Bootstrap Through Regulars, Not Location

“At the next bank, there was a stroke of luck as a regular at Mutsu was acquainted with the loan officer, and we managed to secure a loan. However, even with the maximum loan, funds were still insufficient. Remembering another regular customer who once said, “Contact me if you ever decide to start your own business,” I boldly gave a call. Although they had already returned to Japan, they agreed to help, allowing us to overcome the greatest hurdle of fundraising.”

“By this time, the shop was operating centered around regular customers, so we weren’t too particular about having a prime location. I told Liz, “I prefer somewhere less conspicuous,” but she seemed a bit unsure about what I meant. “Why somewhere not conspicuous?” she wondered. “In Japan, there’s something called a ‘hideout style,’ where even prominent shops don’t have signs,” I explained, but she had a complex expression that suggested she understood yet didn’t.”