Diesel Love Stories

A Good Luck Charm

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It was more than 20 years ago that I walked into my architectural firm in Davis Square to find Jen and Tucker in our conference room talking to Anne Daw. I was in a suit and tie, having come from a meeting with clients at the Bank of Boston. Everyone there was in a suit. There had not been a tattoo or a person under 5’-4” or 54 years of age in sight. To say that Tucker and Jen were different would be understating it. I was curious why they had sought my company out. My curiosity rapidly bloomed into love for these two fellow entrepreneurs who, to my great good fortune, have become long-time friends.

Jen and Tucker were opening a coffee shop. Their aesthetic matched mine. Their love of their employees matched mine. I wanted them to do more than succeed. I wanted their creativity, their humor, their openness to others, their simplicity and caring and kindness and intelligence to radiate throughout their space. They did that and more at Diesel Café with very little help from me. It turned out that they both had pretty keenly developed artistic sensibilities. And business savvy.

So it has been no wonder then that they have created something much better than a business. They have created a loving family around themselves. A family where every server is an individual, and as interesting as the founding pair at the center. The family there inspires me to learn their names, to greet them by first name when I hand over my orange Mini Cooper travel mug, to feel a part of the art exhibits, proms, and camaraderie that make Diesel unique. It goes without saying that they would do something as interesting as gather love stories for their 20^th anniversary.

They have created a loving family around themselves. A family where every server is an individual, and as interesting as the founding pair at the center.

It has been an honor for me as an architect to have been able to help them plan all of their locations. It has been a special honor that they have allowed me to be their first customer at each. Of all my clients in 43 years of practice, I speak the truth when I say they are my favorites, that I love them, and I will always remember them with great warmth and smiles.

Happy 20^th anniversary, Tucker, Jen, and Diesel! May you have much continued happiness.