A Very Strange Grand Opening in Priest River, Idaho

On Wednesday the weekly newspaper came out - with a full page ad for a new business opening in town. 

We'd seen activity in that building, which was once the feed store, and we'd wondered what they were planning. So here was the answer: A convenience store, arcade, restaurant, and bar. 

The grand opening was on Saturday, with free hot dogs and a free draft beer or soda pop.

We seldom go to town on Saturday, but thought it would be fun to see what they'd done, so we picked up our neighbor and got to town about noon. We were shocked to see very few cars in the parking lot, but we soon saw why...

There was no party - nothing to see - no reason to stick around.

The conveninence store end of the building was finished - the shelves were well stocked and it was clean and bright. Out on the porch there was a hot dog cart and when we went inside a young boy asked if we'd like a hot dog. We said maybe later, after we'd seen the rest of the place. 

So, off we went to the other end of the building. The first thing I noticed was a lock box on the door knob - strange. Inside there were people walking around picking up electrical cords, sweeping, etc. On the bar were boards and boxes. 

I said "It looks like they're still working" and a gentleman nearby said "Oh no, we're finished." OK, if you say so. 

Even though I felt like I was being pushy, because no one seemed to want to speak to us, I asked who owned the place. The man said "I do." Then he did introduce himself. I think he said Trevor. No last name. I asked where the restaurant was and he looked startled - there's no restaurant. I didn't ask about the arcade. 

We went back outside and the men went to get a hot dog. I stopped to call my son and tell him never mind about meeting us there for lunch. Then I went to the hot dog stand. The boy told me the buns weren't actually warm, was that OK? Sure. Then he looked into the hot dog container and pulled out one that had been there all day - it had almost turned white. He put that on a bun and handed it to me.

It went in the trash when we got to the grocery store. 

Driving along we were asking ourseves if we had read the ad correctly - all 3 of us said "Yes, it said restaurant."

So when we stopped for burgers I asked if they had this week's newspaper. No, it was gone, but when I mentioned the grand opening, the girl started telling me all about it - including the fact that the bar and restaurant had opened at 11 a.m. She really didn't want to believe me when I said we had just come from there - and there was no restaurant. 

So... who messed up? The person who wrote the ad? The newspaper? Whatever - a full page ad costs a few hundred dollars, and it was definitely wrong. 

Since first impressions do matter... I'm thinking that a wise business person would get everything finished, open for business and work out the last minute kinks, and THEN plan a grand opening. 

What do you think?