At TolHouse, we’ve had to make some tough calls—none harder than parting ways with people who were great at their jobs.
These were talented individuals. Capable. Creative. Skilled. But they weren’t aligned with the culture we’re building. And that’s the line we don’t cross.
Here’s the truth:
We’re not building a coffeehouse.
We’re not building a bar, a jazz club, or a restaurant.
We’re building a community.
And communities are fragile. They flourish or fall apart based on how people treat one another, how they show up, and what they value. So at TolHouse, we’ve made a clear decision:
Culture comes first. Always.
That means:
• We don’t tolerate gossip behind the bar.
• We don’t normalize lateness or unprofessionalism.
• We don’t reward talent that resists accountability.
• We don’t excuse behavior that makes others feel small, unseen, or unsupported.
So yes, we’ve let skilled people go. And we’re better for it.
Because the people who are aligned are helping us build something remarkable—and they know it. They lead shifts with intention, use downtime with purpose, clean without being asked, speak with care, and treat every Member like they matter—because they do. And those same team members appreciate that we take the culture seriously. They know we’re protecting what we’re building by pruning what doesn’t belong, and they trust us more because of it.
That’s the culture we’re defending.
That’s the bar we’re raising.
So if you’re a leader struggling with whether to hold onto someone just because they’re “good at their job,” I’ll offer this:
Don’t build around the talent. Build around the values.
You can teach skills. You can’t teach heart.
We’re not chasing perfection at TolHouse. We’re chasing alignment.
And when you have that—real alignment across people, process, and purpose—everything gets better.
That’s the kind of House we’re building.