06/16/2026
June 16, 1998..."Officially OPEN! Everyone was so nice!"
notes from my huge paper-filled binder with the daily data store in a prehistoric (and precarious as I sit here looking at it) way. The night before was City Hall Soft Opening and the one before that was Baja Staff and Families.
Dear Baja besties, Staunton buddies, co-workers turned family, all the people who just made my heart stitch as I started to type...
Baja Staunton is TWENTY EIGHT YEARS OLD today. I am sitting in my beautiful pink office--it's big for Baja (some of you will remember the closets that I called home over the years. I spent days in all of the Baja offices at some point...there were at least two tinier!). The building is quiet and I should be doing my Baja brain work. Instead I wanted to remind you all (and myself) that the last 10,000+ days haven't all been easy, fun, lucky or charming but there are not many that I would wish away. It has been overwhelmingly a joy and pleasure to do this work and live this life.
I will die a silver linings person (I suspect). Rosy lenses or no, this little corner of the world is really something. What a rich and storied life Baja and Staunton has made for me, my family, my crew and their loved ones, our regulars, our infamous list of forever banned, the partners we have found in our decades long journey in this precious small city, the people who come from near and far--on their usual route to summer or winter elsewhere or because they fell in love with Staunton or Baja and what we do/stand for many years ago (or last week), the bands that pass through, the people who meet, get engaged and/or married here, the babies who venture to Baja for their first outing, our dear friends who have moved away and those who have left us forever. BAJA IS LOVE. Our drug is connection--making friends and then connecting those friends with others and on and on.
I am going to stop once a month for the next 24 (maybe 36 to get THROUGH year 30) to share something--a memory, a precious person, a story, a lesson, a you'd-never-guess-this-happened or that-isn't-even possible-anymore tidbit.
It won't be linear, it might repeat, I'm going to make sure that it is fun (for me). It might save some of you one of my long-winded..."in my day..." stories (you're welcome).
In the meantime, come on by when you have some time and celebrate with us--raise a jager, sweet tea, new-fangled mocktail; bring or send me a favorite Baja memory; remind us what your favorite drink or dish of the last few decades was here. Get a Hannah to take your picture and maybe we will get those dang frames updated some.
xoxo, Sarah
p.s. Tonight we have a little surprise from 6ish-8ish for anyone who can party on a Tuesday. As always, smiling faces and easy friends when you open either door. We will do a proper and official celebration (probably with cake!) soon--stay tuned.
