maybe this is heaven

John tells me the shop has already hosted a scene from a movie and a group of 25 advisors for Hillary Clinton’s North Carolina campaign, who had to contend with an outspoken Obama supporter sitting at the next table. He mentions a list of local artists who have performed here, and when I tell him about the stand-up comedy scene starting to blossom in town, we agree that we might have good reason to join forces. He gives me his business card from a lending company, which he calls with a smirk “my real job.”