(Almost) Free Lunch

Peri peri chicken with fries and a lemonade (not shown)

The South Granville Business Improvement Association enticed people to come to the neighbourhood this weekend, with street vendors set up in blocked off side streets, offering snacks to essential oils, jewellery and art.

South Granville is not an area I go to often, but went to visit a clothing shop celebrating its second anniversary. It sells Canadian designed leisure wear and the owner told me this year has been more challenging than last year coming out of Covid.

She said just opening a shop wasn't enough -- it had to look nice to entice people in, but also have good staff to chat with customers and encourage them to shop.

Was finding staff difficult?

For her, millennials were a group she could not understand. In job interviews, prospective candidates requested working three days a week, which made the owner wonder, don't they need to make money, or are their parents supporting them? But surely that won't last long?

She compared herself to them, recalling that she hustled several jobs in her younger years.

Nevertheless, her work ethic will put her in good stead, determined to find ways to get more business, and one key component is the shopping experience in the store. And what that looks like is something she will have to figure out; it may mean her spending more time in the store to meet customers, or hire someone who will be just as vested as her, which would be difficult.

Nevertheless, she is resolved to work her way out of the economic doldrums, though high interest rates and inflation aren't helping.

Afterwards I went to the nearby Meinhardt Fine Foods to take a look around and there was a long line for the deli section that was stocked with various baked goods, salads and deli items. 

I picked up a carton of oat milk and while paying for it, the cashier asked if I'd like a free chicken meal.

Sure!

Just around the corner from the entrance was a tent set up with a barbecue manned by many staff. There was peri peri chicken or beef smokies to choose from, and that came with fries and a glass of lemonade.

Score!

At first I thought I'd just bring this takeaway lunch home to eat, but it was too tempting to wait at 11.30am. The chicken was cooked through and the dry rub was not spicy at all. We were only given forks to eat it with, but I managed to clean it to the bone. The fries were thick enough and not salty which was good, washed down with lemonade with lots of crushed ice!

It was a delicious and almost free -- though several bees made a beeline for my lunch... I had to eat it quickly and yet try to hold myself back from swatting the bees away, worried they may sting me!