seconds on TV. Everybody’s hands up acting like they know we What’s going on, beautiful people? 1:03 1 minute, 3 seconds Welcome to another episode of the Taste Music Hear Food podcast show. The 1:10 1 minute, 10 seconds destination for all things food, music, and culture and how they all connect. 1:15 1 minute, 15 seconds Today we have an amazing amazing show for you. This guest here, let me you know what? Let me let me do him justice. 1:24 1 minute, 24 seconds Okay, my guest today is the embodiment of community and craft. Born in Maridai, 1:32 1 minute, 32 seconds Minnesota, and now pouring his heart into every cup at Cosmic Coffee in Northeast Minneapolis, he’s a man who 1:40 1 minute, 40 seconds turned a simple passion for food into a thriving local cafe that’s quickly become a neighborhood staple. You may 1:47 1 minute, 47 seconds not have known it, but he is also a mental health counselor, a candle maker, and yes, the hands-on barista behind the counter, serving up coffee with a side 1:56 1 minute, 56 seconds of genuine connection. His journey from dreamer to coffee shop owner wasn’t an easy one, but it was fueled by passion, creativity, and a whole lot of heart. 2:06 2 minutes, 6 seconds From German shorthand pointers to coffee beans, from neighborhood gatherings to impromptu hot dog carts, this man is 2:13 2 minutes, 13 seconds weaving community, creativity, and care into everything he does. Let’s talk about the brew behind the business and the stories that make it all come alive. 2:24 2 minutes, 24 seconds Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to meet the man behind the cup, Mr. Dusty Wall. Thank you. I appreciate you, man. Wow. 2:31 2 minutes, 31 seconds Dang, that was Yeah. You know what? I always listen the words think I think first off uh you know full 2:40 2 minutes, 40 seconds disclaimer I I did have to look up how to pronounce that was I look I look I I know I’m 2:49 2 minutes, 49 seconds going to butcher this I got I got So where in proximity is Monita? 2:55 2 minutes, 55 seconds It’s like by White Bear Lake and Still Water. There you go. Yep. Over in that area. Exactly. 2:59 2 minutes, 59 seconds And then I and when I looked it up I saw like a billion videos of people butchering it. Oh yeah, it’s very like a thing. 3:06 3 minutes, 6 seconds Yeah, for sure. When I was actually when I was a kid, I had ended up in a like a I was like six years old and I and the 3:13 3 minutes, 13 seconds cops ended up bringing me home and they were it was everything was another story. Okay, that’s another story. Yeah, everything was fine. It was nothing. No, delet six. Okay, hurry. Hurry. 3:22 3 minutes, 22 seconds Babysitter got sick and we needed a ride home and she had to go to the hospital. 3:24 3 minutes, 24 seconds So yeah. Yeah. Anyways, they were looking they’re like, “Where the hell?” They go in the back. They’re like, “Where the hell is Mame?” And I was like, “I I’m sick. I don’t know.” You know 3:32 3 minutes, 32 seconds what I mean? I don’t know what to tell you. Like, and they didn’t know how to pronounce it, but it was like no one knew where it was or That’s That’s so crazy. That’s so crazy. 3:40 3 minutes, 40 seconds So, I I had the the great fortune this morning to come to the shop today. Great. 3:48 3 minutes, 48 seconds Yeah. And I had I had a no meat boss burrito, which was We were just talking about this off camera, was delicious, and a chai tea latte with oat milk. And it was for sure. 3:57 3 minutes, 57 seconds Listen, so your your shop is the vibe of it is is very it’s very 4:05 4 minutes, 5 seconds homey. So just picture like this if you haven’t been picture a the cozy a the coziest living room 4:12 4 minutes, 12 seconds that you can think of that’s just super inviting and it has free internet that you don’t pay for and that’s pretty much what you have at Cosmic Coffee man. You you you you’ve 4:21 4 minutes, 21 seconds created something amazing for the community and become so entrenched in the fiber of the community. Um, so, so 4:30 4 minutes, 30 seconds dude, talk talk to me, you know, about the your origin story about how you, you came to be and how, you know, coffee 4:39 4 minutes, 39 seconds wind up being your, your vehicle to community. 4:42 4 minutes, 42 seconds Ah, for sure, man. Yeah, that was um, coffee was never the never the original goal. Um, food has always been my 4:49 4 minutes, 49 seconds passion. Um, I when I was in high school, I got my serve safe um, through my like food teacher, my like FCS 4:57 4 minutes, 57 seconds teacher. um and uh pursued that. Um then after college I got I was in um went into social work. Um ended up um at a 5:05 5 minutes, 5 seconds drop in center in South Minneapolis for the for adults with mental illness. Coffee was nowhere in the radar. 5:11 5 minutes, 11 seconds No no coffee was nowhere around on that like I was just like just interested in that. Um but in 2014 I moved to my neighborhood and there was a coffee shop 5:19 5 minutes, 19 seconds in there at the time. Um and at one point it turned over um owners or people operating it. Um, and it just I was like, man, if I ever got my got a chance 5:28 5 minutes, 28 seconds to put something in that space, like that’d be really cool. It’s my neighborhood. I live here, you know, that’d be crazy. And I never would have thought that that was a possibility until I saw it happen one time, you 5:36 5 minutes, 36 seconds know. I was like, well, if the stars align, we’ll cross that bridge, you know. Um, and so then every place I worked in social work, I 5:43 5 minutes, 43 seconds tried to incorporate food in in some fashion. um whether it was like for uh incentives at the high school, I would 5:51 5 minutes, 51 seconds bring a grill in and we’d cook for the kids, you know, after they had a good week, you know, stuff like that. Um and then at the drop in center, we served a meal every day. Um so we had a cook 5:59 5 minutes, 59 seconds there um that was also a member of the drop in center and then uh my co-orker and I we got to oversee uh that a lot of that. And so then we also participated 6:08 6 minutes, 8 seconds in that, got the grocery shopping. So we were making food for a lot of people. 6:10 6 minutes, 10 seconds And so that was a big angle that I was interested in. And then during co I just realized I really enjoyed the food side of things and wanted to pursue that more. 6:17 6 minutes, 17 seconds Um so I continued to get my food manage license um and was work we were working on a vocational program actually to 6:25 6 minutes, 25 seconds because we had a full kitchen commercial kitchen at the drop in center. Um, so I was we were working on building something like that up and at the same time simultaneously the coffee shop 6:33 6 minutes, 33 seconds turned hands um and became available for lease. And so I was like, you know what, I’ll see what happens. You know, we’ll just talk to the owners. And so from 6:41 6 minutes, 41 seconds being in the neighborhood um the owners living in the neighborhood as well, um I’ve gotten to know them from, you know, walking by and seeing each other um and being a customer myself of that spot. 6:50 6 minutes, 50 seconds Excuse me. And so then when we um Yeah. 6:54 6 minutes, 54 seconds Yeah. So, I started talking to him and then the way that I wanted to operate things was aligned with what they were looking for to have someone fill the space in. And so, it was a really quick 7:02 7 minutes, 2 seconds turnaround. I um signed the lease in December and then got opened up in uh February of 2022. Um and so I from uh 7:11 7 minutes, 11 seconds basically October when I like realized this is what we were doing, right? Um to February, I just learned whatever I could about Exactly. making coffee, you know, like the first time. Yeah, man. 7:23 7 minutes, 23 seconds Yeah. That was a interesting journey cuz I didn’t have any background in that. Um yeah, so that’s that’s how we got to the 7:29 7 minutes, 29 seconds coffee world. Um and then through that I with the space and everything I um wanted to have some sort of food offerings. That was always on my mind. 7:37 7 minutes, 37 seconds Um one of the things I wanted to do was make sure I had quick fast food that was available to people to go um for and and very affordable. Like you do want you do know. 7:48 7 minutes, 48 seconds Yes, for sure. But that was important to me as well because I everywhere you go things are getting more expensive. Um and so fortunately, 7:57 7 minutes, 57 seconds knock on wood, like we did earlier, there’s um my eggs haven’t gone up yet. 8:01 8 minutes, 1 second The egg patties that I use yet, so I’m fingers crossed on that that stays. 8:04 8 minutes, 4 seconds We just got to get some chickens for the backyard, dude. Right. If we get some real eggs going on some backard. 8:11 8 minutes, 11 seconds No, that’s it’s a great story. So, it’s I think and you you can correct me if I’m wrong. 8:19 8 minutes, 19 seconds It didn’t matter what what the ending result or whatever the whatever the thing you was going to sell. What you 8:26 8 minutes, 26 seconds were what you were opening was a gathering destination for the neighborhood. For sure. 8:33 8 minutes, 33 seconds And that it was more about the people than the thing. 8:36 8 minutes, 36 seconds Yes. And so the thing that’s heavily on the menu that is not listed on the menu is that and that’s how I felt when I 8:43 8 minutes, 43 seconds walked in. Totally. So yeah, and like you know you you made a point so I I you know I’m I’m just one of those guys that noticed everything. So you made a point to 8:51 8 minutes, 51 seconds obviously speak to people as they came in but you also made a point to as people were leaving you spoke to them after they when when they left. Oh yeah. 8:58 8 minutes, 58 seconds And so that’s a that’s somebody that who’s you know really in tune to to the community. So commend you on that. All right Dusty. Yes. 9:06 9 minutes, 6 seconds We’re going to switch things up a little bit right now. So, we’re going to play a little game that I call this or that. All right. All right. Perfect. 9:14 9 minutes, 14 seconds All right. So, this or that. Basically, I’m going to give you two options and then you’re going to choose from one of those. Don’t think too hard about it. All right. 9:21 9 minutes, 21 seconds Say whatever first. You know, wherever your heart lies. Okay. All right. 9:24 9 minutes, 24 seconds All right. So, we’ll get we’ll get it started. Cool. Espresso or cold brew? Cold brew? 9:31 9 minutes, 31 seconds Cold brew. Okay. All right. Yep. Early morning grind or late night hustle? Oh, late night hustle. Real. Yeah, dude. I’m not a morning person, which Yeah. 9:39 9 minutes, 39 seconds I mean, which I mean, you figure, right? 9:44 9 minutes, 44 seconds I know, man. Like I said, coffee wasn’t on the menu. Mornings aren’t my thing. 9:47 9 minutes, 47 seconds I I get you. I get you. Breakfast sandwich or pastry? Oh, breakfast sandwich. Okay. Okay. Yep. 9:54 9 minutes, 54 seconds Pourover or French press? 9:57 9 minutes, 57 seconds Ooh. Gosh. Uh, French press. I’ve drank more of that. Just I haven’t had a ton of pourover. I’m a French press guy. Okay. Got you. I’m a French press. 10:05 10 minutes, 5 seconds I like French press. Yeah. It’s It’s delicious. It’s delicious. 10:08 10 minutes, 8 seconds Okay. I look So, another thing I wanted to to address with you was 10:15 10 minutes, 15 seconds how do you set the vibe? Like, so when I came in today, and I’m a firm believer in that music is 10:22 10 minutes, 22 seconds is a great way to to steer the mood for sure. You know, if however you want to feel, there’s a soundtrack for that. 10:30 10 minutes, 30 seconds There’s a song. If you want to be sad all day, we we we got some songs for that. If you wanna if you want to go raging, we we got some songs for that as 10:37 10 minutes, 37 seconds well. So, is there a certain, you know, do you use music in that way to to guide the vibe of of the shot? 10:44 10 minutes, 44 seconds Yeah, that’s my like life story with music. My entire life has been been about that is finding the songs that um that I to make me feel how I want to 10:53 10 minutes, 53 seconds feel in that moment. And cuz sometimes you want to rage, you know what I mean? 10:56 10 minutes, 56 seconds And it’s like I got music for that, you know? Absolutely. Um, and sometimes I I need calm and like and then I’ve got music for that, you know. And then 11:03 11 minutes, 3 seconds there’s um Yeah. So, for the shop in particular, um music is like my lifeline there because it’s it’s my office. It’s 11:10 11 minutes, 10 seconds my space. It’s my second home, you know what I mean? I’m there all day every day. Um and so I uh I play 11:18 11 minutes, 18 seconds music that I want to listen to because I’m the one who’s there the most. You know what I mean? Like a lot of people are coming and going. So I’ve kind of always said that. And I um I had uh I 11:28 11 minutes, 28 seconds I’ve decided that while running this place, I am going to play whatever music I want. Um that is your that is your liberty to do certain things. 11:37 11 minutes, 37 seconds Yes. Yeah, for sure. I was just like, you know what? I’m not going to like do anything. And I I do try to be mindful at certain times or certain scenarios if I got to change things up or whatever, 11:44 11 minutes, 44 seconds but for the most part, um the way I choose every day is what song I have stuck in my head in the morning. Like I usually have some song that’s singing that I’m humming while I’m getting 11:52 11 minutes, 52 seconds things ready. And usually it’ll hit me right before I open. I’m like, “Oh, shoot. This is a song that’s stuck in my head.” I’ll go on Spotify, pick the radio playlist, and then we got to There you go. 12:00 12 minutes Then that’s kind of the genre for the day. And it it So, how how important of an ingredient you do you think that is? 12:07 12 minutes, 7 seconds Oh, for my day is it makes my day for sure. Yep. Um and so like then that’s the other thing I’ll do too is like I’ll switch up the music based on the 12:15 12 minutes, 15 seconds scenario, the situation at the shop. Um so one thing that’s unique about my shop is that I don’t have any employees. I’m 12:22 12 minutes, 22 seconds the only one that is there. Um, so for me to be able to like keep things going like being 12:30 12 minutes, 30 seconds Yeah, I get a chance to talk now. But being able to like uh being like managing everything and like focusing and multitasking on everything that’s 12:37 12 minutes, 37 seconds going on, you know, I’ve got orders coming in, I’m sending orders out, I’ve got food coming in uh or like customers coming in and drinks, you know, like I got things 12:45 12 minutes, 45 seconds in the Yeah. You know, like there’s just everything that’s going on there is that I’m managing on that. And so, um, there’s different moments where my the music needs to change based on what I 12:54 12 minutes, 54 seconds need to do. So, like when it’s busy, and one of my favorite things is like like when it’s busy, like I try to put on something a little bit more upbeat. Um, something that will kind of keep me going that I can b my head to a little bit. I like to move and I like to dance. 13:04 13 minutes, 4 seconds So, like if I can have music on that allows me to like groove a little bit, that changes my whole mentality while I’m working. It’s not as much work when I’m able to do 13:12 13 minutes, 12 seconds that. So, Saturdays Oh, I was just going to say Saturdays are Grateful Dead. Okay. All right. 13:16 13 minutes, 16 seconds Yep. Yep. Just Saturdays are um grateful grateful Saturdays. Yeah, there you go. Yeah. 13:21 13 minutes, 21 seconds This just just know this that when people are coming in, don’t don’t feel away about you choosing the music because you’re inviting people into your 13:30 13 minutes, 30 seconds space and so people are they’re coming for that. Yeah. 13:33 13 minutes, 33 seconds Yeah. They’re coming to be transported into and I and that’s the cool. 13:37 13 minutes, 37 seconds So just if you think about it that way um people just left where they were. 13:42 13 minutes, 42 seconds They don’t they didn’t want to be in that space for sure, you know? They want to man. 13:46 13 minutes, 46 seconds So the more you think about that and you know uh and it fits with the cosmic theme as well. 13:50 13 minutes, 50 seconds Dude, I’m going to keep that for sure, man. Definitely. Yeah, for sure. 13:52 13 minutes, 52 seconds Well, that’s my like when people suggest music too and I get to throw that on there. It’s so so much fun with it. It’s like Yeah. So cool. So cool. You you know you built 14:01 14 minutes, 1 second you built a space like I was saying that is very much a community. It’s like it’s like the the coffee version of Cheers, right? 14:10 14 minutes, 10 seconds Yeah. Love that. Yes. And like like you you’ll have uh different vendors works 14:17 14 minutes, 17 seconds in in the store and everything from uh custommade mugs to to garments, you name it. And then the like the just the way 14:26 14 minutes, 26 seconds the the feeling of the vibe of that is, you know, and it’s it’s a deeply motan thing of how you’re going about 14:34 14 minutes, 34 seconds business. And we were talking about this earlier today. 14:36 14 minutes, 36 seconds Yeah. and that how I I I just believe that if we can bottle that, you know, that way of thinking about 14:45 14 minutes, 45 seconds community first and and the people that we come in contact with versus how we want to, you know, skew things. I think that we could uh do a lot better as a as a society. 14:56 14 minutes, 56 seconds Totally. 14:57 14 minutes, 57 seconds Talk to me about your approach of how because your background is see you’re doing everything that you’ve been always doing. 15:03 15 minutes, 3 seconds You’re just Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you’re just you’re just cross-pollinating the pond with, you know, with coffee, honestly. 15:09 15 minutes, 9 seconds Totally. And so, talk to me about how much of your your community engagement background is is leaking into the coffee business. 15:18 15 minutes, 18 seconds Oh, man. Like, that’s uh the crossover is huge. Like the the because I was in the drop in center setting um where it’s 15:27 15 minutes, 27 seconds a community setting where people are just coming in and so um as a someone who’s working there, you know what I mean? I’m checking in with people, seeing how they’re doing, small talking, 15:35 15 minutes, 35 seconds you know, um helping them with paperwork if they need help, um getting them get fulfilling their order, you know, it’s kind of like very similar things like 15:42 15 minutes, 42 seconds that. Um and so I knew that for this space as well, I wanted I wanted to just continue like that and like that just 15:51 15 minutes, 51 seconds organically kind of continued that that was how I would approach um addressing people. It was funny when you said like the saying hello and goodbye. That was a Jimmy John’s thing. That was back in the 15:59 15 minutes, 59 seconds day. Like they were that was we had to do it. You know what I mean? They don’t do that anymore. 16:03 16 minutes, 3 seconds No, no, they don’t, man. Things have changed. 16:06 16 minutes, 6 seconds Things have changed. Um, but I The brownies The brownies are still really good, though. 16:11 16 minutes, 11 seconds Are they? Oh my god. I They They got to put crack in those brownies. Just a little bit of crack in there. It’s like the third ingredient. 16:18 16 minutes, 18 seconds I wouldn’t be surprised, dude. They The Jimmy Johns has something, man. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. But um I don’t remember where I was going with that 16:27 16 minutes, 27 seconds about the greeting uh oh yeah yeah greeting people and everything. Um so yeah so I the way I view the that community set is like well and the thing about Cosmic 2 is it’s in a neighborhood. You know what I mean? 16:37 16 minutes, 37 seconds There’s not much else around there. 16:38 16 minutes, 38 seconds There’s not other businesses that are drawing people into that space or anything. It really is one of the only businesses in that area. Um, and so 16:46 16 minutes, 46 seconds because of that, I was I looked at the map of Wade Park, too, and it’s like there’s 6,000 residents in just the Wade Park neighborhood, that upper part of 16:54 16 minutes, 54 seconds Northeast. Um, and that’s where Cosmic is situated in there. I was like, that’s enough for me, you know what I mean? That’s enough business for me, like to have these people right here. 17:03 17 minutes, 3 seconds Like, this is who I want to invest in, who I want to promote to, who I want to be there for, you know? And so, we got kids in the neighborhood. So, we host um 17:10 17 minutes, 10 seconds kids craft activities. Um, we got local artists who will just volunteer their time, you know, to um, put on a something just for somebody to for kids 17:18 17 minutes, 18 seconds to have something to come to. Um, so that’s been really fun to like find different ways to do that and to kind of um, approach it with that mentality as 17:27 17 minutes, 27 seconds opposed to I kind of this thing stuck with me. I won’t get into this all, but like commerce over capitalism kind of that mentality where it’s like I’m 17:34 17 minutes, 34 seconds I want to I want to have a successful business. I don’t want to rob my neighbors in my community of resources. 17:41 17 minutes, 41 seconds You know, I want to be a resource for them. Um, and so that’s where I that’s why I try to keep my prices down. Excuse me. That’s why I don’t have uh extra 17:49 17 minutes, 49 seconds staff on hand because it keeps my labor cost so that I don’t have to raise up my prices. You know, I use the ingredients that are that I can find that are affordable so that I can 17:57 17 minutes, 57 seconds be so that anybody in the community can come to Cosmic. And that’s really that’s what I really want and care about most, you know. And you do that, you do that 18:05 18 minutes, 5 seconds from, you know, the affordable food and then the inviting atmosphere and all those different things. Here’s the other thing. 18:13 18 minutes, 13 seconds Your shop is becoming super duper popular. Ah, yeah. 18:18 18 minutes, 18 seconds No, it’s just No, it’s it’s so, you know, it’s hard to you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Like, it just takes a few people to like, you know, 18:26 18 minutes, 26 seconds start jingbing for the the, you know, the environment and then, you know, everybody wants at least a taste, right? 18:30 18 minutes, 30 seconds Yeah. Yep. For sure. So, as you saw, so actually when I was there, the guy that came to you was like, I heard about this place. I haven’t never been here before. 18:38 18 minutes, 38 seconds So, and and that’s how it happened. So, as you grow in popularity, how do you 18:45 18 minutes, 45 seconds how are you going to manage to stay grounded to your core, you know, way of doing things and your ideals because, you know, as as it as it 18:55 18 minutes, 55 seconds gets popular, you know, and I don’t want to waste this on you. No, no, no. 18:58 18 minutes, 58 seconds But, you know, it’s a good power. It’s a good problem to have. It’s a good problem to have. Yes. Yes. Yep. 19:03 19 minutes, 3 seconds You know, I think the magic of of cosmic is the fact of that that you your DNA is 19:10 19 minutes, 10 seconds in every aspect of the business, right? 19:13 19 minutes, 13 seconds So, you’re going to have to attract some more dusties, right? 19:18 19 minutes, 18 seconds You know, you know, you know, when when it’s just not when it’s not just you, you’re gonna have to you’re going to have to either, you know, clone yourself. You going to 19:25 19 minutes, 25 seconds figure that out, dude. I’ve thought about that. or yeah how do you how do you you know what’s your thought thought process behind that 19:33 19 minutes, 33 seconds behind you know are you thinking about growth for sure um yeah yeah always thinking about growth you know like wanting to continue to grow and I’m just 19:40 19 minutes, 40 seconds very mindful and intentional and slow about how I do things with that um because of the precarious situation I 19:48 19 minutes, 48 seconds find myself in you know as being one person with that um so I have thought of different things and you know there’s examples out there of businesses that 19:56 19 minutes, 56 seconds are that operate in similar fashions where they have limited amount or quantity that they have for the day. They can do tickets 20:03 20 minutes, 3 seconds ahead of time or there’s um I’ve thought in certain busy areas like maybe there’s a QR code I can utilize or turn on at the certain moment um when things get 20:12 20 minutes, 12 seconds hectic so to kind of keep the flow going and stuff. So um there’s there’s businesses out there that do that. Um for me the I feel like the thing that 20:21 20 minutes, 21 seconds keep that has kept me on the path that I’m on is the working by myself with 20:28 20 minutes, 28 seconds that. So, the way that I’ve tried to approach growth um in this way is to grow in the burrito area. 20:35 20 minutes, 35 seconds Um that’s something that the way that I have them pre-made and everything, I think that I can I can sell exponentially more of those. Yeah. 20:43 20 minutes, 43 seconds Than I can sell of coffee, right? 20:44 20 minutes, 44 seconds Um and you have you have the pre-order method, too. So, you have to like you they have to to order they can pre-order them 20:52 20 minutes, 52 seconds at home. Yeah. So, that’s that’s a that’s a that’s a great way to to do that as well. 20:57 20 minutes, 57 seconds Yeah, for sure. So yeah, you can order if you want like a more than just a like four is kind of my limit on burritos per order just cuz I have a limited amount, 21:05 21 minutes, 5 seconds you know, and I’ve got them. I want to make sure that people get them. And that’s the other thing, too, is like I like if if you want to buy me out, like that sounds really good for sales, but 21:13 21 minutes, 13 seconds that’s not what I’m about. You know what I mean? I’m like, so I can’t do that. 21:16 21 minutes, 16 seconds I’m sorry. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, that’d be great, but like no, I want to make sure that people get theirs, you know, as much as I can. Um, so there’s ways that you can try to like, yes, add some order some in 21:24 21 minutes, 24 seconds advance on that. I’ve had some ideas about maybe trying to get some into the different locations of the burritos like there where I can pre-make them and send them there. Yeah. Um, Lofty Dreams. Uh, 21:33 21 minutes, 33 seconds I started in like my initial goal was, you know, you mentioned in the intro something about hot dog carts and food trucks and that was kind of my that’s my 21:41 21 minutes, 41 seconds that’s been my angle and everything. So, I’ve kind of approached how I operate this in a similar fashion with that. Um, but I think I have an idea of how I could make the do a burrito. 21:50 21 minutes, 50 seconds Yeah. Um, breakfast burrito truck like that. 21:52 21 minutes, 52 seconds Um, so there’s there’s different things that I’m thinking about of how I could grow and how I could manage, but um, really the coffee that’s limited based 22:00 22 minutes on the space that I have. I having another person back there isn’t going to allow me to make more drinks really fast, you know? It’s just it’s not ergonomic like that. 22:08 22 minutes, 8 seconds It’s not No. Yeah. The space isn’t set up. 22:10 22 minutes, 10 seconds Plus plus you you being back there doing your thing. That’s that’s the that’s the show. That’s right. 22:16 22 minutes, 16 seconds That’s and that’s that’s part of the experience. It really is. Like it really is like I forget that sometimes. 22:22 22 minutes, 22 seconds Are you do you count the amount of steps you do in a day? Cuz I like just So I’m just telling you, you know, cuz as a as a as a back of the house guy, you know, it’s about ergonomic, right? 22:33 22 minutes, 33 seconds So like trying to take the least amount of steps possible. You’re doing the exact opposite. 22:37 22 minutes, 37 seconds Dude, I don’t run into the kitchen. So, but dude, like that’s like I that’s everything’s intentional, man, because like the the the seconds that it takes 22:46 22 minutes, 46 seconds me to go back there and that just being back in that space can allow me to like do some things that need to get done that can help me get things faster in 22:54 22 minutes, 54 seconds the future. You know what I mean? So, like even though like it’s I’m taking more steps to go back into the kitchen and do cuz I thought I was like I could put my food warmers up in front and then 23:01 23 minutes, 1 second I could just hand them out like that. I was like, but the what I can get done in the couple of seconds that it takes me to go back there and maybe it’s like 23:09 23 minutes, 9 seconds maybe the burrito’s ready, but I need like five extra seconds, you know what I mean? Like I can and now I have that, you know? So, it is interesting. I thought about that, too, like what’s how many steps am I putting in here today? 23:19 23 minutes, 19 seconds And I was like I Yeah. Yeah. And listen, listen, running a small business requires, you 23:28 23 minutes, 28 seconds know, an astronomical amount of of effort, heart, um fearlessness, 23:36 23 minutes, 36 seconds um for sure. You know, all the all the things. Yeah. 23:42 23 minutes, 42 seconds Do you think that a coffee shop like you, and I know the answer to this, but do you think like a a a coffee shop like yours has 23:51 23 minutes, 51 seconds the ability to be not only the cornerstone of of a community, but in in 23:58 23 minutes, 58 seconds so many ways a healing and connection vehicle for a community? And I and I think that’s what you set out to do 24:06 24 minutes, 6 seconds without even really uh you know, putting a name to it. 24:09 24 minutes, 9 seconds Yeah. because of all the the programming that you’re talking about doing and right all the things you do that have nothing really to do with revenue driving 24:18 24 minutes, 18 seconds for sure exactly so do you do you feel that that you’re 24:25 24 minutes, 25 seconds you’re at least in that vein and that’s what you’re going for would that be the ultimate goal is that the ultimate goal for I think so man and like and it’s not 24:33 24 minutes, 33 seconds like I I knew community building was going to be an aspect of it but the way that it’s working out is it’s really cool, man. Like it’s I don’t 24:41 24 minutes, 41 seconds know like I just really enjoy it like being and there is something about like being the only person there where I get I just get to know the community so much better. So 24:49 24 minutes, 49 seconds like when I’m out walking my dog I see customers all the time. You know what I mean? Like so it’s it’s kind of embedded into that which is really neat. Um but 24:56 24 minutes, 56 seconds because of that I I see people in a way where I see things needs and there’s um like I like I said I don’t necessarily 25:05 25 minutes, 5 seconds um reach out to people for events but people will reach out to me and be like you know is there um can we do music here? Can I do a 25:13 25 minutes, 13 seconds poetry reading? Um is there something that I can I use this space to do this? 25:17 25 minutes, 17 seconds And I want to do that for people because I feel like I was given this has kind of been a motto of mine since doing it. But like I feel like I was given an 25:25 25 minutes, 25 seconds opportunity to do a dream of mine which was um operate a food business. Um and I want to use that to be able to allow other people to view to pursue their dreams, you know. 25:36 25 minutes, 36 seconds And so same with the artists who are on the walls and the on the people in there like I want people to have a space for that, you know. I don’t charge my artists anything for having anything in 25:44 25 minutes, 44 seconds the shop. I’m I’m here to sell burritos and coffee. You know, you’re here to sell your art and everything. I’m just the conduit for you to do that because that’s what the that’s what community 25:53 25 minutes, 53 seconds is. You know, we’re a community. And so, um yeah, I just I want I hope people recognize that that’s what that’s I I 26:01 26 minutes, 1 second just want to be here for y’all. Like, you know, like it’s not necessarily about the money or the business or like even like this is the best thing to 26:09 26 minutes, 9 seconds admit, but even like the quality at times I’m like I’m like I’m here for y’all. You know what I mean? Like and sometimes the quality is the community and sometimes that’s a something that 26:16 26 minutes, 16 seconds I’m working on balancing is like how can the quality be the interaction sometimes as well like um and to not be concerned as much about the product as it is the 26:25 26 minutes, 25 seconds the environment that you’re saying people are coming in here and absolutely um and so that’s a little off topic. 26:31 26 minutes, 31 seconds Listen. No, no, it’s actually running out of time. Listen, there’s a there’s a quote I believe believe it was uh my Angela said it. Uh people will forget 26:39 26 minutes, 39 seconds what you said. They will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. And that’s facts. 26:47 26 minutes, 47 seconds That is Yeah, for sure. And I got to I got to keep that to heart, man, cuz like I was saying, being a forward facing and managing everything, like sometimes it’s hard. Now you I know you say it’s a 26:56 26 minutes, 56 seconds oneman show, but there are two other life forms, Mac and M. Yes. 27:03 27 minutes, 3 seconds Thank you. Appreciate that shout out. Yes. 27:07 27 minutes, 7 seconds Speak to me about Mac and man. On MLK day uh two years ago now, 27:16 27 minutes, 16 seconds was it two years ago? Um I’m closed on Mondays and someone needed an order for a meeting that they were having. So I fulfilled that. Um, so I showed up at 27:24 27 minutes, 24 seconds like 5:30 in the morning, January 16th, and there is like a trash bag in front of the coffee shop and um it looked like 27:32 27 minutes, 32 seconds a like a grocery basket, something like that. I like someone there’s a bus stop right there. I was like, “Someone left their belongings here. I’m just going to go move it to the back, you know, so 27:39 27 minutes, 39 seconds that it’s not in front of the store.” And so I started walking closer and there’s this little kitty who’s like standing at the door looking at it at me. And I was like, “Holy [ _ ] there’s
27:47
27 minutes, 47 seconds
a there’s a cat out here.” And I’m not a cat person. And I was like, “There’s a cat out here and it’s freezing. in January, you know, and um I was like, “Oh my gosh, I got to let this cat in.”
27:56
27 minutes, 56 seconds
So I open up the door and I like kind of corral the cat inside and I grabbed the basket to move it and there’s another cat inside of it. And I was like, “Oh.”
28:04
28 minutes, 4 seconds
I was like, “These aren’t someone’s belonging.” Like these are the the cats are the belongings. Someone just left two cats. And I was like, “What do I do with this?” And so I called my wife. I
28:13
28 minutes, 13 seconds
was like, “Two cats are here. What do I do?” And she’s like, “I don’t know.” And I they I let them inside and they like
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28 minutes, 20 seconds
jumped into a cardboard box that was in the back kitchen area and fell asleep.
28:24
28 minutes, 24 seconds
And I was like I have cats sleeping in my kitchen. I was like what do I like that’s not good.
28:30
28 minutes, 30 seconds
That’s not that’s a health violation. I was like not at all. Not at all. I don’t know. I was like I don’t know.
28:35
28 minutes, 35 seconds
What do I do with this? I was like but they’re adorable and now I guess they’re mine and people are like you can call a shelter. You can do this. I was like
28:42
28 minutes, 42 seconds
but but they they they’re mine now. Like they they’re so cute. So, they ended up living at the shop for about 3 months.
28:48
28 minutes, 48 seconds
Um, and so I have a basement area that they like lived in. And then during the morning I would lift let them up and they would come hang out with customers and then it reached a point where it was too hard
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28 minutes, 55 seconds
to keep them out of my business. Um, and like I would have had to find some way to do it permanently. Um, and then they were trying to run outside. So now they
29:03
29 minutes, 3 seconds
live at home with us. So Mac, Miller, and Midnight are the cats. So Mac and Midnight and they whether they’re physically in
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29 minutes, 12 seconds
the shop or not, their their image is on the coffee bags. So, they’re there. Yes. The house brew is Mac and Midnight.
29:18
29 minutes, 18 seconds
Um, it’s from Vitality Roasting. That’s the roster that I use and uh it’s an Ethiopia Columbia blend. Um, it’s it’s really good. But I Yeah, we had to give
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29 minutes, 27 seconds
a shout out to the cats cuz they kind of they grew in popularity, man. People love cats.
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29 minutes, 31 seconds
No, look look, you know, that’s the number one video search still to this day on YouTube is cat videos fully. Yep. Yep. It’s a thing.
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29 minutes, 40 seconds
Not surprised, man. like like kids would come in, people would bring their kids in like parents like would come through and they just want to like be like, “Can we play with the cats?” Yeah, man. Like
29:48
29 minutes, 48 seconds
I don’t know. They they’re just here so like do what you want. That’s hilarious. That’s hilarious.
29:54
29 minutes, 54 seconds
Um there’s that’s that’s such an amazing story, too. And then and the fact that that like you know you had some some built-in
30:02
30 minutes, 2 seconds
mascots that uh that that kind of have the same you know uh uh the same viber
30:09
30 minutes, 9 seconds
or the you know enthusiasm for the that space as you do which is they
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30 minutes, 17 seconds
brought a lot of people in. And so you’re just you’re just one of these guys that I that I take to just be um
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30 minutes, 25 seconds
extremely um one of those guys that that can just jump in and just do something like like
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30 minutes, 32 seconds
you said you wasn’t even in coffee wasn’t even on the radar. Yeah.
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30 minutes, 36 seconds
But I’ll figure it out. You just want to be one of those guys. Yeah. For sure. So So talk to me about Moon Zoom. Oh my Yeah, dude. Yes. That’s nice, man.
30:45
30 minutes, 45 seconds
For sure. Um Moon Zoom. Yeah. So I had um so the original concept started in about 2019.
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30 minutes, 54 seconds
Um and how it started was um the the container that we used for the candles.
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31 minutes, 2 seconds
So I’m you’re referencing the candle company. Absolutely.
31:04
31 minutes, 4 seconds
All right. For sure. Do you know have you seen the origin of what was prior?
31:08
31 minutes, 8 seconds
I had No, I did not see the Okay. So actually what that jar was used for is we stored cannabis inside of it.
31:15
31 minutes, 15 seconds
Okay. Um, so, um, there’s a sandstone on the jar on the inside which you can put essential oils on. Y um, and then when you store your cannabis in there, you
31:23
31 minutes, 23 seconds
close the lid on there, you put a peppermint essential oil on there, it diffuses inside, it connects to your cannabis, you got your own homemade menthol, you know, so that was the intention. Okay.
31:33
31 minutes, 33 seconds
By the time we got the shipment in, CO had hit, things were pushed back and everything. And our plan of going into shops was limited to be able to try to do this. And trying to sell a cannabis product on social media is challenging.
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31 minutes, 44 seconds
Yes. Yeah, but it has it red and everything like that. Um, and we didn’t really know how to market it anyways.
31:50
31 minutes, 50 seconds
You know, we didn’t have scientist stuff, you know, like we were low key, but we love the idea and the model of it. So, then we pivoted and we knew that we were probably going to do candles
31:58
31 minutes, 58 seconds
eventually cuz the concept was unique with the essential diffuser. So, we started learning how to make candles and um filling them up and then who are the Wii?
32:07
32 minutes, 7 seconds
Sorry, we we is my good buddy Tom best friend. Yes, thank you. Thank you.
32:10
32 minutes, 10 seconds
Sorry. Yes, the Wii. So my best friend from life, Tom, him and I um started Moon Zoom and um so we have um the jars,
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32 minutes, 20 seconds
the candles um started selling them as candles and then the essential oils as well. Um and uh we started vending, going to events and selling them at
32:28
32 minutes, 28 seconds
events. Um and then the year that we were planning on going heavier into that was the year that Cosmic became
32:35
32 minutes, 35 seconds
available. Yeah. um and kind of pivoted directions and we both kind of pivoted into um prioritizing that um for our projects at the time. Um it still
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32 minutes, 44 seconds
exists, still have jars, still are working on figuring out what we’re doing and how we’re going to get that out there. Um I I still love the concept of it and I think it’s an amazing concept.
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32 minutes, 53 seconds
Yeah, man. I mean like jars, but and and the thing about it is first off the the ethos of how it all started is is so the story is dope.
33:02
33 minutes, 2 seconds
Yeah. Right. Like, yeah, we got a lot and and the candles look amazing. I haven’t smelled one yet, but I’m sure they do. But, you know, you have to have a espresso.
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33 minutes, 12 seconds
I know. I know. You have to, dude. We have to. That’s what So, that’s one of the things that we You got to have a Mac and Midnight candle. And it has to be espresso candle. Yes, you have to.
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33 minutes, 21 seconds
Yes, man. For sure. kind of fun in terms of like just like business as we’re talking here, Bill, because one of the things that we did that we didn’t think about is when we ordered this container,
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33 minutes, 30 seconds
we ordered them with the label of the scent on them.
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33 minutes, 33 seconds
Um, which can’t remove. So, like, so they all have the same label on there, but we
33:40
33 minutes, 40 seconds
wanted to branch out from those scents, and we didn’t have enough like money to buy more of the jars of the same ones like that. So, we got some stickers and some things to mess around
33:48
33 minutes, 48 seconds
with it a little bit. So there’s some Yeah, there’s some obstacles that we as in business. Yeah, dude. That’s how you know what I mean.
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33 minutes, 55 seconds
Some Bob Ross moment, dude. Exactly.
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33 minutes, 58 seconds
I’ve got the website up on screen, too, Ed. You know, if there’s anything you want to point out or whatever from that as well. Oh, cool.
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34 minutes, 5 seconds
Also, I first off, I love love love the look of of of the candles. So, I love
34:13
34 minutes, 13 seconds
the logo, too. And I’m pretty sure the Moon Zoom was a that’s an homage to to the cannabis.
34:20
34 minutes, 20 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. You’re right. Yep. Yep. That was the original.
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34 minutes, 24 seconds
But but and I also love the spelling. I also love the spelling. Yeah. Yeah.
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34 minutes, 27 seconds
Yeah. For sure. And it’s I I just think that um this I would I would So I’m a candle guy. Like my house I’m sorry. Yeah. Yeah.
34:35
34 minutes, 35 seconds
My wife is the candle. Got you. Yep. For sure.
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34 minutes, 37 seconds
But here’s the thing that my wife does and she’s going to come for this. So she’ll, you know, we have a an more candles than I think we should ever
34:45
34 minutes, 45 seconds
have, right? She’ll light the thing. She will light a bunch of them. No kidding.
34:52
34 minutes, 52 seconds
The problem is they all smell different. Oh, gotcha. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure.
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34 minutes, 57 seconds
So, you got to have smells that go together.
35:00
35 minutes
Like that’s got to be kind of assaultive on your nose. Yeah, it’s it’s it’s Yes, it is assault. I’m glad you said it. Sorry.
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35 minutes, 7 seconds
It’s assault.
35:09
35 minutes, 9 seconds
It’s it is it is a salt on the nose, dude.
35:13
35 minutes, 13 seconds
And I love the fact that you use um 100%, you know, essential oils. It’s all all all above board, man. I I think they they look amazing.
35:22
35 minutes, 22 seconds
Yeah, man. Thank you. Yeah. So, it’s like what I like about it is that the um the sandstone is on the on the lid, right? So, what’s cool is like when you
35:29
35 minutes, 29 seconds
don’t want it to smell, you just close the jar. Yeah. And then when you do want to smell, you just open the jar. You know what I mean? So, it’s like you can kind of control it. Control it. Yeah.
35:36
35 minutes, 36 seconds
Because you want to put the lid somewhere else. less of a less.
35:38
35 minutes, 38 seconds
Yep. Exactly. You can close it every once in a while when you need to. Um so I think as just an essential So that’s right now I have them actually in the shop without them as candles but just as
35:47
35 minutes, 47 seconds
empty um jars just for essential diffusers. Um and people also have like diffuser jewelry, you know, that they use for that too. So if you want to
35:54
35 minutes, 54 seconds
store it in there and it’ll keep it fresh like that.
35:56
35 minutes, 56 seconds
Very cool. It was fun. My buddy and I are creators and we’ve been brainstorming and we’ve done written shorts and fun script like all that stuff.
36:05
36 minutes, 5 seconds
You’re just one of those You’re just one of those guys. figure it out. Yeah, for sure. Love creating things. Love making things. Whatever. No, that’s awesome. That’s awesome.
36:12
36 minutes, 12 seconds
Well, don’t don’t let that one go. That’s a good one.
36:15
36 minutes, 15 seconds
Oh, thank you. Okay. Yeah, for sure. I’m hanging on. I know. I’m trying to figure out what I get. I know. I was like, got patents. What do we got? What we got to do here, man? I don’t know.
36:22
36 minutes, 22 seconds
You will figure it out. Yes. Yeah, for sure. Yep.
36:25
36 minutes, 25 seconds
Just look. I I want to I want to purchase the very first cosmic Mac and Midnight C
36:32
36 minutes, 32 seconds
deal. I do. It’s happening now. Now, now we’re on it. Y limited edition. You should number them all, too. That’s That’s a free one.
36:38
36 minutes, 38 seconds
All right. So, let’s let’s get into let’s get into this lightning round. Perfect. Okay.
36:42
36 minutes, 42 seconds
Okay. So, we’re going to do I’m going to shoot out some a word or a phrase
36:50
36 minutes, 50 seconds
and then you got to hit me with the very first thing that you that comes in your mind. Oh, man. Okay. You ready?
36:55
36 minutes, 55 seconds
All right. I don’t trust myself. All right. Let’s do this. All right. All right. Hey, listen. Either this cannot this cannot go wrong.
37:03
37 minutes, 3 seconds
The worst that could happen is you can go viral. There we go. Okay. Perfect. All right. Yeah, for sure.
37:07
37 minutes, 7 seconds
All right. Favorite coffee drink to make or drink yourself?
37:12
37 minutes, 12 seconds
Oh, um, vanilla latte. Just basic small vanilla latte. Love it. All right.
37:16
37 minutes, 16 seconds
The most unexpected thing you’ve learned about running a coffee shop.
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37 minutes, 21 seconds
Um, how much people want large sweet milky drinks and not a lot of coffee.
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37 minutes, 28 seconds
And not a lot of coffee. Yep. I did not expect that at No, I mean there’s a there’s a there’s a reason for it for sure.
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37 minutes, 37 seconds
Absolutely. One thing you have always have on your playlist when you’re working aside aside from the Grateful Dead.
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37 minutes, 45 seconds
Okay. Gotcha. That’s always on there. Um I’ll do any Loi. Um good coffee. I mean it’s just like basic coffee shop music that um but there’s a couple playlists
37:54
37 minutes, 54 seconds
that I have um good vocal music like so I have this one playlist called vocal sex that I throw on there. Yep. I mean,
38:01
38 minutes, 1 second
is everybody’s voice? I want I love I’m in love with your voice. If you’re on that playlist, that’s what it means. Um, so, uh, yeah. So, that’s a good one on
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38 minutes, 9 seconds
there. Um, I got to get on that playlist. What’s up? I got to get on that playlist. I will add you now. Yeah, for sure.
38:15
38 minutes, 15 seconds
Check it out. You’ll be on that playlist, dude. For sure. Uh, yeah.
38:18
38 minutes, 18 seconds
Okay. Um, your go-to comfort food after a long day. Oh, man. Burger or Philly cheese steak?
38:26
38 minutes, 26 seconds
I like the beef or the grease and the cheese. Like, I mean, yeah. A good listen a good Philly cheese steak the bread sapping and a little bit I
38:35
38 minutes, 35 seconds
mean that’s you know that’s one of the main ingredients yeah yeah so are you are you a cheese person or a whiz person
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38 minutes, 42 seconds
um I do so I like to make my own as well like for that but I think it’s a combo you know what I mean so I think the the
38:49
38 minutes, 49 seconds
white American is essential for affiliate cheese steak with the whiz I think is I think you I think you go both of them yeah for those who don’t know what the
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38 minutes, 57 seconds
hell we’re talking So cheese whiz is is is probably the uncheiest cheese there ever. Yep. Yep. For sure.
39:06
39 minutes, 6 seconds
But but it’s perfect for a cheese steak. I don’t know. It goes well.
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39 minutes, 9 seconds
Yeah. It’s sort of like that uh you know those crackers and cheese with the little red stick. Yeah.
39:13
39 minutes, 13 seconds
The cheese doesn’t taste the same unless you use the red stick. I don’t care what anybody says. Care what anybody says.
39:18
39 minutes, 18 seconds
The red stick is a is a is a needed thing. If you don’t have it, it’s not the same.
39:22
39 minutes, 22 seconds
Nope. Nope. And then the finger as a second. So, what’s the most Minnesota
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39 minutes, 29 seconds
thing you have ever done? I can tell you what mine is right now was was was learning how to say man.
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39 minutes, 37 seconds
Man, that’s a I would say I have probably just all around my like accent and language. I just motan just like I say you betcha. I say g’s all the time.
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39 minutes, 50 seconds
Like I just op you know I’m going to squeeze by it. Like yeah, it’s just all Minnesota on that front.
39:56
39 minutes, 56 seconds
Yeah. Um other than that, I mean Minnesota State Fair like love that’s that’s that’s a right of passage.
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40 minutes, 4 seconds
I mean I mean who doesn’t I mean I love the state fair for sure.
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40 minutes, 6 seconds
I love it, dude. It’s Oh, it’s fantastic.
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40 minutes, 9 seconds
Yeah, it’s I I will say this about the state fair. So my favorite thing So I remember I came here in ‘ 98. My favorite thing ever
40:17
40 minutes, 17 seconds
at the state fair. So, by the 4C building in the back across from um where they have like the Swedish
40:24
40 minutes, 24 seconds
coffee and all that stuff, there used to be an apple dumpling stand. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Three years ago went bye-bye.
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40 minutes, 33 seconds
No kidding.
40:34
40 minutes, 34 seconds
I I was down to boycott devastating. So, this Okay, let me let me for those who had
40:40
40 minutes, 40 seconds
move like they’re gone. I think I think the family that ran that I think I think the guy I think he passed away.
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40 minutes, 49 seconds
Okay, got you.
40:50
40 minutes, 50 seconds
And unfortunately Okay, so how do you have someone take all that?
40:52
40 minutes, 52 seconds
But those who haven’t experienced Have you ever had it?
40:55
40 minutes, 55 seconds
Um I don’t dump. Okay, I got to tell you about it. I got to tell you.
40:59
40 minutes, 59 seconds
All right, so so they would they would peel an apple. Mhm.
41:03
41 minutes, 3 seconds
They would make this syrup um for the apple and it would be like actual red hots. Oh, really? No way.
41:10
41 minutes, 10 seconds
Actual red hots. brown sugar, vanilla, and and and cinnamon sticks. Oh my god.
41:16
41 minutes, 16 seconds
Right. And I’m pretty sure it’s a little bit of whiskey in it. No kidding.
41:19
41 minutes, 19 seconds
And they would uh basically braze the apples in this syrup. Oh, that was all in the syrup. Yes. No way.
41:26
41 minutes, 26 seconds
And braz So they capples. So you have the apple. So And then then they would wrap it in some kind of a dough and then bake it. And then you
41:34
41 minutes, 34 seconds
get that that half a apple, some of that syrup, and then a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You’re kidding me. Out of bounds.
41:42
41 minutes, 42 seconds
That’s incredible.
41:44
41 minutes, 44 seconds
Out of out of bounds. About the best thing I’ve ever had. And then they put some So right now, not no shade, but there’s like a a pancake on a stick or waffle on a stick stand in the spot now.
41:54
41 minutes, 54 seconds
And I was like I was ready to flip the stand over when I when I just so just so we’re clear. Um I was serious about the I look forward to that.
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42 minutes, 3 seconds
Then I then I left. I moved away and I came back. That was the first that was the first beline. The first bel line was sit down
42:10
42 minutes, 10 seconds
like where whoa whoa whoa where did it I looked in the directory it’s not even in it’s not here at all man I’m sorry because that’s that’s a
42:18
42 minutes, 18 seconds
blow dude when you like I yeah and it’s an amazing so it’s what so I places at the stage you have your places
42:25
42 minutes, 25 seconds
I have a short list of food items that are so nostalgic to me that I won’t even
42:33
42 minutes, 33 seconds
attempt to make them oh like I’m pretty sure that I could make this right it’s like uh but I would I I don’t even want to try cuz I don’t
42:40
42 minutes, 40 seconds
want to sell it, right? It’s not to say I want it made for me. I want like like Okay. So, I’m not a big mayo person. Okay.
42:47
42 minutes, 47 seconds
Goodoli on something. A good on something or like my my grandmother used to make um a tuna fish sandwich.
42:56
42 minutes, 56 seconds
Yeah. That I won’t eat tuna fish.
42:58
42 minutes, 58 seconds
I just don’t I don’t I won’t make it for myself. I don’t want to buy it anywhere. That’s fair.
43:03
43 minutes, 3 seconds
That And you know, the secret was though she baked the bread. She the tomatoes were from the yard. It was like they were like she didn’t put onions in it cuz I hate raw onions. So it was like
43:11
43 minutes, 11 seconds
everything was you know it was it was custom made to me. So Oh, gotcha.
43:15
43 minutes, 15 seconds
So this this apple dumpling is in that it’s in that pantheon. Yeah. You can’t remake that. No, I I refuse to try. I Yeah.
43:22
43 minutes, 22 seconds
But now if it’s gone, you might have to I might That’s what I’m saying. I might have to open the stand up.
43:26
43 minutes, 26 seconds
There’s not a Yeah, if it’s not there then. Yeah. Someone’s got to do it.
43:29
43 minutes, 29 seconds
Someone’s got to do it. One of us that one. The Moon Zoom Apple Dumpling.
43:33
43 minutes, 33 seconds
Oh, dude. Take That’s another scent. Yeah, that’s another scent. Okay, Dusty, tell everyone
43:40
43 minutes, 40 seconds
where what you have going on and where they’re where they can find you. So, any programming you got you got going on
43:47
43 minutes, 47 seconds
right now? Just let us know what’s going on with you and Cosmic.
43:50
43 minutes, 50 seconds
Yeah. Um, not a not a ton of programming right now. Um, there’s I think there’s maybe a concert happening over Memorial Day weekend. Um, you can tune in to that
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43 minutes, 59 seconds
on Instagram. Um, that’s usually where I post all my stuff. If you come in, you can sign up for my email newsletter. Um, and that uh I put stuff Instagram handle is what?
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44 minutes, 10 seconds
The Instagram handle is cosmic coffeemn. That’s right.
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44 minutes, 15 seconds
Yeah. Spell it like you sound nothing weird in there. Nothing nothing moon zoom style or anything.
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44 minutes, 20 seconds
Absolutely, man. Well, Dusty, thank you so much for for for being here and taking the time to do such. Uh, it’s
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44 minutes, 28 seconds
been amazing to to get to know your story a little more in depth even though um I feel like I’ve known you
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44 minutes, 36 seconds
for which is very true. I feel like I’ve known you forever and um man just I really continue to be the glue and the
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44 minutes, 44 seconds
thread for you know your community that you’re being. I think um the world needs more places like Cosmic.
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44 minutes, 51 seconds
For sure. And hopefully we hopefully we get more man. Absolutely. Yeah. Keep it going.
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44 minutes, 55 seconds
Absolutely. Um, if you have not been to Cosmic Coffee, please stop in. You know,
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45 minutes, 3 seconds
Dusty’s brewing a lot more than just cups of coffee over there. The burritos, I can swear by them. I swear to God, they were good. And appreciate that.
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45 minutes, 10 seconds
Look, check this out, man. Thank you guys for tuning in to another episode of the Taste Music Here Food podcast. We
45:18
45 minutes, 18 seconds
have an incredible journey today exploring the delicious intersections of food, music, and culture. Remember, the stories we share are the flavors of life
45:26
45 minutes, 26 seconds
that deserve to be shared. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review.
45:33
45 minutes, 33 seconds
It helps others discover our show and keeps us going strong. Remember, no one likes FOMO. Don’t miss out. Follow us on
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45 minutes, 41 seconds
social media for behindthescenes moments, sneak peeks, and exclusive content that brings the world of food and culture even closer to your plate.
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45 minutes, 50 seconds
I’ve been your host Ed Porter. Till next time. Peace.