What's Up With Sijuki?! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Sijuki** · 01-04-2006, 10:59 PM

So It's been a while since i have talked much to anyone on Travelpunk... besides Jake. And thought I would share with some of my friends here the updates on my business and such.

Well, we had planned to be open before Thanksgiving.... this did not happen. We ran into Building Permit issues and a few other things.

For instance, when they knocked out the front to put in our door it was discovered that there was a 2" gap. Which does not meet ADA standards. So they were going to have to rip up all our concrete and re-level it at a 1/4" rise per foot. Or basically a slowly sloped 8' rise. We got lucky and ended up getting a waiver for this until sometime in the spring.

We had to have alterations done to the blueprints and then have them sealed by the architect. $700. This also took nearly 2 weeks and a lot of cat and mouse to get done due to the holiday and that the architect that originally drew the prints works out of his house, so everything had to be done through phone and meeting in local spots.

We finally got our permit, and then began the slow process of getting contractors back up for doing the job.

We were also notified that under Michigan Plumbing Code any retail space is required to have a drinking fountain, which was going to cost us $1800. We filed for an appeal, which we went to today. We were granted a waiver to use bottled water which works out well as our landlord wanted to stick us for the whole bill of the drinking fountain. Bleh. We got him though, as before the next tenant can move in, he is required to put a drinking fountain in the main corridor in the back of the building.

Here it is January, and I have walls, interior doors, furnace, sprinkler system, and duct work. I still have no door, no electricity, no lights, etc. Even if everything fell like perfect dominos I don't see us opening til mid March at least.

Besides that, business is going decent. January is typically a decent poker month, so we are pushing sales to get us some more capital.

At the job front, I am still at Home Depot, working an astounding 10-12 hours a week. Basically this means that I am broke as a joke.

I have a poker tournament on Saturday, so hopefully I will win some cash at that.

I won our poker league that ended in December. I won $475 for coming in first for the league, and another $180 from placement in various other games.

Otherwise, that is about it in my life. Just thought I would update all my old friends a bit. Take care.

**TheJake** · 01-04-2006, 11:08 PM

crazy freakin building codes eh?

**space virgin** · 01-04-2006, 11:31 PM

Wow, dude. It's great to hear from you!! I'm sorry you've been having such a terrible time with the retrofitting of your new place. But hopefully it will all be worth it in the end!

**TheWills** · 01-04-2006, 11:36 PM

might wanna teach jake some of that poker skills, he has more fun being away from the table and running to the cashier then he has playing :D what are you building sij, fill me in here

**omisan** · 01-05-2006, 01:03 AM

Gah! We had to spend thousands at my office to fix the slight slope by the door coming in next to my cubicle because of the ADA, even though NO ONE uses that door. I feel for you, man... Damn bureaucrats. Anyway, good to hear from you!

**SuDz** · 01-05-2006, 10:42 AM

What kind of buisness is it that your opening?

SuDZ

**blinkchick2134** · 01-05-2006, 11:25 AM

Well hopefully nothing else pops up Rob! Good luck!

**Diorama** · 01-05-2006, 12:43 PM

Sij! Good to get an update!

At least your in the process of getting your business started . Most ppl actually don't follow thru with their dreams.

love ya!

**Sijuki** · 01-05-2006, 12:53 PM

It's a hobby shop... it is the expanded full line version of the poker chips and playing cards we started selling on line last February. Once we get possession we will place our orders for all the other stuff, like the RC cars/trucks/planes, models, AD&D and other RPGs, paints, trains, some slot cars, science based model/hobby stuff, some astronomy and binoculars, chess, backgammon, board games, all sorts of little hobby/game stuff. Right now we are limited to Playing cards, poker chips, board games, chess, backgammon, and tables. But we are trying to keep inventory low until we get the shop finished. As our warehouse is my partners garage.

Plus we will specialize in special ordering stuff for people, as we have already begun doing that for some customers.

Thanks for the praise.

As for ADA standards... they suck... like our checkout counter has to be 36" high, no higher no lower. Because it would inconvenience someone in a wheel chair... my thought is, what about the fellow that is 8' tall.. that is a hell of a bend down for him. pssshhh... ADA sucks. I am all about helping people at a disadvantage, but that disadvantage runs both ways, and frankly the ADA only focuses on one extreme. Just like our educational system only focuses on kids that are slow, but never helps the kids that are advanced.

**SuDz** · 01-05-2006, 01:23 PM

Sounds like a cool place, best of luck with it.

The codes are a pain, I know they are around me anyway, and can drive you insane at times. I have seen my father deal with them in residential building and reconstruction forever.

SuDZ

**Sijuki** · 01-05-2006, 01:36 PM

Well another good point... just about done working out the details in the acquisition of another poker site... www.michiganrounders.com which has a larger user base than we had, but never had a lot of posts or activity. Where my site has more activity. So once everything is done, Michigan Rounders will officially be part of Full House Hobby, which basically is acquiring the name and the user registry. I might try and import some of the posts if i can figure it out. But it will probably be a lost cause if I remember Tony's expeditions with that, although we both use the same software phpBB.

**kingcrazylegs** · 01-05-2006, 08:44 PM

Sounds like you are hanging in there through it all!

**SuDz** · 01-06-2006, 01:48 PM

One day you'll just look back and laugh at the thought of all the aggravation but I am sure it will be worth it. Keep on going.

SuDZ

**Sijuki** · 01-06-2006, 02:08 PM

Yeah, I know its all worth it. It's either put up with this shit knowing I am making a dollar for myself or put up with the shit working for someone else begging for the scraps off their table. I choose to be the master of my own destiny.

Our first acquisition should be completed next week. While nothing huge, it does combine forum databases for two michigan based sites, so hopefully quality of content will improve, plus we get another domain name out of it.

**Sijuki** · 02-19-2006, 10:15 PM

A quick update:

I have painted the walls. I have a furnace, lights, ceiling tile grid, and hopefully with any luck a sign and door this week.

I am back to working full time at my normal job, so come March, the hours ought to pile up right quick.

I hope to be able to drop in here once in a while still

I can't even think of anything else to say... I am too tired. Hope all is going well with the T-Punks!

**expatben** · 02-20-2006, 03:11 AM

Awesome about starting your job and your store. What will you sell?

**worldwidemike** · 02-20-2006, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sijuki@Jan 5 2006, 08:53 PM
It's a hobby shop... it is the expanded full line version of the poker chips and playing cards we started selling on line last February.* Once we get possession we will place our orders for all the other stuff, like the RC cars/trucks/planes, models, AD&D and other RPGs, paints, trains, some slot cars, science based model/hobby stuff, some astronomy and binoculars, chess, backgammon, board games, all sorts of little hobby/game stuff.* Right now we are limited to Playing cards, poker chips, board games, chess, backgammon, and tables...

[snapback]96810[/snapback]

Here it is, straight from the horse's mouth...
And hopefully, he'll sell this!

worldwidemike

**Sijuki** · 02-20-2006, 08:28 AM

I will look into it, Mike. See if I can find it.

My shop is taking so long, cause apparently we got bumped by the Super Bowl. psssh.

**Esterina** · 02-20-2006, 08:34 AM

Brick by brick... You will open your store, better to not rush anything and have it all nice for its grand opening !

Quote:

Originally posted by Sijuki@Feb 20 2006, 11:28 AM
My shop is taking so long, cause apparently we got bumped by the Super Bowl. psssh.

pssssh

**urOZm8** · 02-21-2006, 04:42 AM

Hey buddy, good to hear from ya! Slowly but surely you're building the foundations for a top business, good luck in the short term.

ev