Aloha, readers!
First, let me start with an apology for missing last week’s newsletter. I found myself in a peculiar predicament, utterly disconnected from technology — no laptop, no phone, nada, zip, zilch. I’ll spare you the gritty details, but suffice it to say that despite my best MacGyver maneuvers, I was “forced” to exist in silence, accompanied only by the sound of the wind and waves. Torture, right?
By the time I reached civilization, the newsletter deadline had already passed. The silver lining? If you ever shatter your phone, rest assured that your Face ID still works, and Siri remains loyally alert. A small survival tip for the tech-challenged moments of life!
With this edition, we close out 2024, a year of transformation, resilience, and reflection.
2024: The Year of the Dragon
This was a fantastic year — top-tier, no notes! The Year of the Dragon is synonymous with ambition, perseverance, and strength, and looking back, it fits perfectly.
When Jeepney in Manhattan closed at the end of 2021, after a remarkable 10-year run, I hit one of my all-time lows. That chapter of my life wasn’t just about running a restaurant; it was my identity. My work intertwined with everything — my social life, my finances, my purpose, and even my romantic relationships.
The past three years have been about recalibration — everything from how I eat to how I sleep. For nearly two decades, my life revolved around late nights, later dinners, and early mornings. The relentless grind wreaked havoc on my body. But now, I’ve embraced a new rhythm that prioritizes wellness without sacrificing passion. Don’t get me wrong — I still love what I do and occasionally succumb to the allure of late nights. But it’s vastly different from before. There’s balance now, where there wasn’t before.
In hindsight, I realize I saw the writing on the wall as early as 2018. Even though Q1 was traditionally the weakest for our business and our industry in NYC, Q1 of 2020 was incredibly strong — a banger year was on the horizon. But deep down, I felt something looming in our industry and society, pandemic aside. Technology’s growing influence on the young labor force — particularly their experience and ease with human interaction — suggested that service standards might decline. Rising costs of goods and the omnipresence of social media, especially Instagram, hinted at a seismic shift in the restaurant landscape.
I watched beloved mom-and-pop spots shutter while gimmick-driven restaurants thrived, buoyed by algorithm-driven audiences. Meanwhile, chains and ultra-luxe, high-end restaurants backed by groups or VC funding started dominating. It was disheartening to witness, but I knew stepping back was the right decision.
Retreating can feel like defeat, but it’s often the necessary pause before the next chapter. It’s the time to tend your garden before the harvest.
Friendship, Reflection, and Gratitude
Speaking of gardens, I want to highlight one of my dearest friends, Zach Poole. Zach and I go way back — since I was 20, where we met at Saatchi. I’ve leaned heavily on work to stay grounded, but it was Zach’s compassion and wisdom that helps me navigate life’s inevitable twists and turns.
Part therapist, part coach, part consigliere, Zach has been my sounding board through heartaches and highs. His insights have enriched my life in immeasurable ways. I hope you all have a Zach in your lives — a tight circle of friends who make life richer.
As an only child, I naturally gravitate toward solitude and independence. This was only exacerbated by mother’s reinforcement, encouraging me to be comfortable in my aloneness. While I do appreciate my self-reliance, this has changed for me. I like being in my 40s with the ability to reflect on life’s ebbs and flows with greater clarity. Time has taught me that while solitude is valuable, my relationships create an enriched life.
2025: The Year of the Snake
As we embrace 2025, the Year of the Snake, I’m reminded of this creature’s symbolism: transformation, adaptability, and renewal. It feels like the perfect continuation of 2024’s lessons.
If there’s one thing this past year has reinforced, it’s the importance of embracing the changing seasons of life. There’s a time to plant, a time to nurture, and a time to reap. For me, 2024 was about recalibrating and planting seeds. The harvest? It’s on the horizon.
As we close out this year, I’d love to hear from you. What brought you joy? What seeds did you plant, and what’s ready to bloom in 2025? You can always email me at Nicole@jeepneynyc.com.
I’m so grateful for this journey and for you — my readers, friends and customers — who share it with me. Here’s to another year of growth, grit, and gratitude. May 2025 bring us closer — and remind us that stepping back is sometimes the first step forward.
Until next year,
Nicole
