Dear Friends;
Our industry has prevailed some tough times in the past, but this one is for the ages. That said, I want to reassure all who love Grounded that loyalty, passion, and good vibes continue to breathe life into our place. We're not quitting; we are going to remain optimistic and strive for more inspiration and motivation from our great city and community.
You are what keeps us going. With the constantly changing landscape, we’re more grateful than ever for our loyal customers, our team that has become family, and the opportunity to keep doing what we love. There are opportunities to grow and flex the imagination now more than ever… so I am writing this letter to say thanks and to share what we are working on now.
Don’t hibernate this year!
Winter is coming and we’re ready for it! Though this year may be a bit different, snow and cold are things we are accustomed to. Ottawa has been known to embrace the winter months with great outdoor activities from the amazing Rideau Canal to the awesome trails of the Gatineau, not to mention the wonder of Winterlude. I invite all to embrace winter this year with an even more heightened sense of adventure! So come out and say hello… even if it’s just to pick up some comfort food to warm your belly. Nothing says winter in Ottawa like cozying up with a flat white, inside or outside!
Comfort food & BBQ
We've redesigned our menu to include more food items that will envelop you in warmth and nurture. Rob Senese, our Head Chef, is a master at all things, and BBQ is one of his favorite foods. Rob and I love to eat BBQ, as much as we love to create it. You'll feel that in the first bite. Takeout is going to be big this winter: the food needs to travel well, heat up easily, and look just as delicious in a box as it does on a plate. We're making that happen for you.
Online Ordering
We strongly encourage you to order online for take-out/pick-up! We are immensely proud of our website and its ability to process your online orders as fast and seamless as any Amazon Prime Day shopping spree. By ordering ahead, you’ll give us the time to make sure that your order is perfect for when you arrive, and you’ll help keep everyone safe by reducing contacts. We’re in this together, let’s all do our part!
Friendships
A specific thank-you for 10 years of building friendships. I say that slow and steady will win this race, and I firmly believe that. The people who started out as guests have turned into friends. The loyal guests that still make an effort to reach out, and to come in every now and then, make a genuine difference. Export Development Canada, Lake Partnership, Whitewater Web, Shopify, Gowlings, Right Door Consultants, Red Cross, Commissionaires; just to name a few that have always been there for Grounded. We love serving you.
New friends
While we miss the number of people that used to work downtown, we’ve been able to slow things down and really get to know the people that live downtown. We’re meeting new people every day, and are able to welcome them into our space and get to know them – which brings us back to our roots and reminds us of what made Grounded special in the first place.
Final thoughts
Thanks for the time, and hang tight over the next few months. Stay safe and don't take any unnecessary risks, but don't give up on going out. I’m going to leave you with a quote from a song that Nova, my youngest daughter, plays on repeat…
When you're alone and life is making you lonely,
You can always go - downtown.
When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry,
Seems to help I know downtown.
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city,
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty,
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there,
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares,
So go downtown.
Ciao for now,
Amir
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