Chapter 1: A Tumultuous Start

It’s important to clarify that Palmyra is not the sole owner of personnel or personality dilemmas. After enduring several months of relative tranquility, it seems that many unexpected issues arise during peak business periods, when distractions are least welcome.

The first significant upheaval occurs when Aria is escorted from the premises by law enforcement. This incident marks not only the termination of her employment but also the initiation of legal action against her. While the specifics may be unclear to those unfamiliar with front-end procedures—perhaps even to those who are—she had allegedly orchestrated a long-standing scam, pocketing cash and inflating daily credit card totals, with estimates suggesting she may have stolen around $30,000 over several years.

Most occurrences do not reach this level of scandal, of course. Just like personality conflicts, such issues can be found in any organization. However, what sets the Healthy Hippie experience apart is the sheer oddity of some interactions. This is largely due to the eclectic mix of individuals drawn to the establishment, compounded by a chaotic organizational structure that complicates their shared philosophical goals. While many recognize the brand's alignment with natural and organic foods, others feel frustrated, viewing it merely as a platform to showcase their trendiness. Long-time patrons recall when Beatrice Locke was more actively involved, and the store was known for its frugality, often advocating for that image. Meanwhile, others are deeply committed to promoting local products, which often contradicts Edgar's directive to prioritize cost-effective sourcing—local vendors typically cannot compete on price.

In every faction, a few individuals are determined to operate as they please, seemingly with impunity. As discussions about opening a fourth store intensify post-holidays, the new location is confirmed: Walnut, a picturesque mid-sized town situated midway between existing stores and the mountains. While this prospect is thrilling and promises an abundance of fun, it raises questions about the complexities it will introduce.

“There's still so much chaos, even with just three stores,” Edgar comments to Dale during a casual conversation.

“True,” Dale replies, “but things are improving, at least we’re hiring better staff now. That’s a start.”

Are they, though? Edgar muses that this might be true overall. However, it feels like one needs a scorecard to navigate the convoluted communication protocols among colleagues. He is restricted from talking to Zaire, yet he cannot email Johnny, the new bulk manager; he must either call him or speak with him face-to-face. If Johnny isn’t available, he might reach out to Corey, but that’s the limit. This isn’t meant as a critique of Johnny, who is personable and competent, but rather highlights the learning curve he faces as he adapts to modern business practices.

Edgar is expected to enforce stringent reporting on new items, except for a few seasoned employees who struggle with technology and are exempted. Adding to the confusion is an anonymous individual at Liberty Avenue who occasionally submits new item entries via a roundabout method—typing up information, printing it, scanning it, and sending it as a PDF. Unfortunately, this means Edgar receives emails from [email protected], leaving him clueless about the sender's identity. So far, he has received three emails filled with items from various departments, making it impossible to narrow down the suspects.

Navigating these peculiarities requires caution. Once employees find amusement in toying with management, the situation becomes dire, and Edgar suspects he might be at that point with a few of them. He suspects either Sam or Ralph is behind the antics, but leans more toward Sam. Ralph, despite his supposed tech-savvy background, doesn’t seem likely to compile and type information for the entire store, especially given the mountains of paperwork surrounding his computer.

Meanwhile, Corey remains optimistic. When Edgar expresses enthusiasm about the new Walnut location, Corey seems hesitant. “It’s great, but I think we should focus more on Asheville…Boone…Chapel Hill—places like that.”

Edgar, taken aback, chuckles at the suggestion, noting that each of those locations is a considerable distance from Palmyra and even farther from Chesboro. “Those would be fantastic options too, but we need to get our act together first.”

There are still numerous aspects that don’t add up. The company may have established a Beer Ambassador, which sounds promising, but now that challenges are surfacing in the bulk section, hiring a dedicated merchandiser seems logical. Instead, Arnie is tasked with dual roles as the produce and bulk merchandiser, raising questions about the decision-making process and the rationale behind such frequent missteps. Rob Drake, who signs the checks, seems to have little insight into the bulk section, which is overseen by Bellwether.

Additionally, they decide to bring in Valerie Swanson to take over a significant portion of Barbara's responsibilities, who will continue with her radio show and occasional writing. Valerie will oversee the employee newsletter and work on establishing a social media presence.

As they move past Thanksgiving, both Southside and Palmyra record impressive sales, just shy of the coveted $100K mark. Edgar realizes that the holiday rush has ironically curtailed the usual chaos; employees are too busy to indulge in distractions, creating a temporary sense of normalcy.

December passes quickly, with few noteworthy developments. The previous Southside deli manager, Christopher, lasts merely two months before finding a better opportunity. Just before leaving, he and Arnie engage in a classic dispute about the cost of veggie trays, which unfolds in Edgar’s office.

“Let’s keep your New York attitude in check,” Kirk quips.

“You need to leave! Now!” Arnie retorts, pointing toward the exit.

Kirk complies, leaving Edgar in suspense as he wonders how the argument concluded.

As the year draws to a close, Edgar reflects on the passage of time. It feels surreal that he is nearing a full calendar year in this role. On one hand, it seems like the organizational ground is finally stabilizing after a year of intense focus, but on the other, it feels as though they’ve only scratched the surface of the chaos, which may be escalating rather than subsiding.

Fortunately, Anthony, the new hire replacing Kirk, appears to grasp the intricacies immediately. A former employee returning for a second stint, he understands the significant changes that have transpired since his last time at the company. As he tours the facility with Destiny, he seems genuinely intrigued by Edgar's role.

“What a fantastic position! What a brilliant concept!” Anthony exclaims, clearly enthused.

His excitement is encouraging, but there is still much work to be done. While Edgar’s mother is finally generating a consistent profit in Palmyra’s deli, it's still not at the expected level. Edgar hopes that Anthony can revitalize Southside’s deli, which continues to struggle. He recently pondered a rather unconventional idea for improving their profitability, though he recognizes it may sound peculiar even by Healthy Hippie standards.