Rainey's eyes went wide：
“Boss, you……you're not seriously thinking about leasing that building, are you?”
I nodded：“That's exactly what I'm thinking.”
A collective gasp rippled through the group：
“Boss, that place is several times bigger than our current shop. The rent alone has to be insane. Please don't do anything rash.”
“Yeah, those two already locked down every seafood supplier in the area. Even if you open a bigger place, what's the point if you can't get product?”
“And the old customers are gonna stick with the original location and the flavors they know. Opening an even bigger seafood buffet over there? We'd have zero advantage!”
I raised an eyebrow：
“Who said anything about a seafood buffet?”
I turned to face them, pronouncing every word：“I'm going to open a fast-casual restaurant.”
The moment those words left my mouth, everyone went silent.
Then came a chorus of shock and disbelief：
“Boss, did you hit your head or something?”
“In the past year alone, seven or eight fast-casual joints have opened on this block. Not a single one lasted more than a month.”
“Our customers come here for seafood. Switch to fast-casual and nobody's walking through that door.”
They all talked over each other, every voice objecting.
I didn't rush, didn't get annoyed. I waited until every last one of them had finished, then spoke at an easy pace：
“You'll see soon enough.”
My mind was made up. Right then and there, I called the number on the "For Lease" sign posted on that building.
The landlord was easy to deal with. Even though the place was several times the size of my current shop, the asking price came in well below market rate.
I signed the lease on the spot and paid the rent upfront.
The landlord had barely handed over the keys when the movers showed up.
“Boss, what are we moving?”
I pointed over my shoulder at the seafood restaurant and said calmly：
“Everything in this shop. All of it goes across the street. Don't leave a thing behind.”
The movers worked fast.
Within a few hours, every table, every chair, every piece of kitchen equipment and dishware, even the framed prints on the walls, had been hauled across the street and into the three-story building.
What had been a lavishly decorated seafood buffet was now nothing but bare walls and empty concrete.
Once the move was done, I turned to face my entire staff：
“Are you willing to follow me and start fresh somewhere new?”
They all exchanged glances, and the room fell quiet.
Then Rainey stepped forward first：
“Boss, this past year working for you, we've earned way more than anyone else in this industry. You're the most decent boss I've ever had. Wherever you go, I'm going with you.”
With her leading the charge, the others spoke up one after another：
“Count me in too. I don't have much education or any special skills, but I know one thing: working for you, I feel secure.”
“Exactly. You've treated us right all year. If we turned around and walked out on you the second things got tough, what kind of people would we be?”
“Wherever you go, I go. I'm with you, through and through!”
Every single person, without exception, pledged to stay.
Watching them, warmth spread through my chest.
Right then, my phone rang. It was my dad：
“Myron, that thing I mentioned last time about switching up your menu. Have you decided yet?”
I nodded：
“All decided. I'm opening a fast-casual place.”
My dad hummed in approval“Mm”：
“Good call. More variety, more convenient.”
“Oh, and one more thing. A few of the subsidiaries under my group just brought on over eight hundred new hires last month. They'll probably be eating at your place too, so make sure you're ready for them.”
