07/27/2022
"Soli Deo Gloria"
On Closing our Doors
July 26th, 2020, My wife Abby and I spent our one year anniversary on the floor with toothbrushes and razor blades scrubbing and scraping grease off the floors of what would become “Prophet’s Melt Shop”. We held within us a hope that the dirty, greasy, kitchen we were about to rent could become something deeply meaningful, and astonishingly beautiful. Out of a deep passion for food, and an even deeper love for God, we would open a specialty Grilled Cheese shop that invited people to experience the Goodness of God through food.
Butter, and Cheese, and Bread, would be the tools for us to show people that God, out of his own abundance, created a world full of rich foods just waiting to be transformed into edible works of art for us to savor. We would embrace the idea that we humans could ‘Taste and See” the goodness of God.
It’s been a wild and wonderful couple of years, full of good food and good people. But sadly, the world is not as it should be. Food prices are volatile, paying good staff while maintaining reasonable prices is challenging, equipment breaks, and life’s circumstances pull us in a million different directions. Excitement gives way to dread, passion gives way to anxiety, and despair creeps in where hope once stood tall and strong.
Despite the challenges, owning and operating Prophet’s Melt Shop has been one of the great joys of my life. I’ve met so many wonderful people, and had the opportunity to create some wonderful food alongside arguably the best staff in the world. We as a team pressed through adversity and created something beautiful of which I am immensely proud to have been a part.
All of these things make it incredibly difficult to write this, but after months of discernment my wife and I have decided to close Prophet’s Melt Shop.
A complex set of factors brought us to this decision. The simplest answer is that finances and life circumstances make this the best decision for myself and my family. But even more than that, Abby and I came to a place where we felt God inviting us into a new season of life and calling.
It feels a little pretentious to write such a long letter about our closing. But Prophet’s has never been about just a good sandwich. It's been about God's world, full of potential, being unlocked in such a way that people could experience the goodness of God through food. The scriptures say that, although they use no words, or make no sounds, that “the heavens declare the glory of God”. It has been our deepest hope that each and every sandwich we’ve served has done the same.
Practically, we plan on being open until August 5th. We’re going to do our best to provide the full menu, and we’d love to have you stop by one last time. If you have a gift card, now is the time to use it. Also, We’ll be selling off the majority of our equipment, so if you or someone you know is interested, please let us know.
As we’ve thought about what it means to close a business we’ve worked so hard to bring to life, we want to celebrate all that God has done in and through Prophet's Melt Shop. Friday, August 5th, will be our “Grand Closing”. We’ll be open from 11-6 that day, and we’re going to stock our pantry in such a way that we’ll (hopefully) be able to serve a large crowd as we celebrate.
There are too many people to thank in this letter. But I’m going to try and thank a few. My wife Abby is at the top of the list. Without her love and support I wouldn’t have had the courage to take such a big risk. A big thank you to my family, both the Kepharts and the Bousloughs. Thank you to Tyler. I’ve said it many times, but I wouldn’t be here without you. You came alongside me not only as a manager, but as a friend, and it has been a pleasure to work alongside you. Thank you to all my staff, both current and former. You are the heartbeat of Prophet’s. Thank you to Travis, Sarah, John, and all the other local businesses that have helped me along the way.
I also want to say a massive thank you to our customers. It’s an incredible thing to make a sandwich and to have someone pay you for it. Thank you for enjoying our food, and for supporting us. I deeply appreciate each and every purchase you’ve made.
I’m sure Prophets will be remembered for a number of things. Good food, friendly people, the fact that it was located in the train station which is admittedly kinda weird.
Above all, I want you to remember that there was a group of people that made food to the Glory of God. And if you remember anything good about us, know that it came from God, and that he deserves the glory.
Soli Deo Gloria
Glory to God Alone
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