Behind the paper: final inspection

Contigo's final inspection was scheduled for this afternoon. After all the various inspectors — plumbing, electrical, health, etc. — sign the Job Card, the City Building Inspector comes through to pass judgment on the entire project. It's a big deal.

Yesterday, we got a last minute email from the architects explaining everything we still needed to do to pass. My task was to drive to our sign maker's shop in Dogpatch to pick up various required signs and decals, including the address numbers.

The signs we needed for the building inspection were ready, but I had ordered one more that we would need to pass the health inspection: the "employees must wash hands" sign. The sign makers told me they would call me when the new sign was ready. Inspection was scheduled between noon and two, so at 11 I decided I couldn't wait any longer and drove to the sign shop. There I learned that my graphic designer had sent the wrong type of file, so the hand washing sign wasn't ready. They were waiting for her to send the correct file.

At 11:45 I couldn't wait any longer and dashed back to the restaurant with the other signs. It was just after noon on a week day and parking is usually a cinch. Not today. I drove around and around trying to find a parking space. My heart was racing.

Twelve minutes later I finally found a spot two blocks from Contigo. I sprinted over to the restaurant just in time to see my contractor pulling away in his pickup.

What the...?  It was only 12:15. Immediately my mind concluded that inspection must have been postponed. After all that's gone wrong, all the delays and mistakes, the miscommunications and changes, I expected disappointment. After more than two years of planning and a year of construction, my glass-half-full disposition has been nearly shattered.

Fortunately, my contractor saw me. He pulled over and I dashed across the street.

"Where are you going? What happened? Did inspection get postponed?"

"The inspector showed up an hour early. Believe it or not," he said with a relieved and astonished smile, "we passed."

WOOHOO!!!

We still have a few more things to do post-inspection, but one of the biggest hurdles is now behind us. The Cava will be flowing at my house tonight!

Comments

[Sean]

WOOHOO is right! Congratulations! Hoist a flute of cava for me.

[EB]

congrats!!! SOMETHING good had to happen!

[Brett]

While I'm at it, I'll toast your birthday, Sean :)

[Genie]

Yay!!!! Congratulations -- that's such great news!

[Anita / Married ...with Dinner]

YAY!!! So when's the soft opening? ;)

[Noe Valley, SF]

That's awesome!! Congrats, Brett!!

[Tea]

Yay! Cheers from Seattle as well. Cava for everyone!

[Brett]

Anita, a soft opening during the holiday season? That ought to be interesting.

[sam]

I am so happy for you!

[Tracy]

Congratulations! Your neighbors are thrilled!

[Eddie]

Congrats!

[Kelly]

Congratulations! The neighborhood is rooting for you!

[Diane]

All Right - That's a HUGE milestone. Congratulations!

[Chubby]

Yea Brett!!! We are so happy for you!

[Judith]

Hallelujah!

[Kitt]

Awesome! Congratulations.

[Pep]

BRAVO!!!!!!!

[AnitaD]

Yay!!!! What great news! Just tell me the date when I'll pull on my dishwashing gloves, and I'll get right to work! ;-)

[Anita / Married ...with Dinner]

I wasn't necessarily suggesting opening that quickly, but if you're offering, we'll be there :D

[Fiona Kennedy]

Yippie!!! It's about time!

[Curro]

Enhorabuena!!
En nuestro bar tampoco tuvimos problemas con la ultima inspeccion. Por cierto, es un bar que quizas conozcas, un kiosco en la calle Betis de Sevilla en el que puedes comer sardinas ;-)
Seguimos tu blog hace tiempo gracias a http://translate.google.es/translate_t?hl=es# ya que como diria Celia Cruz "My english is not very good looking" :D
Nada mas, animo y suerte en la apertura.

[Emi Lipe]

Yay Brett! That's awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing the place finally. Have been following your blog for a few years now so am totally excited to see this come into fruition! :) ~emi

[Fae]

I've been reading this blog for a long time and I just wanted to say: CONGRADS!!!

I hope your place is a smashing success :)

(Would visit but am currently 1 continent away. Crud)

[Tracy]

We saw your lights on for the first time at night, does that mean you're getting close? We're building up a powerful hunger across the street...

[hilary]

Looking forward to it -- I've been following your blog since last year's Menu For Hope. And I checked out Contigo's website early this week in case you'd decided to open for Thanksgiving (a girl can dream, eh?)