Today, I had to opportunity to take some Golden Bond's team to attend the soft opening of Tatte Bakery & Cafe's  new Adams Morgan location. And it ended up being far more than just an amazing meal 💭At one point, one of the girls asked me, “Why does Tatte do this?”
It was such a good question — and one that opened up a bigger conversation about training, service, and how strong teams are actually built.

Soft openings serve a lot of purposes, but at their core, they create a safe space for reps. A space where teams can work through the inevitable kinks, role-play service in real time, and build confidence without the pressure of public scrutiny. No one in that room was racing to leave a review or pick apart small imperfections. Everyone was there to support the team as they found their rhythm.

That kind of environment allows a business to strengthen its foundation while protecting its standards — something that becomes increasingly important as brands grow.

As we sat and observed, we talked through what we were seeing in real time. Who was likely brand new. Who might be there short-term to reinforce. Who had clearly been part of the system longer. As interactions unfolded, the team began noticing these things on their own. It was a powerful reminder of how much can be learned simply by watching — a perfect lead-in to conversations we’ve been having internally as we prepare for our own upcoming team training.

• Did a few things not go flawlessly at the meal? Naturally.
• Did anyone care? Not at all.
• Were there smiles? Plenty! Just look at the the photos.
• Did I finally try the lamb shakshuka? Yes. It was excellent.

And that's the point. These moments allow teams to flex, figure things out, and build confidence before a hard launch. It’s not just about getting a drink to the table it’s about making sure that when the doors fully open, the team feels more grounded, smooth, and supported as they get used to running the show. Tatte's building a strong foundation, before the public even walks in the door.

We talk a lot about service and support at Golden Bond, and this was a powerful reminder of what it looks like when friends show up for friends in business. No one expects perfection — but everyone benefits when they’re given room to grow.

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I was genuinely grateful to be able to take some of my team out of our four walls for a shared meal just stress free day of connection... After this, I took them see the argon gas supplier warehouse 🤭 Sometimes friends & field trip - and perspective outside your own operation - is exactly what a team needs.

It sparked thoughtful conversations about the importance of creating safe spaces to practice, communicate, and role play - so you can reset holding standards together for delivery and exercise the operational bones. When ego is removed, training isn’t punishment - it’s a gift. Critique isn't emotional - it's observation. .

Congratulations Tatte Bakery & Cafe on another beautiful store and an incredible team!

An extra special thank you to Matthew Lasek (& the AdMo Tatte team) for a thoughtful, delicious, and genuinely educational soft opening. Matt, you do an incredible job of blending together thoughtfulness, care, execution and standards so well!!