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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 4, 2011 - 09:18pm PT
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Went to Crossroads last night for the first time in ages, as I heard it was closing. Wanted to say goodbye to Bonnie and thanks for all the great memories there.
Got to talking to her about it all. She's really stoked, she's getting her life back. Will be sticking around JT and she'll finally have time to climb there.
The new owners are 2 guys from San Francisco who own the St. Francis' Fountain up there (any of you Bay Area folks ever eat there?). One of them will relocate down to JT while the other stays there to run the restaurant in SF. They'll be keeping the Crossroads name & brand but will be changing up the menu. They still plan to have a good variety of vegetarian and vegan options apparently.
They're adding a deep fryer (french fries at Crossroads soon) and a large oven. Expanding the kitchen.
The place shuts down from Bonnie's ownership on January 9th. The new owners hope to get the renovations done and have it up and running by March 1st.
Here's an idea of what type of stuff may be on the menu, link to their SF restaurant:
http://www.stfrancisfountainsf.com/
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jeff_m
climber
somewhere fairly insignificant
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PB & J and fries?
I guess that would be the "Breakfast of Champions"
(I don't think the deep fryer addition bodes well...)
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72hw
Trad climber
Pasadena, CA
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If this benefits Bonnie, I for one could not support it more. She has always been more than accommodating, supportive (a friend lost her wallet and only realized when it was time to pay. She broke down in tears and Bonnie was there to comfort here and comp the meal!), and just generally a right on human being whenever I spoke to her.
On the the other hand - is this some sick troll??? I kinda hope so!
Either way, Bonnie really deserves a huge show of support and gestures of of gratitude for being who she is IMHO!
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10b4me
Ice climber
Happy Boulders
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hope it's not true.
you aren't trolling are you Beth?
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Port
Trad climber
San Diego
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Oh man, I hope they don't stop serving Batdorf and Bronson coffee.....whats up with everyone being accused of being a troll?
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SofCookay
climber
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Beth's not trolling - it's all true, Bonnie did sell Crossroads. She will be missed :)
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72hw
Trad climber
Pasadena, CA
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Just called Crossroads and they confirmed this report.
January 9th is the last day they will be open.
Sad.
Sad indeed.
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72hw
Trad climber
Pasadena, CA
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Just for the record, I had no reason to accuse anyone of trolling - I only hoped it was.
Sigh.
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NigelSSI
Trad climber
BC
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I only got in there a couple times, as I never had the money to eat out more than once or twice per trip. I remember good food, good people, and a nice refuge when it snowed immediately after driving 23 hours straight there to escape the cold of the great white north. Coffee never tasted so good.
Hope the new version doesn't change much...
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Life goes on. Glad Bonnie's choosing to live hers. Being knee deep in customers I hope the fiscal outcome was a positive. So right on Bonnie....Live, Explore, and Enjoy Life. :D
PS, as long as they have a decent Huevos Rancheros and some stellar home made soup along with good coffe they won't lose me as a consumer.
Happy New Year Bonnie and Staff. Ciao, lynne
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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I never made it there...
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Jaybro, I really can not believe you never walked thru the door ? :D Really ?
I guess that's why you are cool, fun in my book. You always walk to a different drum and walk with a large smile. Missed yo all at Thanksgiving. Hope to connect in the near future. Peace, lynnie
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Hrmmm interesting. Man I am in love with their reuben. Hopefully that is still around.
Good for her, hopefully I'll see her out on the rocks, or something. She is a pretty rad person.
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Burger with the works and a side salad...ahhh...
Looks like the owners SF menu would work for that too, though...
Wonder if Murf will hold court in the new place (too)...ha ha!
Cheers!
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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The food was ok...
I personally never saw the appeal...
Sams Market Restaraunt (Across from the Post Office) has better food in my opinion...
and a better choice...
from Indian, Pizza, Subs, to good old greasy American burgers and fries...
But one cannot account for TASTE...
Roger that. If Bonnie is who I think she is, she's was pretty rude the few times I was in there. A place full of plastic people.
Why would anyone hang there with Country Kitchen right across the street.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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Locker, Sams is Quite Good. Thanks for the reminder. Miss you. lynnie
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LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
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I dunno how the SF guys are going to stand it in JT. good luck to them!
Thanks Bonnie for great times at the Crossroads.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Anyone who did not like the food at Crossroads just didn't know what to order.
1/2 wild harvest salad + seared ahi. Bonnie always made sure to have top quality ahi tuna. Need some omega fatty acids and a protien fix?
If the menu of the new owners current establishment is an indication, I won't be in there much. I hope they do well but I am on a very specific diet.
I've never seen Bonnie be rude to anyone. She is just a great person. There is depth of life experience there. Reminds of the "least well known climber" thread. Not everyone has to spray.
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Buju
Big Wall climber
the range of light
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I talked with her a couple of days ago....It seems like she is pretty excited to resume her own life! Good for her!
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Hummerchine
Trad climber
East Wenatchee, WA
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Bummer about the closure...I LOVE that place! The Vegan Sunrise RULES! As does the Grilled Coyote...
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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But she has not always been a gracious host or an effective manager
News flash. Bonnie has not ben perfect at running a demanding business which is open dawn to dusk 7 days a week except xmas, nu years and t-giving.
Jeez. Somehow I doubt you got chased off a table while not buying anything when the place was dead.
Anyone ever go in that place when it was a biker bar?
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2011 - 03:33am PT
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I can't believe anyone thought I would troll on something like this. Let alone troll.
Anyway, Bonnie is doing great and totally stoked on life. On the upside, we'll be seeing her around the crags in J-Tree now that she has time to have a life. She's stoked to be climbing again. Cause anyone who knows Crossroads knows she was there for breakfast and there through dinner. For nearly 7 years she ran that place solid yet constant.
The new owners have never climbed but Bonnie gave the owner that's going to come down to live and work here a helpful hint to at least dabble in climbing as the sport is the means of his main clientele.
Should be interesting. Worth giving them the benefit of the doubt as Bonnie was really selective on who she finally decided to sell to. She's confident these guys will do their best to (continue to) make Crossroads a great place. Will be just a little different.
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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love(D) that place...
no need to bash anyone.
best of luck to everyone.
hope the new guys do a good job, the options around there when it blows hard are sometimes sparse.
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David Knopp
Trad climber
CA
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Rocco the new owner to be is a good friend of mine-he will treat you all well, and dish up some good grub!
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Skeptimistic
Mountain climber
La Mancha
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I've seen and heard of her being rude to quite a few other people
Gasp! Someone being rude to our fellow STer's? Oh the HUMANITY! I guess we'll all have to boycott ST until the rudeness here stops...
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Captain...or Skully
climber
leading the away team, but not in a red shirt!
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Yeah, good luck with THAT, huh? Monkeys throw crap! It's what they do.....there are enlightened monkeys which do NOT throw crap, but even they will fall back on that as a method, in a pinch.
I hope this Bonnie has a GREAT time with the new chapter of Life open now before her. AND the new Crossroads folk continue to serve the clientele that like the place. Might hafta check it out, when & if.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Good luck to the new owners. I hope they keep some of the current staff as they were always polite and helpful.
Bonnie made a successful run in a town with a median income of $32k.
That alone deserves some respect!
Good luck to her too.
I wish Jeremy's Cyber Cafe' was still around. That place was great.
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Mary Moser
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, CA
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I've been going to Crossroads for years and the food has always been excellent. I'm sad to see the place change hands, but Bonnie is going to retire and travel. Way to go, Bonnie!! :)
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Once my friends bought a monstrous apple pie and we decided to take it with us to Crossroads for desert. That pie fed our group, Bonnie and a few others. I always had a good time there.
Um...Coyote burger and Dead Guy Ale.Good bye and good luck. Thanks Bonnie and crew!
TY
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
In the mountains... somewhere...
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I'm sure gonna miss Bonny. I haven't been in there at all this year but Bonnie always treated me kind of special. I don't know if everyone felt that way or it was only because of who my friends were but she was very sweet. I will miss the seared ahi almost as much as I will miss Bonny.
Have fun in your new life Bonny,
Jan
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tinker b
climber
the commonwealth
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i just have to put one in for stacie (bonnie's daughter), since she has not been mentioned yet. she has been the co-owner with bonnie this whole time. she was the manager for crossroads when the original owners were there. she is usually in the back working her ass off, and never had time to chit chat with the costumers. although the restaurant closed on wednesdays, stacie was usually still working that day. bonnie was the face everyone saw stacie was the work force that kept everything running.
i love them both. i have no doubt that bonnie was rude to a few people (and people were rude to her...), but she was always great to me.
i wish them both luck in the future.
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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The only negative things I would say was that sometimes the place was WAY too crowded and maybe Mayville sayin' somethin' about "dummy domes"....(just kidding!!!).
Loved Bonnie.
Loved the food.
I always saw friends there and they were not plastic.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2011 - 01:56pm PT
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Bonnie will still be around. She's staying in town. She's just retiring from the restaurant grind and 50 years of working her ass off in life (as she said). It's retirement, and well deserved.
She just wants to enjoy life and finally do some JT climbing now that she has time. Steve and I plan on climbing with her. Those of you who go in there this week, get her number. She'll give it to you if she knows you well. Stay in contact and rope up with her. Best thank you gift we could ever give.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
In the mountains... somewhere...
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Exactly!
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HandCrack
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal.
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We'll be going to Crossroads this Friday for a final Wild Harvest salad with Ahi. (I'll think of you, Kris) Hope to get out climbing sometime with Bonnie and Beth and Steve.
Locker, be sure and check out the new Crossroads when you're visiting so they can throw you out of there, too!
Brandt Allen
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Seared Ahi w/ salad? sorry I missed it.
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Richard
climber
Bend, OR.
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......not to mention the Ginger Miso salad dressing
YUMMMMMMMMM
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Port
Trad climber
San Diego
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She was always really nice to me, but I have seen her snap at others. The things is, I like crossroads the way it is. I cant imagine it will be better when she's gone.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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I had heard that the place was sold and though I only know Bonnie from sight, I stopped and asked about it.
The bright sparkle in her eyes told enough of a story. She seemed so excited to have successfully run the place and be transitioning away with the restaurant in the hands of competent people. How many businesses in a place like Jtree can say that?
Rude? None of us has ever been rude to anybody???
The other day I was walking Teddy and saw Bonnie pull up in her vehicle with the back loaded with stock for the place. Unpacking it by herself. How many business owners in a place as busy at C/Roads was are still hands on like that?
The menu will change is a bit of a bummer, I was turned on to the Wild Harvest salad w/tuna by HandCrack here on ST. That is one delicious salad(though too big a piece of tuna, not that I'm complaining).
I guess the Saloon is going to get the business during closed time, although for sure a lot of people will go to Yucca and eat at any number of the fine franch...umm, wait a second....
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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I'm glad to see Bonnie moving on. She took that place to a whole new level when she bought it. Restaurants are an extremely difficult businesses to run and make a success out of. Especially in a small town like Josh.
I have never had any problems with Bonnie. She has always been kind and considerate to Hilde and me.
I say good for her on her success and retirement. She has earned it.
Hopefully the new owners will continue the tradition of good food and a great local hangout.
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gonzo chemist
climber
Crane Jackson's Fountain St. Theater
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I've drank my fair share of pints at Crossroads.
And Ksolem has got it right: its all about the seared Ahi tuna.
Bonnie has always been sweet to me. So, no complaints here. I really enjoyed the environment there. I will miss chatting with her on a regular basis...
The restaurant business is hard sh#t. Whether or not Crossroads was open 7 days a week, the work never ends....even on the "closed" days. Bonnie isn't the only person I know who owns a business, and she's not the only one I know who runs a restaurant. Its a lot of f*#king work.
Hopefully now Bonnie will have some time to just breathe and enjoy life. I'm hoping I'll see her out at the crags.
-Nick
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Why is that?
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2011 - 08:57pm PT
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Any Bay area climbers ever eat at St Francis' Fountain? That's the place of the folks coming in. The menu looks good (and vast) but how's the quality of the food? Any takers?
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Why is that?
Inside joke from the politard thread.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
leading the away team, but not in a red shirt!
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In the City, I used to like the Albatross.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
leading the away team, but not in a red shirt!
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"It's a Bloody Seabird, Init?"
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dogtown
Trad climber
JackAssVille, Wyoming
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Drag! I dug it there.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 5, 2011 - 09:22pm PT
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Always love to see you here dogtown. Much love to you and yours.
Yeah, I loved the place too. It will just be a different place now but Bonnie said she was VERY selective on who she sold it to so it shouldn't be too different.
Just with french fries.
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CBclimber
Trad climber
Gunnison Valley, Colorado
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Internet haters, you've got some serious time on your hands!
I washed dishes at Crossroads for 3-4 months, it was a pretty good gig, and I met some great people.
Usually when I'm dirt bagging it I don't quite eat that great, but that wasn't the case the winter I lived in J-Tree and worked at Crossroads I was always given healthy leftovers and fed well.
Glad that Bonnie will be able to climb some more, and I hope the new owners keep it alive, I always thought that Crossroads had the best beer, coffee, and food in town.
I actually wrote a little blog about some of my J-Tree/Crossroads experiences recently if anyone wants to read it, here's a link:
http://lukemehall.blogspot.com/2010/11/dish-dog-goes-to-joshua-tree.html
peace,
Luke
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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It seemed that Crossroads was just a place that one had to stop when going to Josh. The atmosphere was just so fitting. It's nice to hear that Bonnie and Stacy, who I never got to know (they were always working hard!), are getting out when the getting is good, and they have not gotten totally burned out. Seems like they had a good run, about as good as it gets. I hope they get a chance to enjoy life for awhile.
Don't quite understand people taking the opportunity to make negative comments, I guess last opportunity to put a frown on someone's face, doesn't seem like good karma, but whatever.
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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too bad for us, but good for Bonnie. Glad she is happy and able to retire.
Place is really too small, need to relocate to a bigger storefront with more seating. Hopefully the new people will respect the pricepoint.
Biggest problem with food in JT these days is everyone wants to exploit the one-time tourist visitors with $9 bowls of bad soup or a $8 piece of quiche smaller than your palm. Then they will wonder why they can't sell enough to keep the doors open.
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F10
Trad climber
e350 / Bishop
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Always worked for me, best of luck to those at Crossroads and the future owners.
"Man, I can't believe the crap spewed on this site sometimes."
Classic line, plug into almost any thread on ST.....
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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It's really easy for people who visit here to condemn those who live here full time. I could care less about your buying a house here where you visit. Until you live here, full time, for a large number of years, you have no clue as to what you are talking about.
This is a tough, small town to make a living in. Period.
Of all the different types of business you could start in "down town" Josh, a restaurant is probably the most difficult.
Bonnie get's big hugs in my book.
I defy anyone on this site claiming she's done them wrong to do a better job than her.
By the way, I am not a close friend of Bonnie's by any measure of the yard stick. But I fully support her.
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
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Running a successful restaurant is no easy task and definitely takes a toll. Through it all Bonnie and Stacee have been gracious hosts, as well as genuine and warm people. I know that Bonnie is looking forward to having more (and well deserved) time to just enjoy life.
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lucho
Trad climber
California
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EVER EAT AT ST. FRANCIS? I grew up and still live two blocks south of St Francis and if the food is anything like it is at the "new" St. Francis then say goodbye to quality food. I hate to say it but those two guys ruined what use to be a nice quiet ice cream/milkshake neighborhood spot and turned it into some blown up hipster hang where you cant even get a seat on a Sun morning for some crappy eggs with dry potatoes, just like any other hipster hang here in SF thats popped up in the last decade. Oh and did I mention its super overpriced. What a shame.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Where's "Too Strong" gon'a hang now? ;)
TY
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Fluoride
Trad climber
West Los Angeles, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 6, 2011 - 03:00am PT
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Thanks Lucho. You answered a question I've been asking.
Doesn't sound like it bodes well for the "new" Crossroads.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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"Where's "Too Strong" gon'a hang now? ;)
TY"
Oh my god, Dave's gonna be homeless!!! Maybe we can find him a freeway overpass somewhere on the I10 :0
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slayton
Trad climber
Here and There
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What a bummer. I grew up in the Coachella Valley and when I started climbing Joshua Tree became pretty much so my back yard. I visited Crossroads before Stacy and Bonnie (sorry for any misspellings) owned it and certainly many times while they did. Good food and good people. Bottom line.
I met Stacy through my job in Palm Springs and I remember talking to her at one point when I was thinking of buying the business from my boss, this couldn't have been more than a year into her ownership of Crossroads and even then upon hearing that I was thinking of buying this business her eyes went kindof buggy and she provided many caveats. Owning (and running at the same time) your own business is an incredible amount of work. A restaraunt that does the kind of volume in the space provided that Crossroads does for half the year? Forget about it. Kudos to both of those women for pulling it off and giving so many of us a fine venue for chill time be it before climbing, after climbing, or when we should have been climbing. I wish them both the best wherever life takes them.
And as far as being rude or not being rude or whatever.. .. .. I've worked in the service industry, retail mostly, for the majority of my life and all I can say is that we are all human, both customer and employee (or owner, anyone dealing with the public) alike. Moods happen. Sh#t happens. And sometimes that happens when you have a line going out the door. Sometimes customers will bitch. And sometimes the employees or owner will bitch right back. I kindof prefer it that way. Keeps it more real. Sometimes too, employees or owners can just have a bad day, and that line out the door and the constant barage of NONSTOP shite going on takes its toll and patience gets short and words or attitude are the reflection of that. It happens, even if we didn't want it t
I can honestly say that I never experienced anything but the most friendly and warm service. But then , I was there a lot. After talking to Bonnie a few times I can see that she's probbly not not one to take much gruff. She seems to have an edge to her and I like it.
So, I'm bummed. Another multi year tradition is coming to an end, and just a week or so before my next visit.
I wish the new owners luck. They have a pretty crazy (buyt fun potentially) niche to fill. Have they spent any time in the town? Do they know what they're getting into?
Sean
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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The Ahi was sushi grade, meaning it was very very good. You also got a hell of a big chunk to boot.
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msiddens
Trad climber
Mountain View
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Good for Bonnie, bummer for me/us:-) I have hope the new owners wont screw up a good thing but I'm skeptical.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
In the mountains... somewhere...
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Yeah, if the ahi goes away so will I.
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troutboy
Trad climber
Newark, DE
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I still have my Crossroads Cafe refill coffee mug from 2 owners ago. Wonder if that will be a collector's item now ?
Very sad to see this place go.
TS
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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Somebody who knows the new owners might want to tell them to have a gander at this thread. There is good feedback coming out of this.
Change is fine, but if it ain't broken, don't fix it!
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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My guess is these guys can tell the difference between Frisco and Joshua Tree.
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Crossroads was a pretty good joint, good food, great salads, great beer selection. Been there when it was crowded, but they got the food out really fast (stimulating fast turnover), and we always managed to find a seat when it was time to sit down (after being in line for 20 minutes).
If the new owners are *slow* with the food, there will never be enough seating, and business will drop off dramatically, no matter how good the food is.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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"My guess is these guys can tell the difference between Frisco and Joshua Tree."
That's a gross stretch of reality. If they had half a functioning brain cell in their heads, they would just sit and watch what goes on over the next few months. Once they get a feel for how the place runs, then start making minor changes to the menu. Add a few things, take a few things out. Maybe cycle some of the menu items.
There is a winning formula for what has made Crossroads successful, understand that first.
It won't take too long to see if their vision is going to work. This ain't S.F.
The worst thing they can do is loose the confidence of the local's. What's the most common question tourists and visitors ask when coming to a place they don't know?
"Any good restaurants in town?"
"Any good places to stay?"
I get these questions all the time.
F*#k with that formula and you're done!
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Nate Ricklin
climber
San Diego
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Waiting in the line was dumb. I hope they end that.
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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We used to hang when it was The Winner's Circle, my band The Gathering played there all the time. I miss that place more...
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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I think I saw you guys at Jeremy's once, no?
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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"At least Santana's will remain stalwart with its offerings of baby-sized breakfast burritos. Aye chihuahua, mi culo es enfuego!"
Just to clarify, you mean CATana's.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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No cat in the California Queasdilla, unless they cook it in cat lard.
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Although I did not frequent the establishment, due to family and financial issues, I always enjoyed my visits there. Bonnie and Stacey were always friendly and accomodating;...even when I had my "wild" children in there, and they were "acting their ages"......which translates to my kids would run around there, spill and make messes, and touch stuff......but Bonnie and staff were always kind and patient with them and me......something I appreciated and respected them for......Bravo to them for their awesome establishment, feeding the people, and good luck with their next chapter .....I look forward to going climbing with Bonnie and Stacy....(Already spent the day climbing with Stacey;....Crossroads finish to Binder at Mongolia area....)......Carry on!...and thanks for the cool place you shared with all of us .
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