Richard Hood

Richard Hood started a sub shop in Austin TX in the late 70s or early 80s.  He had a falling out with his business partner and started his own sub shop in Round Rock in 1989.  It's probably the best rated restaurant on yelp for the city.  The man is a legend in Round Rock and has sponsored many youth sports steams, high school golf teams, tennis teams, the drum line, etc.  Always being generous when a member of the community asked for a sponsor.  The walls are full of pictures.  The tables and seats are crude by today's standards - being built out of 2x4s.  All tables hold four people and they line both sides of the narrow shop.  The place is just like it was in 1989. But people have carved initials into the tops of the tables or pictures.

Hoody's sub shop is a lot like cheers.  You wanna go where everyone knows your name.  And if you've eaten at Hoody's a few times, chances are good the staff will know you by face, if not by name and remember your sandwich order.  

I'm not a regular there - but I know Richard from the days he first opened the business that was called Delaware Sub Shop.  I've known Hoody for 40 plus years.  

I went in to order a sandwich for dinner and Hoody was there.  He looked at me and said, 'my it's been a while since I've seen you.  How have you been?'  I told Hoody it was so good to see him - it was like seeing a dear old friend I haven't seen in a number of years.  I explained I went to Sarasota for just over a year and came back.  We visited about Sarasota a bit and talked about my new role.  All while he multi-tasked making my sandwich.  

Hoody isn't moving quite as fast as he used to.  He's probably 80 years old now.  But he's still in his shop making sandwiches and chatting with the customers.

Hoody's is place you know about as a member of the community.  Where you've lived and built relationships over the long haul.  It's something when you can visit a shop, know the owner and talk like it was just yesterday you saw each other even though it's been years.

Seeing Hoody and visiting was really special because the world doesn't work that way anymore.  Everything has become so transactional or what I call chained out by major corporations.  The neighborhood businesses are fading into oblivion.  But that's not what this is about.

This about being part of the community.  You don't find out about Hoody's asking for the best hoagie in town by asking on the people of round rock Facebook group.  You find out about it by chance or intention of seeking it out.  Not freeloading this information "from the group."  

The intimate relationships you get being a member of the community are special.  You've been through a lot together.  You've seen each other age.  In my case I've brought three generations of my family to Hoody's.  And no matter how much time goes by, you can still walk in, be greeted like family, get a great sandwich and share a part of your life with a fellow community member.  These relationships are built with time.  They're genuine.  They're special.  

It was so great to see a dear friend - even though its been nearly two years since we've seen each other.

That is the beauty of being a member of the community instead of being a freeloader of what the community has to offer.

Same with Jerry's Garage - I love doing business with businesses when the owner answers the phone and I say, "Hey Charlie - It's Kris - how are you doing?"  And we talk about life before getting down to business.  Same with the people who cut my hair.  Like the first haircut after Election Day and you give each other a hug because you're like minded and then you just sit in the chair and Shannon cuts my hair without having to describe "what we're doing today."

These relationships are earned and built with time.  You don't get these using technology.  You get them by relating to people as friends that you happen to do business with.  It's important.  It's beautiful.  And it's getting lost in America.