May Have a New Location

For the last 5 years, our aikido dojo has been located in The Malls shopping center at 23rd and Louisiana. It has been a great location, but we never should have signed that lease. The rent was more than we could afford. We used to have quite a bit of money in the bank, but years of losing $200 or more a month have dwindled our reserves down to zero. I am not sure how we made it this far.

I believe the kids program saved us. As it is, we have more kids than adult students. That is very typical for martial arts organizations. The problem is that kids are fickle. They may be all into it this month, only to move on to some other interest the next month. We had a high of 30 kids in the program, but now we are down to about 15. That number will rise and fall. There is no way to predict the number, so there is no way to budget or plan for the future.

We gave our notice to leave our current location the end of August. We have been looking around for other spaces, but have found the same problem of the rent being more than we can afford. People have suggested church basements, renting rooms in a gym or even classroom space. While these ideas are inexpensive, they also involve the hassle of sharing. We would likely have to lay the mats each time and then pick them up. These mats are not light! It takes 2 people to move one.

Since I am off for summer, the job has mostly fallen to me to find a new space. I have searched mainly the internet. I think I already reported my problems with Phone Phobia, which complicates this process for me.

I lucked out last week when my hair salon moved. While I was getting my hair done, I started asking the owner questions about the space and how much rent she paid. It sounds about perfect. The space will be cozy, but it will be ours. The only drawback is the location.

While it is perfect for me, less than a mile from my home, it is right next to the County Jail.  Actually, it is probably one of the safest places in town because there are cops coming and going all the time.  I just don't know how the parents will feel about it.  Also, this makes us less convenient and potentially harder to find.  That said, people have tried to visit our dojo when we were not open and believed us to be out of business.  We are only waiting for all the members to see the place so we can build consensus.  So far, everyone who has seen the place likes it. 

I hope this works out so I won't have to be involved with looking anymore.

Don't Ring My Bell

Ugh!  I am still creeped out because some stranger rang my doorbell about a half an hour ago.  I peeked from the dining room, just out of sight.  He was just some guy wearing long camo shorts and a tan shirt.  Was he going to witness to me?  Sell me some magazines?  Tell me he just hit my truck?  I didn't see a car out there.  I couldn't bear it.  Unless it is someone I recognize or is dressed in a postal service uniform, I am NOT answering the door.  I eventually checked to see if there was some kind of note or tract left on the door, but there was not.  Yuck!  As I said, I am still creeped out and don't even want to venture outside for fear he might still be roaming my street.