1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: It's that time time, time, luck and load. So Michael 2 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: Varie Show is on the air. In twenty sixteen, early 3 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, a book came out by a woman named 4 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: Selena Zito. I didn't know who she was, but several 5 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: people recommended I read it, so I did. It was 6 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: called The Great Revolt, and it was a bellweather piece 7 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: for telling Trump's victory. It's hard for people to remember. 8 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: People tend to think that whatever happened was ordained to happen, 9 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: and of course that was gonna happen. Of course we 10 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: were going to land at Normandy and win, and of 11 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: course we were going to defeat Hitler. But doesn't work 12 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: like that. I mean, of course we were going to 13 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: beat the Cardinals, and you know it was over and 14 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: Puhols hits that home run off lights out lytch, which 15 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: just wasn't supposed to happen, and everything you thought was 16 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: going to happen wasn't. Of course, we were going to 17 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: beat the Bills. We were up big, and Frank Reich's 18 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: a backup and it changed, right, These things happen. So 19 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 1: there is a story in that book she really went 20 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: out into the hinterlands that the bycoastal elites of LA 21 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: and New York and DC don't know anything about. And 22 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: she told stories about real people and it was turning 23 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: out that they were end up supporting Trump. And she 24 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: told the story about a woman who was a baker, 25 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: and it was such a moving story to me. This 26 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: lady had been had worked, and she was a single mom. 27 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: She worked in dispatch at the Sheriff's department, and I 28 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: think she was there for ten years in dispatch, and 29 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: she decides she wanted to be an officer. So here's 30 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: this heavy set woman with kids at home, and she 31 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: decides she's going to be an officer. She goes through 32 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: the academy, she gets her badge and her gun, and 33 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: by God, she becomes an officer and gets a full retirement. 34 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: I think she was twenty two years there and eleven 35 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 1: is a dispatcher. I might have it mixed, but I 36 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: think that's right. And she retires to chase her dream, 37 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: and that is to open a bakery. And she opens 38 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,519 Speaker 1: that bakery in downtown and it's something like Dayton, Ohio. 39 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: It's a smaller town. It's a rust belt town. And 40 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: Selena Zito is beautifully telling the story about towns like 41 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: this all over the Midwest who've gone bankrupt, They've gone 42 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: you know, the downtown is dead. Everyone has moved out, 43 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: and there are a few people trying to bring it back. 44 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: And this woman gets up early every morning, I think 45 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: at one o'clock, gets in and starts baking it too, 46 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: and then she has a helper up and as the 47 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: people are coming in and getting their breakfast, starting at 48 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: say eight o'clock, she switches over back in the kitchen 49 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: to making lunch, the soups and the breads for lunches, 50 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: and it just felt very wholesome. I felt. I've always 51 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: had a thing for the bakery, the smell of the bakery. 52 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: I mean at Astra World, remember the little mini loaf 53 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: of bread. There's just something good and wholesome and beautiful 54 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: about a bakery. So with that in mind, I received 55 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: the following email from Pastor LeMay Higgs Czar. Thank you 56 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: for your wonderful program and you often emphasize small businesses. 57 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: I'm writing you because the longtime bakery in Lagrange, Texas, 58 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: Lucas Bakery Lukas, is an amazing opportunity for someone who 59 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: would be willing to train and keep this wonderful historic 60 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: shop going. The owner wants to retire and is offering it, 61 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: offering to sell everything, business equipment, recipes, and train the 62 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: new owner for six months for the amazingly low price 63 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: of three and seventy five dollars. As a poor college 64 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: student in the sixties, my husband and I would have 65 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: an outing we could afford by driving to Lagrange and 66 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: enjoying Kolachis on the historic Courthouse Square. So it was 67 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: with some joy that I was called to be a 68 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: minister here twenty two years ago. I really hate to 69 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: see this historic bakery open since the nineteen sixties not continue. 70 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: Surely there's a young couple or someone who would be 71 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: interested in finding a lifelong occupation here in beautiful Fayette County. 72 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: And I agree it is beautiful. I love it. I 73 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: would be appreciative of any help you might be able 74 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: to give on your program to make this happen. I 75 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: have no personal financial attachments to this business other than 76 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: wanting to see our community thrive and preserve its historic roots. Also, 77 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: there's sausage, rolls, pigs Koblenski's are my favorites, not greasy, 78 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: and the yeast bread is so good. They make wonderful 79 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: fruitcake at Christmas too. Let me just go ahead and 80 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: tell those of you whose great grandmother was from Czechoslovakia. 81 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: And you've got a check name and that's about all 82 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: the check you've got. You've got a yaxhamas a bumper sticker, 83 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: and you want to out check me if you send 84 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: me an email about what is and isn't a colachi, 85 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: I'm blocking you because I find that very annoying. You 86 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: better check good point ramon. You better check yourself because 87 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: I know you're out there and I know you're just trying, 88 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: just dying. I ain't know colachi. I ain't not peting 89 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: a brank it. If I called a kilachi, it's a klacchi. 90 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: That's part of being bazaar, Okay, It's just that's the 91 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: power I wield. I don't I try to be you, 92 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: don't try to be responsible with it. But if I 93 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: called a kolachi, it's a clacchi. Larry Falden, Larry Falden 94 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: is our guest. He is the owner of said bakery. 95 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 2: Welcome, sir, thank you. 96 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: So I did look online and there is a site 97 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: about you trying to sell it says you're seventy three 98 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: you've worked there for fifty two years. You don't look 99 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: seventy three for the record, says it's been all right. 100 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: It says, it's been almost five years since you're late wife, Carol, 101 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: daughter of the founder of the bakery, passed away. 102 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: Correct. 103 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: I imagine you're tired, sir. I am still there, Yeah, 104 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: I said, I imagine you're tired. 105 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,919 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, I'm just getting worn out because it's just, 106 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: you know, the hours and stuff, and and you know, 107 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: I got people wanting to buy the billy, you know, 108 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: and then turn it into something else. But I got 109 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: so many people that asking me not to do that. 110 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: It says Larry is ready to enjoy retirement. He gets 111 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,239 Speaker 1: to the bakery at midnight most nights to start making 112 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: the next day's fresh array of colaches, pigging a blanket, cookies, 113 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: et cetera, but doesn't want the bakery to retire with him. 114 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: You're asking three seventy five. Let me ask you some 115 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: business questions, because we might as well just be honest 116 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 1: if we're going to try to find a real buyer. 117 00:06:59,240 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: Uh. 118 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: Does the three seventy five include the building that's. 119 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: The property all? Yes, okay, the equipment, the recipes, The 120 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: recipes are all my own recipes. They're homemade. I don't 121 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: buy anything that's let's. 122 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: Talk about assets. How much land do we have? 123 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 3: Uh? 124 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: The building that's probably lead it's uh think here, I 125 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 2: think the buildings about three thousand square feet. It has 126 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 2: a legal right away in the back it's probably uh, 127 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 2: I think it's twenty five foot wine and it goes 128 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 2: about two hundred and fifty feet deep. But then there's 129 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: a legal ride away to the back. 130 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: Right across Who's property? What do they have there? 131 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: Uh, it's just the road that comes to my property. 132 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 2: And it belonged to a bank at one time. And 133 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 2: then we uh neighbor bought a strip and then for 134 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: me to get in, but he couldn't get to his 135 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: so I gave him a legal right away to cross myt. 136 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: Okay, so you're driving, do you have front access? Your access? 137 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: Yes? Oh no, yes, we got front the square. Well 138 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: that it's on the square, I mean, so you. 139 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: Got oh I see it. Hold on just second, Larry, 140 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: hold on. 141 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 3: Orderous but the new. 142 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 4: Twenty five package and you get it all fiberglass hood 143 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 4: with air grabbing scoops. 144 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: Mit the Michael Berry fucking. 145 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 4: Hood Benssmobile Escaped from the ordinary. 146 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: Curly crime Brown. You always hear the line, even in 147 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: tough times, Farmers Family Eats. If you own a bakery, 148 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:37,959 Speaker 1: can you imagine it's a little slow this afternoon. Yes, 149 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: I'll have myself a bogette, now, won't. Larry Faldon is 150 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: the owner of Lucas Bakery on the Square in Lagrange. Larry, 151 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: I got a couple of business questions for you. You 152 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: can give me a quick answer and then we'll move 153 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: on to the fun stuff. His bakery is for self 154 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: for five hundred and seventy five thousand dollars, been around 155 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: since nineteen forty seven. Boy, you can't you can't make 156 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: old friends. 157 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 2: What's that three hundred and seventy five thousand? 158 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: What did I say? 159 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: Not five? You said? You said five to seventy five. 160 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, see we've already it's on sale, Ramon, we 161 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: dropped the price. I knew it was three seventy five. 162 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: I was looking at the number of my head. Sometimes 163 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: I'm talking while saying things, so I don't get things right. 164 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: But I tell people not to worry about that. Okay, 165 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: So you got three thousand square feet of improvements. Uh? 166 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: You got it right away in the back. The parking 167 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: is all on the square right right, correct, All right, 168 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: let's talk about actual numbers. What is the what does 169 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: the bakery do per month? You got to give this 170 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: to any buyer anyway, we might as well get it 171 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: out there. 172 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: I mean in sales or yeah, sales, Oh you know, 173 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: it runs around let's see, around twelve thousand, twelve twelve 174 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 2: to fifteen thousand, twelve to fifteen thousand a month. 175 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: And then what does your staffing look like? You're there? 176 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 1: Probably are you open? What six days a week? 177 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 2: Well, Monday to Saturdays from five am till one and 178 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 2: then when we closed on Sundays. 179 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: Okay, And what does the staffing look like other than you? 180 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 2: Well, I got three other women, but they're willing to stay, 181 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 2: you know. And like I said, I'm willing to stay 182 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 2: and teach somebody you know does stuff. And then if 183 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 2: they want to stay open longer, because some of them 184 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 2: do the sandwiches and soup, we don't do it because 185 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 2: I've got all I can handle. Really, because like pigs 186 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 2: and a blanket, which actually a real name is Cloba schneaky, 187 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 2: I do about one hundred and fifty to one hundred 188 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 2: eight does in a week. 189 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 1: So you don't do soup and sandwiches? 190 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,479 Speaker 2: No, no, no, we're strict to just a bait bakery. 191 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,199 Speaker 1: Does anybody on the square do soup and sandwiches? 192 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 2: Not that I know of. 193 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: Man, I would think soups would be so profitable, maybe 194 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: just because I really like soups. The thing I love 195 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: about soups as a business model is you make it 196 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: and you can store it. It doesn't have to be made, 197 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 1: you know. Like I used to eat at CON's Deli 198 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: in Rice Village and they would have to make each sandwich. 199 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: It was this big production, whereas soup you just spooned 200 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: it out. You like soup, you like see yeah missus, 201 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: Larry I do too. 202 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 2: Oh yeah. 203 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 1: So you don't serve an actual meal of any sort 204 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: other than I guess the what you call Kleavinci's or. 205 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: The yeah yeah cloba sneaky that's yeah yeah, and klachia 206 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 2: that's a completely different. Lot of people call a pig 207 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 2: of Klatchi. But a kolachi is sweet though, with fruit 208 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 2: in it. 209 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: Do you serve iced tea? 210 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 2: No, we just we have soft drinks, but well we 211 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 2: have the tea that in the in the bottle in 212 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 2: like soda, water, chocolate, milk, orange, you guess all that, yes, coffee. 213 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: And are you willing to finance any of this yourself? 214 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: Carry a note for some period of time with the 215 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: balloon or anything. 216 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 2: Just said, I'm not. I'm just they have to finance 217 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: it themselves, and they have a econ I with developing 218 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 2: board that's interested in financing it for the people that 219 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 2: would want to buy it. 220 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, because Lagrange has an interest in a deal 221 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: like this. They they need this thing, especially with the 222 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: history it is. You want to presus that's what makes 223 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: a little town special. 224 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, we draw a lot of you know, they don't 225 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 2: want the square to die because a lot of the 226 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 2: still of grocery stores went out of business, you know 227 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 2: because at Be and Walmart kind of put them out. 228 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 2: And we're we're three other bakers, but our bakeryes so 229 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 2: it's so different. Their stuff is more all the same 230 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 2: in ours is completely different because like I said, it's 231 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 2: it's homemade and it's some recipes some of thees in that. 232 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,679 Speaker 2: So everything we make is made from scratch. 233 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: Larry, what's the hardest thing about baking bread that people 234 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't expect? 235 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 2: Well, it's not. I mean it's all the same. I 236 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 2: mean just pixing, put it on the table, proofing and 237 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 2: baking it. I mean, of course we splice it. We 238 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 2: have slices, spices. It's it's not you know, we don't 239 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 2: do a lot of bread because you got different breads 240 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 2: and the stores, you know, but we do. We do 241 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: a lot of cookies and a lot of sweets, and 242 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: a lot of picking the blankets. 243 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: But what would you say is a challenge about this 244 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: business that you would have to teach somebody that one 245 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: wouldn't expect, because every business has that, whether it's. 246 00:12:57,760 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 2: Most of them, most of them don't expect to want 247 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 2: to get up that early, you know, but you got 248 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: to get up early if you want to get the 249 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 2: stuff put out at five o'clock. That we have apartment 250 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 2: in here and something them goes, they go to work. 251 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 4: You know. 252 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 2: Some days you get one, you might sell eight nine 253 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 2: dozen in thirty minutes. You know, next day you don't. 254 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 2: You just you have to kind of eat the ours 255 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 2: with the time because you never know when somebody wants 256 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 2: the stuff. You know, interesting, interesting, it takes it almost 257 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 2: takes a man and wife, you know. And then after 258 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 2: I lost my life. It kind of made it difficult. 259 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 2: You know. We did cakes and decorated cakes, but then 260 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: she decorated. Well I kind of did away with it 261 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,439 Speaker 2: cause it's got to be I couldn't handle it all, 262 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 2: you know, But the man part, it's just somebody has 263 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 2: to be willing to do it. 264 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: Well, I wish you the absolute best. I have a 265 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:51,280 Speaker 1: pastor LeMay's email address. If somebody is interested, they can 266 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: email me and I will forward it and they can 267 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: connect with you and hopefully we can report back. I'd 268 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: love to see this little uh, this little jewel in 269 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: Lagrange carried on by somebody looking to chase the dream. 270 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: It's kind of thing that if a couple wanted to 271 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: do this, it's ready made. Just walk in. 272 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well see, this place actually has been a baker 273 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 2: for almost one hundred years. Le Lucas is my finalow. 274 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: So he started back in nineteen forty seven. Of course, 275 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 2: then he passed away in seventy eight mother in law. 276 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: Of course he's gone now too. And then I took over, 277 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 2: you know, the whole thing. So like I said, I 278 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 2: I got fifty two plus years here and I don't 279 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 2: want to, you know, knock on wood and something happens 280 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 2: to me then able to be just shut down, you know. 281 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 2: And I'm trying to keep a baker because I got 282 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 2: so many people asking me not to shut down, but 283 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 2: I told him I'm hard, and most of them people 284 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 2: work thirty years and say that's what y'all doing this, 285 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: that we were hard, So try fifty two years. 286 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: Yeah. You know, it's interesting because we take things for 287 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: granted when we have them, and then they're gone and 288 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: we so desperately wish they were back. That's the sort 289 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: of thing that you don't want to lose. And it'd 290 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: be so nice to see a young couple or a 291 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: young young a guy or girl who this was their 292 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: dream and they just walk right in and keep the 293 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 1: tradition going and maybe maybe add to it. Larry, thank 294 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: you for being our guest man. Good luck to you. 295 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: Okay, I appreciate it, just sir, thank you. 296 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: I can't help but think that it wouldn't I wouldn't 297 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: add something to to add soups and a few things 298 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: like that. You know, you always think you know somebody's 299 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: business until you and you realize you don't. But my 300 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: first thought was that like adding barbecue to a country club, 301 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: too soon or mom too soon. It's only been five 302 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: years that that was an inappropriate thing to say. 303 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 3: Verry. 304 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: You know, I went back and toured the RCC the 305 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: other day, Uncle Jerry and I and all we're doing 306 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: is walking through there. They've hardly changed anything and going well. 307 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: That was brilliant. Remember we did that. Remember it took 308 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: us three months to do this. Now it's just sitting there. 309 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: But wow, I remember how hard that was to make happen. 310 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 2: Al Mike ob. 311 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: Just got a nice message from borgea hood who owns 312 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: and operates Stogies where I buy my cigars, and he 313 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: needed their ice maker, refrigerator, all sorts of appliances UH serviced, 314 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: and their top of the lines. Not for your everyday 315 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: guy to do. And so he took my referral and 316 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: called Uptown Appliance Repair and Bobby Fierro walked him through it, 317 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: said the guy took care of it, followed up and 318 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: he said, Wow, I see why you're high on these guys. 319 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: I love it when you listen to our show and 320 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: need something and email me and let me connect you 321 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: with the owner of a show sponsor and they jump 322 00:16:56,360 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: on it. It makes me very, very happy. That is 323 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: never a burden. People will sometimes I know you're busy, 324 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: but no, no, no, that's my passion connecting our show 325 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: sponsors with our listeners, because if it works the way 326 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: it's supposed to work, you're gonna send me a thank 327 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 1: you note later and say I've never had anybody show 328 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 1: up on time, do a great job, do this, do that. 329 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: You know we take for granted the business that Mattress 330 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: Mac created at Gallery Furniture. If you've ever had furniture delivered, 331 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: it's delivered faster than anywhere else in the world. You're 332 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: gonna get it delivered because he keeps it in a 333 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: warehouse in the back and they jump right on it. 334 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: But the guys when they deliver it are like the 335 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: customer service of the delivery guys. Usually they're kind of 336 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: listless or smug. These guys are all over it. Is 337 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: there anything we can take out of here for you? 338 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,640 Speaker 1: He want us to take the old couch, Well, yeah, 339 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: I was trying to. I was gonna put it out 340 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: on the street corner, hope to Mexicans came and got it. No, 341 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 1: we'll take it for you, and there's a sheet you 342 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: have to sign. It says you're completely happy with the delivery, 343 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: and it says, is there anything we can do for 344 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: you before we leave that would make you happy, including 345 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 1: mow your lawn where there have been people who try them, 346 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: who just tested them out over the years, then they 347 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 1: end up tipping them for it. But the point is 348 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: that level of customer service, that level of efficiency. Well, 349 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: you think about this. Trump's tried to bring manufacturing back 350 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: to the United States, and granted, not all of that 351 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: will be homegrown. Some of that will be foreign countries. 352 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: We'll have to come here and set up an operation 353 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: to manufacture here. But we want that if they're going 354 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: to manufacture products for the American market as much as possible, 355 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: we want that to be on American soil because it's 356 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 1: not just American jobs, it's American investment. It's more people 357 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 1: eating at Lucas Bakery in Lagrange because that's where all 358 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: this growth is going. You look at where Elo on 359 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: his building up. It's in that bass Drop area. You're 360 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: seeing more and more. You look at all that growth 361 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: out in Waller right now. My niece works for Dike 362 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: and they own half of Waller. Now's massive tilt wall 363 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: buildings going on forever So Mack built this business forty 364 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,879 Speaker 1: five years ago, and he's kind of seen a thing 365 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: or two, including the decimation of the American furniture industry. 366 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: There are very few places left who manufacture in the 367 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 1: United States. Well, he made a video that he posted yesterday, 368 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: and he's talking about not just American manufacturing. Used to 369 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: be Texas manufacturing. It was a lot of it, even 370 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: right here in the Greater Houston area. Anyway, this is 371 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: what he posted yesterday. Hi, Mattress mac here Galli. 372 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 4: Firster are lots of talk nowadays about making products in 373 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 4: the United States, making products overseas. Let me tell you 374 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 4: the story of the American furniture business. When I first 375 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 4: got in the American furniture business back in the night 376 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 4: eighteen eighties, everything was made in America. 377 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 3: Everything. 378 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 4: There were plants all over Texas, all over Mississippi, all 379 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 4: over North Carolina. 380 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,360 Speaker 1: And you can get whatever furniture. 381 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 4: You want, get it fairly quickly too, because the plants 382 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 4: were constantly making furniture and shipping it all over the country. Then, 383 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 4: as the nineties came on, the NBA started buying these 384 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 4: furniture companies, seeing a lot of them had a healthy 385 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 4: cash flow and they started lowering the number of workers 386 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 4: and offshoring jobs to China, Vietnam, Mexico, wherever. And about 387 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 4: that time the American furniture business started downhill. Once upon 388 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 4: a time there was a great American furniture company that 389 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 4: the NBA guys put them all together, some of the 390 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 4: best American furniture companies ever like broy Hill, Lane, Drexel, Heritage, 391 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 4: Henry Don, Maitland Smith, the list goes on and on. 392 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 4: They put them all together into a giant brand called 393 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 4: Furniture Brands International that at one time employed thirty five 394 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 4: thousand Americans. They gradually offshored all those jobs to China 395 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 4: and shuttered every one of those plants in all those 396 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 4: different states, and thirty five thousand people out of work. 397 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 4: You know, work brings purpose and meaning to life, and 398 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 4: a lot of these factory workers knew nothing else than 399 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 4: making furniture. That was their life's work, that gave their 400 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 4: life purpose and meaning. And once that job was gone, 401 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 4: out came the oxycodine epidemic and then the fetanohyl epidemic. 402 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 4: And we know what horror is that ravaged on the 403 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 4: American people. So my pitch is there are still a 404 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 4: lot of great American furniture manufacturers left, like Stickley Furniture 405 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 4: in New York and North Carolina making some of the 406 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 4: finest high quality furniture anywhere in world. In fact, I 407 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 4: would say the finest high quality furniture. And then right 408 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 4: here in Texas, there's great companies like Dixon Furniture right 409 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 4: here in Houston making a posting furniture. The Sealy Betting 410 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:49,200 Speaker 4: Company started in Sealy, Texas, then went to Brenham making 411 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,680 Speaker 4: high quality mattresses. We've got Mayo Furniture in Texas. Kind 412 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 4: of Texas being making quality of poster furnichure for forty years, 413 00:21:56,160 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 4: employing people, making communities, having a tight community centered around 414 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 4: that plant. 415 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 1: My pitch is for bringing. 416 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 4: Jobs back to Americans, getting Americans back to work. 417 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: Work brings purpose and meeting to life. 418 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 4: In nineteen hundred, the average size of the US household 419 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 4: was ten point five people. Today, the average size of 420 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 4: the US household is less than two and one's a 421 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 4: lonely's number. Work brings community to people. They meet their 422 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 4: friends there, they live there. That becomes fabric of their life. 423 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 4: And we've robbed these people the joy of work. I 424 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 4: say we bring back the joy of work, bring back 425 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 4: American manufacturing, and take care of our own. 426 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: You're getting a little window into a side of Mac 427 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: that most people have never seen. Mac has a carnival 428 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 1: barker entertainer. This is the sale take action that has 429 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: served him well since he was wearing a mascot of 430 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 1: a mascot, a mattress. You know, Elvis is on the lot. 431 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: Russelly Borr loves to quote that line and the story 432 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: behind it. If you don't know, you got to read 433 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 1: Mac's first book. It's a great story. Most people only 434 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: see the grandiose mattress Mac who's placing the big bet, 435 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: who is you know, was holding up the cash will 436 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: save you money? And then they elevated into a higher 437 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 1: end and now it's it's you know, very high energy 438 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 1: to separate from the crowd. And then he has the 439 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 1: very thoughtful Mac. People will ask what we talk about 440 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 1: when we get together, and I say, we don't. I 441 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: do because he just asks questions, which is what I 442 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: like to do. I already know my story. I don't 443 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: want to talk. I want to ask other people questions. 444 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: So I have to turn it on him because I 445 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: want to ask him questions. But there you saw. If 446 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: you've never heard Mac give a speech, it's a third personality. 447 00:23:54,359 --> 00:24:01,360 Speaker 1: It's very, very thoughtful. I think what probably gets undervalued 448 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 1: and understated the most when it comes to Mac is 449 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: how incredibly bright and articulate and thoughtful and analytical he is. 450 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: You got to realize this is a guy who, for 451 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 1: most of the time and still to this day, primarily 452 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: out of one furniture store the number one sells volume 453 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: furniture store in the country. Now, a lot of really 454 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: smart people that were in that business, and some of 455 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 1: them screamed louder and some marketed more. And this is 456 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: a guy who has managed for forty five years. I'm 457 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: not a U two fan, but I can appreciate the 458 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: fact that when a band can last that long, there's 459 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 1: something to be said for that, or the Stones or Mac. 460 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: He's a Houston treasurer. It really is. Some don't want 461 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: to hear it. He'll just go ahead and say it. 462 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: Sorry that Michael very. 463 00:24:53,359 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 4: Show, Oh the Shot to be has such team did 464 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 4: and it shows then. 465 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: Early I had a story that Chad prepped up real 466 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: nice for me with audio and everything, and I was 467 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: going to go into it now and I give you 468 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 1: the gist of it in about a minute, but I'm 469 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: going to go past it, and it's about third Ward, 470 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: one of the historic wards in city of Houston, and 471 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: it's about how they're very upset that crime is going 472 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: up and they're demanding more police. And as Chad pointed out, 473 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: Sylvester Turner as mayor told us that crime was down, 474 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 1: so it's nothing to worry about, and he attacked pastor 475 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: ed young my dear friend over his sermons about the 476 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: violence across the city. Let's be honest, it was worse 477 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: than Third Ward than it was around the sack of 478 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: Baptist Campus. Third Ward residents are now saying that police 479 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: aren't doing enough to keep them safe and they want 480 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: more POPO. Let's go back flashback to twenty twenty Houston 481 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: Chronicle headline Houston's third Ward remembers gentle giant George Floyd, 482 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: anti cop Black Lives Matter rallies. So you hate the 483 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: cops because they showed up when George Floyd was in 484 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,479 Speaker 1: the middle of a fentanyl overdose. You hate the cops. 485 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 1: The cops are pigs. You want them out of your community. 486 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: They're terrible, They're horrible, and you won't support them, and 487 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: they're all awful people, just trying to go home to 488 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: their own families. And then when they stop coming in, 489 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 1: then crime is up and you want more cops. It's 490 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,439 Speaker 1: almost as if you just want to bitch about something 491 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: and be a victim. But I said, you know what, 492 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: I can do that tomorrow. I like to end the 493 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 1: show on a positive note. So Mac saw fit in 494 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: his busy schedule to call me back, which is by 495 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,400 Speaker 1: way of saying he didn't take my call firm time. 496 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 1: And he's our guest Mac. 497 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, sirtain, mister Barry. 498 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: I was in a book reading contest for the salespeople. 499 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: Oh how'd that go? Yeah, we're reading a. 500 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 2: Book called Unreadable Hospitality. 501 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,120 Speaker 3: We're trying to up our hospitality game to our great customers. 502 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: I was reading a book about not being on speakerphone 503 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,360 Speaker 1: when you're on a radio interview. Did you read that one? 504 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 4: No? True? 505 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: Obviously not. Hey, on a serious note, how are you doing. 506 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: Let's talk health for a minute. How are you doing? 507 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 3: I'm doing great. It's like I used to take twenty 508 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 3: pills a day. Now I take a zero. So I 509 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 3: had the ultimate physician, the Good Lord and Doctor Lowry 510 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 3: down in Methodists did a great job. So I'm I 511 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 3: feel like I'm eighteen years old again. I'm able to 512 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 3: work more hours than ever. Mister Barry, I sent. 513 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: A message to you. Somebody had Lowry had done their 514 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: surgery and apparently had the exact same surgery you had, 515 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 1: and just thought it went off great and all that. 516 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: But I mean you were back on your feet greeting 517 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: our listeners at the store. But that's a pretty brutal recovery, right. 518 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's pretty brutal for the first couple of weeks. 519 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 3: But I had the magazine cinder down to Methodist Hospital, 520 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 3: so I was able to sleep in that chair all day. 521 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 3: And then when they let me out on December twenty sixth, 522 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 3: I said, doctor Lowry, when can I go back to work? 523 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,359 Speaker 3: He said, how about today? I said, Doc, you're my 524 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 3: kind of guy. 525 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 1: And you do feel better. I mean, you got more 526 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: energy and all that sort of stuff. 527 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 3: A lot more energy. People tell me I'll look better, 528 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 3: et cetera, et cetera. So, whether whether it's thea febo 529 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 3: effects or not, I feel a lot better because he 530 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,920 Speaker 3: went in there and fixed that valve. They didn't have 531 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 3: to replace it with a pig valve. He fixed it 532 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 3: and all this functioning well now like I'm eighteen. 533 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: Oh, they did not replace the valve after all, because 534 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 1: I know they were intending to. So what did he do? 535 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 3: He just fixed it up because he's so talented. 536 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: How many inches would you say the scar is on 537 00:28:58,400 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: your chest? 538 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 3: It's about eight inches. And the most scary part was 539 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 3: when they wheeling me into the anesthesiologists of Fixing to 540 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 3: give me the drugs. I said, what are you giving me? Doc? 541 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 3: He said fentanyl? I said, oh no. 542 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: So two weeks ago you and I were giving a 543 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: speech together and we walked in together and I asked 544 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,320 Speaker 1: to see your scar, and you kind of chuckled, and 545 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: I said, I'm serious, and then I never got around 546 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 1: Was it your intention to show it to me and 547 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:25,640 Speaker 1: we just didn't get around to it, or you didn't 548 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: want to show it to me. 549 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 3: I probably just forgot in my feeble old age mind. 550 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 3: But I'd be glad to take my shirt off, take 551 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 3: a picture and send it to you can post as 552 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 3: the listeners. 553 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: How are you better as a business owner operator in 554 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five than you were forty five years ago? 555 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: What did you learn that makes you. 556 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 3: Better listened to the people that work here, and you 557 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 3: get them more involved in the business and make the 558 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 3: place more of a community where they feel welcome and 559 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 3: they look forward to come to work. And we're not 560 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 3: here to make money. We're here to make a difference 561 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 3: in these people's lives. And these kids that come to 562 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 3: you know, a lot of them have felonies, have that 563 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 3: they're scared to death, but they get here and they're 564 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 3: surrounded by a community and it changes their life forever. 565 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 3: And if we can do that, we did something meaningful. 566 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,200 Speaker 1: What do you find in hiring someone is the trait 567 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: that's going to be most important to their long term success? 568 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 3: Desire? You know, desires are better themselves. Desire to say 569 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 3: this is where I'm at in life, and I'm willing 570 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 3: to come in here and grind it out, because retails 571 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 3: are grind And if you're willing to grind it out 572 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,800 Speaker 3: and you like the whole idea, my pitch in life 573 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 3: is work. Work is life's greatest therapy. Work brings purpose 574 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:45,560 Speaker 3: and meaning to life. And if we can get more 575 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 3: people working. You were talking a while ago about the 576 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 3: crime will reduce the crime level. People not working invitation 577 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 3: to crime. 578 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: You have said many times over the years that work 579 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: gives purpose and meaning to life, and I have to 580 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 1: say it is so true. When I see a grown 581 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: man who doesn't have a job and gangbanging with their buddies, 582 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 1: I think you're unmoored. I think it messes with your mind. 583 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: There is something to be said for the pride of 584 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 1: work and a job well done. It's even better if 585 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: you can make money that you're proud of from it. 586 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: But I always had jobs as a kid, and my 587 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 1: mom was She wasn't keen on that, but from mowing lawns, 588 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: and so many of us did that, so many people. 589 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: I didn't through newspapers, but I found there's such pride 590 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 1: and meaning and dignity to working and earning your own keep. 591 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: It's just something. It's an old fashioned value, but it's true. 592 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:45,600 Speaker 1: It's real. 593 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 3: It's so true. I have an adopted child named Regina. 594 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 3: She works at a daycare center. She loves her job, 595 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 3: she loves those kids. It ain't about the money, it's 596 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 3: about the fulfillment in life that that work brings. So 597 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 3: it doesn't matter how much money you make. It matters 598 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:06,280 Speaker 3: that you're out there and you like what you do, 599 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 3: and when you find a job you love to do. 600 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 3: You don't have to set the alarm. You jump out 601 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 3: of bed, you put your clothes on, and you go 602 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 3: to work, and you're ready to change people's lives to 603 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 3: that magic exeller called work. And that's what this country 604 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:21,840 Speaker 3: needs to focus on, not how do we get more 605 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 3: resources for the people. 606 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:27,200 Speaker 1: We played your video that you put up yesterday. I 607 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: thought that was wonderful about American manufacturing and bringing that 608 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 1: back or the loss of it. Is it realistic to 609 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 1: believe that we could make much more of our furniture 610 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: state side? 611 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 3: Absolutely, the Amige never put making furniture. And you know, 612 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 3: the Amage never had COVID because they don't have radio, TVs, newspapers. 613 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 3: They just kept working through the whole thing and they're 614 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 3: making the best quality furniture in the world. They never stopped. 615 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 3: And now other manufacturers are popping up. Why can't we 616 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 3: make furniture? Why can't we make electronics? You know, we're like, 617 00:33:02,280 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 3: you know how to train a flee No, you take 618 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 3: a flea that can jump about eight feet and you 619 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 3: put him in a mason jar. You put some holes 620 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 3: in the top where you can breathe a little food 621 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 3: in there. For him and leave him in there all 622 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 3: night long. He jumps up all night hit a six inches, 623 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 3: hitting on the top of that mason jar, so that 624 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 3: flea can jump eight feet. But you you put him 625 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 3: at flea, train him all night long. You take the 626 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 3: top of that Mason's jar off, and he'll never jump out. 627 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 3: That's what we're doing to our citizens. 628 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: That's that's what happened to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Mac 629 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 1: you are the best. We love you. You're a Houston institution. 630 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: Keep on keeping on. 631 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 3: Thank you, mister Barry. I was not ignoring your call. 632 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: I know my friend, and that's all we have for you. 633 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: Do me a favor, take a moment. Go to Michael 634 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 1: berryshow dot com. Send me the minute. Who are you, 635 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: what do you do? Where do you listening to the show? 636 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 2: What are you like? 637 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: What are you not like? 638 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 2: Whatever it is,