AJ's Brought 'Special Vibe' to Ferndale, Say Artists, Customers Sad to See it Close

Customers and supporters of registered their sadness, appreciation and good wishes after hearing of the , but the artsy coffee house owner says he's "exhausted" and it's time to move on.

“AJ has brought his own special vibe with his and his clear-cut desire to help the working man,” communications manager Chris Hughes said Wednesday. “He's been a wonderful asset to downtown Ferndale and he certainly did help put Ferndale on the map in many ways.”

Despite the name AJ's has made for itself in the community with its fundraising events, initiatives to support local autoworkers and its world-record-breaking , owner AJ O'Neil said those things don't necessarily equate to good business.

He says he's been working 70-hour weeks and trying to maintain $3,100 rent on income of around $250 a week the past four years and said he just can't keep that up.

“I'm real proud of what we've done here and I love the city, I love the people,” he said. “It's not about that. It's about being able to survive.”

Since , O'Neil said he has received numerous phone calls from artists and customers expressing disappointment and asking how they can help. He said he is touched by the support, but isn't sure what can be done.

"I think it's very kind, but I need to step out because I'm exhausted," he said. He needs to start bringing in income and "I don't know how to do that and be tied to the cafe as well."

O'Neil said he's proud his shop has been a "beacon of hope" through tough economic times.

"I've opened up my heart and my cafe to the community and said, 'How can I help you?' to anybody that came in that door, no matter what they looked like, who they love or who they prayed to," he said. "That's what Ferndale is to me."

Local musician Paul Ward, who started working at AJ's a few months ago when he moved to Ferndale from Washington, DC, said he worries about Ferndale losing its charm as it loses businesses like AJ's.

"It's nice to be in an up-and-coming area, it just sucks to lose your personality in the process," he said.

Ward also says he'll miss meeting the many unique artists and residents who frequent the cafe "on an hourly basis."

"It's a really diverse, interesting group of people that you get through here," he said, adding that it's hard to find a place so welcoming. "AJ has always been very open to anyone and everyone."

While some cafe fans have called for the DDA to somehow help control rent costs in the city, Hughes said the DDA does not own the property and has no control over local rents, and she said it wouldn't be the authority's role to get involved in issues of rent amounts.

“If you ask a property owner to reduce their rent we're saying you need to take a pay cut. That's not what we are about. That's not our role,” she said.

But it's not easy to keep a business afloat, Hughes said, especially when talking about highly creative business ideas. “They have to have the right brain and left brain working in unison. That's a really hard thing to do,” she said.

Running any small business is a challenge, Hughes said.

“It is exceedingly hard to be a small business person,” she said. “Everybody is your boss. And it's very hard to make a buck.”

Hughes said she hopes O'Neil will stick around.

“AJ is so incredibly creative and he's always thinking about what else he can do to make the world better,” she said. “I hope he can figure out some way to still be part of the Ferndale community because he certainly is a huge contributor to it right now and it'd be unfortunate if it went away.”

Community reacts to AJ's closing

Here's a sample of what readers posted on Ferndale Patch's Facebook page:

• Elizabeth Pfleger: It is a shame. It is a nice venue for underage kids to get music exposure.
• MaryAnn Page: That's awful. He's done such wonderful things for this community, it will truly be a loss!
• Frank Castronova: I'm sad AJ's is closing. I've been a customer of his since he opened, and went to his predecessor, Xhedos, regularly even before I moved to Ferndale 14 years ago. I hope that whatever takes over that space is a business attracts the unique clientele AJ's has enjoyed. We don't need another bar.
• Eric Dorcey: That sucks. I had fun there. Nice guy too. BUT, I think it was a double-edged sword. The prices were too high, so a lot of thrifty people wouldn't go there. But in order to make enough money to stay open, the prices had to be higher. Bummer.
• Gretchen Abrams: Wouldn't it be a cool youth hang-out space?? Someone with a vision and $$. Live music A pool table? Well lit ;) Juice/smoothies? Someone work that out before my tween becomes a teen! Maybe a multi use space leasable space for events??? Where do kids go these days?
• Hope Steinke Hughes: It's too bad; but, I understand.
• April Marzec Murphy: People vote with their dollars. There is a lot of really high-quality competition in town these days, with a lot to offer.
• Sarah Maki: aw, that's too bad. AJ seems like a good dude who enjoys the community and works hard.