The Guy

Have you ever needed a guy to stop by and tell you WHY something is wrong? Or have you ever called a guy that you thought could help with an electrical problem, or mechanical problem, or plumbing, or framing or whatever - and they just give you a quote and then want to schedule for a block of time next week that could work?

How about a guy that can come, “have a look” and give his opinion on what you need to do. How about just a guy to tell you what the heck you even call that “whatchamuh-thing” which has all of a sudden become paramount to fastening the “deal” that makes the “thing” work correctly!!? Yeah, we all need a “guy” that does that stuff. Guy, gal, c’mon - whatever- just SOMEONE that can take the pressure off and lead you to the next step!

Many times Koffee House customers confuse me as a SON of Harold from Harold’s Koffee House. Many times people think that my dad is bossing me around in the kitchen, or that I learned my culinary diligence through him. I did not. Then again, I think that most people don’t consider that the daughter of Harold, my mom, Nancy, has a husband who is not active every day in the restaurant experience of Harold’s Koffee House.

Think about it, Harold raised 4 daughters, two sons. John and Tom, as the oldest, were active in the restaurant at a very young age, heavily utilized and perhaps destined to marry, have children and contribute to the restaurant way of life while the daughters, obviously beautiful, would marry and have kids and those kids would integrate as well. But wait, what happens in the family business with the spouses? Are they left out?

Philip Tamisiea, aka Uncle Phil aka U.P. aka “The mayor” married Judy Halstead. Nancy married Bernie Bohnenkamp aka Bern aka Barnyard (my dad). Susie married Clyde Green aka Uncle Guido. Beth married Mark Brunetti aka Brunetti. These 4 men supported the cafe alongside their spouses, grew to love Harold, Pauline, all of us cousins, and certainly the tradition that is the Koffee House.

Uncle Phil is a retired engineer from the Union Pacific railroad, he still helps out as an invaluable cashier and overall personality at the Koffee House and I am grateful to him for that. Clyde is a war hero to me, a Vietnam Veteran, a craftsman of metal, wood, engines and colorful language. Mark Brunetti is from Pittsburgh, he works for TD Ameritrade and I value his opinions on rockstar food and no nonsense business advice.

Bernie Bohnenkamp, my dad, dated Nancy at a young age. He grew up off of Sprague street in a tough part of town with 10 other brothers and sisters. Under the tutelage of his older brothers, and out of necessity, he became one of the most independent people I have ever had the privilege to be around.

My dad, Bernie, is the guy that shows up. Rain, snow, flu, perhaps even the plague, dad went to work. He is relentless and consistent to the point that I am sure it annoyed and awed his co-workers. Dad has an affinity for athleticism too. A few years ago there was a hill challenge run at the St. Philip Neri School fall festival. Bernie just showed up there at the age of 62 , and ran the 3.2 miles like it was a riddle to solve.

Bernie is the “guy” at Harold’s that you don’t often see. Although I have yet to eat better smoked trout, salmon, ribs, or brisket than Dad’s, he does zero cooking at Harold’s. He doesn’t have to. Bernie leaves his mark by way of silent improvements and upkeep throughout the Koffee House building.

Customers may never know his contributions and because of his own confidence and independence, he doesn’t need those accolades. Clean air filters, new ceiling tiles, replaced light bulbs, new plumbing, new fan motors, new wiring, oven installs, oven repairs, appliances in - appliances hauled out, air conditioning, heating, floor repairs, upholstery on the booth seats, tighten a screw here, fix an employees car after hours, refrigerators, shoveling, fix the door, plunge the toilet, oh and the patio, he built and assembled the patio, every year each spring, put up- take down and store it. I am outta breath. I am sure I missed a bunch.

I have told you about Harold Halstead and the Koffee House, the family and how it came to be, how I came to continue it’s tradition. Now I wanted you to see a more complete picture of the behind-the-scenes powerhouses that help propel this diner forward. I stand among giants that have all contributed to this diner in their own way.

I am greatly humbled by my dad and very lucky to learn from him how to get my hands dirty and solve problems. I may grumble sometimes, but I show up and do the necessary things. Not dad, he is graceful with the problems that occur at the Koffee House and most times, with dad, those problems are,“simple” -an endearing phrase that my family gets to hear from him. Nearly every week, I will notice something that dad has showed up and improved. No one asked him, it was not suggested, it was simply noticed and done.

I wish that everyone finds or has someone in life with the stability, strong hands and know-how that a “Bernie” brings to the team. The Koffee House and it’s unique energy is composed of layers and layers of strong people, their actions, intentions and implementations of good will for the people we employ and the customers we serve.