09/11/2024
It’s with relief and happiness that I write this post…it may take a bit of a somber tone, but please don’t let that fool you…
This week marks the final days of The Painted Barrel. Thursay Friday and Saturday from 12-5 are the final 15 hours. I can’t wait until they are over. The thought of that building emptied of its decades long transfer of struggle fuels me ever forward.
EVERYTHING in the store will be discounted to bottom dollar. If you snooze, you lose. I’m not taking payments, I’m not holding anything, and any custom orders left after Saturday are clearance or dumpster. It’s been no secret that this day was coming.
I’m the winter of 2022/2023, against everything I was taught, and against my better judgement, I agreed to be involved in the development of The Painted Barrel. Its lifespan has been a lesson in trusting your gut. I knew in the parking lot of Sparkle market in Cortland, Right after speaking to the owner of our our first lease, that we weren’t going to make it. I said as much, and provided every reason as to why we should wait and this wasn’t the place or time. All of my rationality and intellect was no match for the rational of a foolish dreamer. I am not complaining…and ultimately I am grateful. Grateful for the knowledge that ensures I will always trust my gut in the future.
That funny feeling behind your belly button? Listen to it.
The Painted Barrel will always hold a special place in my heart. Ive always known that I wanted a store like this since I was in my teens., though I always planned to call it Benjies. So when the opportunity came around, it just made sense to go with it. Being a realist, with a leaning towards pessimism, I tried to lean the other direction and trust the process. In doing so I allowed myself to be caught up in the woulda coulda, and embarked on a journey I was not ready for, with (respectfully) a person who’d proven they were incapable of knowing when to lay something down and take a new road.
It is with immense pride and joy that I lay The Painted Barrel to rest. I tore my whole heart open trying to make that thing work. It was a test of endurance, of faith, of perseverance…And it got the best of me. The Painted Barrel took from me things I never knew could be taken. Alas, I take those lessons with gratitude. I went after my dreams, I took advantage of my opportunities. I don’t see how that could ever equate to failure.
There are a number of people sending “so sad” “wish you could have made it in champion” yadda yadda yadda….please refrain. I need neither sympathy nor charity. All in all, I learned 2 massive life lessons-how to say “no” and how to realize when enough is enough. Both of those new found skills will serve me well in future endeavors.
Through all of the struggle, I have held onto the silver lining. The silver lining is this…I have met wonderful people. I have been seen by people who connect with who I am, what I am doing, and the life mission that I have pursued. You all know who you are. Those days in my dusty little haphazard shop, listening to strangers tell me how talented I am, and how much they value me and what I do???…is there anything better? I have been validated in who I am and what I offer.
I don’t know about you, but I’d chalk that up as a win. Nobody could ever convince me that those moments aren’t a success.
To wrap it up, I want all of you to know that I did my absolute best to provide something Champion could be proud of. Some days it feels like I missed the mark. On those days I look in at my heart and I remind myself of this….I grew! I matured and I experienced.
I assure you, this is not the last you’ve seen of me.
In closing, this page will no longer be staffed after 9/14/2024. At 5 pm on Saturday, I will log out of this page for the final time, and I will finally bury the barrel that I’ve been living at the bottom of.
With Love, Humility and Reverence,
Jonathon Cross 🫶🏻
The Painted Barrel
