Let's say you have a couple of minutes to kill before your meeting in Beverly Hills. Why not go to Chez Germen, a cafe conveniently located close to City Hall and many offices? It's also a hair salon.
I accidentally stumbled upon this cool slice of Los Angeles -- cool because its quirkiness is real. It almost seems incredible that in LA, which isn't much of a melting pot, you would find a cafe/hair salon whose neighbors are the local Chabad, Slimmons (Richard Simmons's gym -- yes, that Richard Simmons) and an answering service company. Some phones still need to be answered by human beings. I'm fascinated by that business, which always makes me think of the movie "Bells are Ringing."
I'll give you the tour. You walk in and are directly in the cafe. Almost everything is white.
It feels delightfully retro, like maybe you've wandered into a salon in the 1970s. In front of you is a white door that leads to the hair salon. A small reception desk is directly behind you. A bar with high stools is slightly to the right. Behind that is the cafe work space. A fan whirs overhead. It is wonderfully cool, which you appreciate as the day is blazingly hot. You are struck by the cleanliness of the place -- it's extremely spick and span.
You consider the variety of salads, sandwiches (like tuna salad, chicken salad or egg salad), quiches and soups on offer. All the prepared food is made by a lady who has a commercial kitchen and delivers to Chez Germen.You choose the spinach mushroom quiche, as I did. You see the server wash his hands before he takes your quiche out of the fridge. You wonder when you last saw anyone do that. You notice the gaily colored straws in a container on the countertop. The server, who is lovely, prepares your espresso and heats your quiche. He gives you napkins and silverware and asks whether you'd like salt or pepper.
You could sit at the bar, but decide to brave the heat. You take your meal out to the brick covered patio in front. You feel relaxed. Big pots of geraniums in purple, light pink and red dot the patio. Vines cover the ground instead of grass. You like this look. You're a little bit hot (it is over 90 degrees) but thank goodness the tables have umbrellas that are open. Your quiche is delicious.
People-watching is surprisingly good as you see employees from local businesses out and about on their lunch hour. You also enjoy watching the salon patrons come in and out. Mostly you see older ladies who look as though they would rather die than miss keeping their hair together.
There is really a Germen, who is the proprietor. He is exactly what Central Casting might send -- tall, urbane with salt and pepper hair. You enjoy your chat with him.
Then you sip on your espresso and watch the world go by.
***
Peter Bregman has a post on the Harvard Business Review site in which he discusses the issue of being on stage all the time during our workday, in the age of open work spaces. He writes:"If you're in a situation in which your professionalism is hard to maintain — for some reason you've become upset, riled up, or anxious — and a deep breath or glass of water isn't enough, go for a walk. Leave the office — or whatever space you're in — entirely. Then, if you have the time, walk over to your neighborhood hair salon and ask for a shampoo and cut. You'll emerge composed, relaxed, and professional."Click here for Bregman's post.
I say, go to Chez Germen for a coffee. And yes, if there's time, have a shampoo and cut. But you definitely have time for a coffee.
Chez Germen
9300 Civic Center Drive,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-246-1270
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