| Author | Post |
|---|
QCVillager
Member
|
Posted: Mon May 12th, 2008 03:13 pm |
|
May 11, 2008 - 8:34PM
Café owner's death leaves questions
Mike Branom, Tribune
In the Valley's coffee community, Bill McCauley was regarded as a pleasant, popular fellow.
A businessman, the 51-year-old McCauley owned a food-products distributorship and a cafe, Daily Buzz in Queen Creek.
The Web site Arizona-Coffee.com is where McCauley kept up on the local gossip, prolifically posting under the name AzBill.
But now, the message board and McCauley's customers are in mourning about his recent suicide.
According to Tempe authorities, on the morning of May 5, McCauley backed his car into the storage area of Red Rock Foods, 626 S. Smith Road, and deliberately set a gasoline-fueled fire.
The explosion also killed his pet dachshund Millikin, named for its owner's alma mater in Illinois.
The reaction from McCauley's peers was one of shock and sadness.
"He was just a really nice guy," Queen Creek resident Aaron Bachler said. "I'm shook up."
No note was found, leaving those left behind only speculation about why McCauley would kill himself in such a public and painful manner.
Walt Finley, landlord of the industrial complex where Red Rock is a tenant, said that about a month ago, McCauley complained to him about "terrible stomach trouble."
And, Finley recalled following the suicide, the manager of Daily Buzz told him that McCauley recently was treated in a hospital emergency room.
But on Arizona-Coffee.com's thread devoted to McCauley's death, business associate Ron Cortez relayed the news that "Red Rock was going through serious financial struggles and Bill was getting behind in payments with many of his suppliers."
Yet a Red Rock customer said McCauley seemed fine when they met for lunch just a few days before the suicide.
"Honest to God, I noticed zero," said Bill Sandweg, owner of Copper Star Coffee in central Phoenix. "There was nothing in our conversation that would've indicated to me this was coming."
Sean Rassas, owner of Goodyear's Ground Control cafe/wine bar, echoed that same sentiment: "Three weeks ago, he was really in good sprits. Nothing would've led me to believe he was thinking of those kinds of steps."
With McCauley taking his reasons to the grave, those who knew him would prefer to remember the man as he lived.
Rassas recalled an "approachable, amenable" hard worker who would make the 30-mile drive to his West Valley business without complaint, even on Friday nights. Sandweg was thrilled to find a supplier who could provide his mother's favorite French vanilla syrup.
Almost everyone remarked upon McCauley's dedication to Daily Buzz.
Despite construction-related setbacks - such as thieves stealing copper, Finley said - the café opened two months ago at 22721 S. Ellsworth Road.
Photos and video show a sleek, stylish business with comfortable chairs and amenities such as Wi-Fi and laptop outlets. The results show that this was a labor of love.
"He was working on that place for years," said Chris Tingom, webmaster of Arizona-Coffee.com.
Of course, by remembering McCauley's life, those who knew him are finding it difficult to get past his death.
Said Sandweg: "I've just got to wonder how it gets that dark for somebody, how it gets that bad."
|
QCVillager
Member
|
Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 02:28 am |
|
Aaron, Bill,
today i met the gentleman who rents out the space to Daily Buzz and to the furniture store. he was showing the store to two women who own at least two other coffee houses (one for sure at/near NAU). i told them that with right marketing, perhaps they could make a go of it and that certainly i know of a few people that would welcome them.
i will put them in contact with this forum when they email me and perhaps we could set up a meeting even, if you guys are at all interested.
i was on my way somewhere and saw a vehicle outside, and so i stopped to see who it was. just a good happen stance. a customer came by and was surprised that the place was closed and he asked about Bill. he had no idea and it was awkward explaning to him what had happened. of course if he hadn't specifically mentioned Bill by name, no one would have offered explanation.
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 05:31 am |
|
Sad update on the future of the Daily Buzz....http://www.arizona-coffee.com/2008/rip-azbill
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 03:11 am |
|
gsbill wrote: Put me down for anything going on relating to Bill and The Daily Buzz. I saw people trying to get in there this morning.
In the short time I knew Bill I found him to be a nice guy. He was generous and proud as he always had something for you to try for free. Bill sent me home with cookies for my family one day. I liked listening to him tell stories of his life experiences as we shared similar backgrounds relating to construction. He made you laugh. He always reminded us to "Tell our friends" if things were good and to "Tell him" if things were not to our liking.
It took Bill a long time to open the Buzz and we were very excited to see it finally open. For me having the neighborhood coffee shop within a short bicycle ride from my home was just perfect. Seeing regulars in there and making new friends is what small towns are all about. Bill's Daily Buzz absolutely filled the bill by providing a venue for all of us to enjoy over a good cup of coffee. I echo every word of what you said. I always appreciated that he took the time to know his customers names and whenever he was there I was always greeted with "Hey Aaron how's it going?" He was proud of the business and he should be, he made a place that a non coffee drinker like me loved going to.
|
gsbill
Member
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 03:01 am |
|
Put me down for anything going on relating to Bill and The Daily Buzz. I saw people trying to get in there this morning.
In the short time I knew Bill I found him to be a nice guy. He was generous and proud as he always had something for you to try for free. Bill sent me home with cookies for my family one day. I liked listening to him tell stories of his life experiences as we shared similar backgrounds relating to construction. He made you laugh. He always reminded us to "Tell our friends" if things were good and to "Tell him" if things were not to our liking.
It took Bill a long time to open the Buzz and we were very excited to see it finally open. For me having the neighborhood coffee shop within a short bicycle ride from my home was just perfect. Seeing regulars in there and making new friends is what small towns are all about. Bill's Daily Buzz absolutely filled the bill by providing a venue for all of us to enjoy over a good cup of coffee.
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 02:48 am |
|
If the Buzz does reopen, I'm thinking a celebration of all the things we liked about Bill is in order. If anyone who knows Bill personally or works with him sees this forum, I would appreciate any thoughts or memories you could share about him.
|
Bambi
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 19th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2260 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 01:25 pm |
|
When you decide to take a "leap" into the business world, using your life savings, and the economy shifts, leaving you with an "empty" building, void of customers chatting and sipping on their coffee as you so often dreamed of, you will tend to "drift" into a world void of that same good conversation and sips of coffee, that made you a happy person. You enter the world of "darkness." I've been there.
You have two choices....continue on and bear the horrible grief and dissolution of your hopes and dreams with strength and great effort, or you "give up" the "struggle" and leave the body, your family and friends. Never dwell on it longer than 5 minutes, or your choice will become easier for the "easiest" way out.
The community should seek out Bill's family to share their grief during this horrible event in their lives.
Last edited on Wed May 7th, 2008 01:26 pm by Bambi
|
QCVillager
Member
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 04:38 am |
|
Bill McCouley
Last edited on Wed May 7th, 2008 04:44 am by QCVillager
|
bigwavedave
Member
| Joined: | Tue May 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 197 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 03:49 am |
|
CrimeFighter wrote: This is the same Bill who posted here frequently? That is a terrible loss for his family and friends, and for our community.
Regarding suicide, I hope anybody who has ever even remotely had a passing thought about such an act puts it out of their mind forever. No matter what kind of personal or professional pressures you come under as an individual, nothing should push you to end your life. Sometimes people don't realize how many other people care about them and they lock into tunnel vision with their current problems. Even under difficult circumstances, the world is a big place with plenty of space for you to find a niche where you are happy; life is worth living.
Very well spoken CF
|
CrimeFighter
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 575 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 03:16 am |
|
It's saddening to me that someone who by all appearances was capably, articulate, friendly, entreprenuerial, and engaged would somehow come to the conclusion that life wasn't worth living. I didn't know Bill personally, but he certainly seemed passionate about his business. It really has only been up and running for a short period of time.
|
QCVillager
Member
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:52 am |
|
CF - Bill's alias here was Daily_Buzz. he didn't post frequently, but was well received here... enough so that people wanted to hang out by his store when he was there.
here is link to myspace... http://www.myspace.com/dailybuzzcoffee
Last edited on Wed May 7th, 2008 02:53 am by QCVillager
|
CrimeFighter
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 575 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 02:26 am |
|
This is the same Bill who posted here frequently? That is a terrible loss for his family and friends, and for our community.
Regarding suicide, I hope anybody who has ever even remotely had a passing thought about such an act puts it out of their mind forever. No matter what kind of personal or professional pressures you come under as an individual, nothing should push you to end your life. Sometimes people don't realize how many other people care about them and they lock into tunnel vision with their current problems. Even under difficult circumstances, the world is a big place with plenty of space for you to find a niche where you are happy; life is worth living.
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 01:34 am |
|
I don't know how they completed the investigation so quick but the evtrib isn't running their origional story because of the information they have. So I have to believe if they are pulling the story, they have good reason to do so. Regardless of how he left us, he was still a person I really enjoyed talking to and I will miss him. If he did leave us on his own accord, that truly saddens me that he felt that was his only option. I already lost someone I cared about in September of last year and at that time I told everyone I know, no more. Unfortunately, right now is 1 more and I feel so sad that he's no longer with us.
|
gsbill
Member
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 11:35 pm |
|
TheBigShow wrote: To make matters worse, I received word that the city of Tempe is ruling it a suicide. Lets not make any leaps just yet. How could they do a thorough investigation so quick?
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 10:45 pm |
|
| To make matters worse, I received word that the city of Tempe is ruling it a suicide.
|
Bambi
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 19th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2260 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 09:00 pm |
|
What a terrible loss to the community, and to his family. My condolences.
|
gsbill
Member
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 08:39 pm |
|
I just shot up there and its closed. I also hope the business stays open. Seems like I've been up there every day lately. Bill sure will be missed. I still can't believe it!
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 08:23 pm |
|
| I just got a call from the EV Trib, they wanted a comment about Bill. I kept hoping that maybe someone in twitter was just mistaken and maybe it wasn't him, but sadly it was. I loved spending time on the weekends there and often Bill was there to see how things were going. He always wanted to know how he could make things better for his customers and he wasn't afraid to try something different if it meant his customers would be happy. I really liked him and I wanted nothing more for him than to see his business thrive. I hope the Buzz will continue forward. I am going to miss seeing him every time I go for my weekend smoothie.
|
gsbill
Member
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 08:12 pm |
|
SOB! Tragic loss. He was a great guy. Friendly, generous, funny, interesting. Dang!
|
QCVillager
Member
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 08:00 pm |
|
i am just at a loss. i got to talk to him a number of times, but never really got to sit down with him as we were supposed to in order to discuss his store and ideas we could come up with to make it wildly successful.
i too would like to extend condolances and to his employees'.
|
TheBigShow
Member
| Joined: | Sat Feb 11th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 644 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tue May 6th, 2008 07:44 pm |
|
I heard through Twitter that Bill, the owner of the Daily Buzz was killed yesterday in a fire. I met Bill many times and thought he was an amazing guy. I want to send my condolences to his family and the employees of Daily Buzz.
Here is a story about what happened: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/06/20080506arson-ON.html
|
Current time is 08:38 pm | |
|