Post weekend auction

It has taken several days to absorb what happened this past weekend and I am not sure I will ever comprehend the incredible things that took place. We surpassed our goal and are well on our way to removing the anchor of the past rent debt. What is important here is this "event" was never about Frenz the business or the physical entity but rather the people who make Frenz what it is. Frenz is you.

Reaching out for help for most people is a hard thing to do. When I shared with a few people that we were at a crossroads it was at that precise point in life that God took control. In less than 2 weeks we went from struggling with the burden of what to do- to a whole new level of commitment to the people of Frenz. What went on beyond the scenes by the people of Frenz is nothing short of miraculous. The time and effort put forth in such a short time period while they continued their own personal lives is beyond words. The event went off without a hitch. It exceeded anything we could have imagined.

We witnessed incredible acts of love and kindness that were nothing short of God's own hand placing these people on our path. People came who never visited Frenz before, people who didn't like coffee and people who came because they felt they "had" to. Complete strangers came up to me and with tears in the eyes gave what they could. How humbling it is to witness unconditional love from complete strangers. I have so much to share and will. But for now I am still collecting my thoughts and praising how awesome and BIG my God is. The community came together for a common cause because they have invested in a place that really does care for them, unconditionally. I will never forget what happened this week for as long as I live.

Dear Friends of Frenz,

As a friend of Rich & Michele's, I'd like to ask you to think about how you could help our community secure the future of Frenz Coffee House. In case you haven't heard the recent news, please see below for details.

I have 3 questions...

1. What do you love about this Christian place? I love walking into a place where I know friends will be. I love how WCSG is always on in the background. I love the Bible on the table. I love Mr. Picklehead every other Tuesday morning at 9:30 (and so does our toddler). I love David Brady of Water for the Thirsty, and all the other musicians that have played there. I love buying my coffee LOCALLY instead of in a corporate chain, where I know my dollars are helping my community and keeping local businesses available to me. I love their hazelnut and vanilla flavored coffees. I love seeing all sorts of people meeting there, from church groups to businessmen to Moms with babies. I love meeting my friends there sometimes without our babies.
If you'd like to share what you love about Frenz, email it to me and we may be able to add your comments to the Frenz website.

2. What are your God-given gifts, and how could you use them to help keep Frenz open?
As Rich & Michele explained in earlier emails (which you can read below), proceeds of the upcoming silent auction benefit will go toward back-rent. The new landlord is working with them to reduce their monthly rent to a more manageable amount, but after a rough winter, they first need to catch up to avoid being evicted, and we're asking for your help!
Do you love to fish? Could you donate a fishing trip? Do you love to bake? Could you donate a pie each month for a year? Love to knit? How about donating a new sweater! Do you love to sing? Would you donate a private concert? I love to help others eat healthier, so I'm donating kitchen consultations. How could you help? Can't think of a service you could donate? Then what else do you love? Do you love purses? You could donate a purse!* Do you love Reds? Why not donate a gift card? I think you get the point, try to be creative. :) ***If you are able to make a donation:
Please email me back so we can keep a list of donations, and also ***let us know the item's worth so we can figure out a starting bid amount.
Please drop it off to Frenz no later than 5:00 pm Wednesday, July 29th, as we will need time to get tables set up and ready.
In order to really "sell" it, we ask that you bring a colorful sign (or whatever you think will grab someone's eye) to be displayed with your donation, along with a detailed description if needed.
We are very thankful for anything you can do!

3. Would you also be able to donate your time next weekend? We'll need help setting up Thursday evening at 5:00, and volunteers to help in shifts throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. Please email back if you can help and I'll keep a list. (Thank you!)

A few more important details:
Some great musicians and bands are going to be there throughout the day on both Friday & Saturday!
See attached for the official event flyer with dates and times.
Special note: in thankfulness for everyone's generosity, Rich & Michele have prayerfully decided to provide all food and beverages to their customers on those two days AT NO CHARGE. (A freewill offering will be accepted, at their friends' insistence!)
If you're unable to stop in for this event, but would like to help by making a donation, visit this blog to make a secure Paypal donation with any credit card.

PLEASE FORWARD this email to your contact list to help us get the word out!
On behalf of Rich, Michele, and all Friends of Frenz, we thank you for your generosity!!

Kelly kelly@kellythekitchenkop.com
*Only new items please.

July 22, 2009

Greetings to our special friends of Frenz,

Here is an update to the email that I sent out 2 weeks ago regarding the situation at Frenz Coffee House. For those who may not have received the initial email, here is a brief summary:

We received a notice for back rent for Frenz that accrued from this past rough winter. We have until the end of July to come up with the balance. If we do not then we have another 30 days to vacate the premises and Frenz will be gone. We stand to lose everything. At this point, none of this is public notice. We have been very frugal in running the business but as you know, the economy has taken a hit on everyone. However and I repeat however we believe in God’s economy and we will survive if this is His will and not ours or anyone else’s.

Since this email, we received a 30-day extension from the landlord, who has been very supportive and open to discussions. We are currently running the business in the black but the past rent is anchor we can not seem to shake. We have met with several people and have come up with an initial game plan to overcome the back rent situation, which is $10,000. We are planning to have a two day all day benefit/fund raiser/ silent auction on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1.

The response has been overwhelming to say the least. We have had anonymous and known donations come in, words of hope and support and tons of offers to help. It has been told to us that we would be surprised at how many people love and support us. We do not do this for acknowledge but for only one purpose and it is to serve the community. We love what we do and our goal is to offer a place of comfort and refuge for all people. The response has been both humbling and overwhelming! In the Amish community when there is a need, friends, families and strangers come together to help those in need. That is what community is truly about- helping one another when in need. Frenz is in need and we are reaching out to the community for a helping hand.

Here’s what you can do:

● Pray. Whatever your faith, we believe in the power of prayer and know first hand what it can do.
● We are looking for items to auction. We are so open to your ideas or suggestions.
● Next Friday and/or Saturday come and show your support. Just being here means a lot to us.
● Let Trendwell Energy, our new landlords, know what Frenz Coffee House means to the community. They have been supportive of us and have worked with us but it is a business and they need to do what they need to do. Just a kind word might be helpful.
● Spread the word. Share with your family, friends and whomever you feel might be able to help in some way.
● We are planning to have musicians play all day Saturday.

We have always been appreciative of all the love and support our customers have given us and now is no different. Thank you for believing in us and keep your coffee house going. We will get through this and exceed anything we could imagine. Please feel free to email or call Michele or myself with any ideas or suggestions that you may have.

Peace.

Rich, Michele & Shea Zeck
http://www.frenzcoffeehouse.com/
www.myspace.com/frenzcoffee

July 9, 2009

Dear brothers and sisters,

I write to you tonight with a very heavy heart. Over the last 4 ½ years we (myself, Michele, Shea, my family and my marriage) have sacrificed a great deal to honor a calling to provide an outwardly covert Christian coffee house in the midst of very non-Christian business world. The losses we have endured personally, emotionally and physically have been unfathomable for most who know our story. The great news is our awesome God has carried us through all those times. It never has been about money or what we have done for others but to clearly honor our God. God has called us to be His servants and to use the coffee house for that purpose.

Today we received a notice for back rent for Frenz that accrued from this past rough winter. We have until the end of July to come up with the balance. If we do not then we have another 30 days to vacate the premises and Frenz will be gone. We stand to lose everything. At this point, none of this is public notice. We have been very frugal in running the business but as you know, the economy has taken a hit on everyone. However and I repeat however we believe in God’s economy and we will survive if this is His will and not ours or anyone else’s.

While at this point we are numb and deeply hurt, God has provided much peace and comfort. The hurt is deep because we have seen people’s lives changed and miracles that have happened before our eyes. Frenz Coffee House is God’s house. His Spirit tells me to take a stand and gather His people. I am planning a benefit or fund raiser in the next 2 weeks maybe the 24th or if I can get an extension from the landlord for another 30 days, then maybe July 31. I was told not to underestimate the impact we have had within the community and how many friends support us. We do what we do because we want to and not because we expect. We’ll see where we stand after the event.

Thank you for all your love and prayers.


Rich, Michele & Shea Zeck
http://www.frenzcoffeehouse.com/
www.myspace.com/frenzcoffee

What Our Frenz Say...

Please let us add your comments, too - email them to RichZ@iserv.net, and we'll put them here!

• I love Frenz because of Rich, Michele, and Sue. They are the bright and shinning stars who make the coffee house what it is. All you have to do is visit with them a bit and you see what the Lord has done in their lives. Also, Rich asked me to transfer my jewelry from the Plainfield store to the one in Rockford. Having just met him, I thought he was one of the kindest men I've ever known.
  

  I want so badly for them to make it and have been praying so much for them. I wish we had extra money to help at this time, but we live from paycheck to paycheck. I had to quit my wonderful job 16 years ago because of illness. This was totally unexpected, but the Lord had a reason for it and still does. Would it help to try and sell the rest of my jewelry and have them keep whatever they make from future sales? I know it isn't much, but I really would do anything to help them keep Frenz alive.

  I just got over another bout of pneumonia so I hadn't been online in quite a while. It broke my heart to hear about what is happening to one of the warmest and kindest places I have ever been. I would be so happy to volunteer my services wherever they need me. I could work around my sick days. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
  

  Katherine Scanlon

• (The following is a reply to Al's comment below...) Al, Thank you for honestly and respectfully sharing your thoughts, as it's likely that others have had similar thoughts but just didn't voice them. Since I've been helping out with this fundraiser, I think I can accurately respond and clarify a few of your points.
  
  First, Rich & Michele have not at anytime blamed the landlords for their current situation. Neither have they "expected" anyone to help them with this fundraiser, we have only asked and many have responded. Frenz is a different type of business than most. It is much like "Cheers", where it's not just a place to buy coffee, but a gathering place for many, and a place to feel like you are known. I was thankful when Rich & Michele chose to swallow their pride and open up their lives to let others know what's going on. If they had just closed, and not given any of us a chance to try and help, that would have stung. Judging from the amazing donations so far, apparently many feel this way. For those that didn't and were not able to give or chose not to help out for whatever reason, that's totally OK - we were putting this out there, but if no one responded, then so be it. As it is, though, many in the community are showing how much Frenz really means to them, and it's been neat to see everyone come together. When it's someone you care about, you want to help them whether it's a business or personal issue.
  
  While they admit to not always having made "perfect" business decisions (welcome to owning a business!), neither does anyone always make perfect personal decisions, either - that's how life is. It's often a matter of trial and error to see what will work in a business. I know they struggled with the decision to put more money into the high cost of advertising when they were already low on funds and hadn't gotten much return on that in the past. All the regulars know what a tight ship they run and how hard they work to make Frenz a success. A while back Rich took a 3rd job and Michele came into the store full time to try and save labor costs to get ahead.
  
  Again, it's good that you put your thoughts out there, so things that others might be wondering about could be addressed.
  
  Thanks, Kelly
  

• Your blog said: "Please let us add your comments, too - email them to RichZ@iserv.net, and we'll put them here!"My comments are below. I'll be interested to see if that was a serious offer.

  As a long time resident of the city of Rockford, I often make Frenz my “coffee house of choice”, but I have a different, (and probably unpopular),view on this current situation.

  Both Frenz, as the tenant, and the landlord are trying to stay solvent in difficult times.
  The problem of lower than projected sales and profitability may be no one’s fault – just a sign of the times, but is is at least partially the result of business decisions made by the Frenz management.

  One thing is certain – the problems that Frenz faces are not the fault of the landlord. He is simply following through on the terms of a rental agreement that both parties entered into willingly.

  Throughout the time that led to this point The Frenz management were the only ones who knew what was happening and the only ones who had any control over what could be done to avoid the circumstances they are now facing. The landlord probably didn’t know exactly what pressures were mounting, and the Frenz customers surely didn’t. It is not the responsibility of the landlord or of Frenz customers to solve the problem.

  Many businesses and individuals have faced serious problems as a result of changing economic conditions. Many of the affected businesses, (restaurants being among the most active), have chosen to counter the problem by marketing themselves more aggressively through the use of ads and special offers, the likes of which consumers have not seen before. I haven’t noticed any comparably aggressive effort on the part of Frenz.

  The responsibility for this matter lies squarely in the hands of the Frenz management and ownership – nowhere else.

  I wish the folks at Frenz much success. I will miss the Rockford location if it is forced to close, but I feel strongly that they need to accept responsibility and find the solutions they seek on their own. Expecting customers to do this for them is unfortunate and irresponsible.

  I am all in favor of helping victims of the current economy, but that support is better placed in organizations like The Salvation Army or our own North Kent Service Center which aid families who find themselves out of work and losing homes through no fault of their own.

  It seems less appropriate and less “Christian” to lend that helping hand to a single business that faces problems that are, at least partially, its own fault.

  In fact, I think that true Christians should be embarrassed to think that any business should be held to lesser standards of performance, responsibility, and accountability just because they are “Christian”, as has been suggested.

• I love that Frenz provides my North Rockford Middle School art students with a place to see great local artwork! I love that Frenz supported my students by letting them decorate the coffee bean bar. I love that my students go to Frenz and come back talking about what a great place it is because I know it is a safe place for them to go after school.
  
  I love Frenz for my morning dash when I need a caffeine fix. I love it for meeting friends in a cozy and creative place. I love it because it is a better place for art department meetings than my classroom is. And, of course I love Frenz because the coffee is GREAT! Rachel
• I love walking into a place where I know friends will be. I love how WCSG is always on in the background. I love the Bible on the table. I love Mr. Picklehead every other Tuesday morning at 9:30 (and so does our toddler). I love David Brady of Water for the Thirsty, and all the other musicians that have played there. I love buying my coffee LOCALLY instead of in a corporate chain, where I know my dollars are helping my community and keeping local businesses available to me. I love their hazelnut and vanilla flavored coffees. I love seeing all sorts of people meeting there, from church groups to businessmen to Moms with babies. I love meeting my friends there sometimes without our babies. Kelly

Greetings

Just checking in on all the Frenzamaniacs out there. Drop us a post to join the Frenz revolution.