A Real-Life Look at AI in Small Business: When Breakfast Meets a Robot at The Blockhouse in St. Hedwig

A Morning Surprise at The Blockhouse

Today I rolled out of bed craving breakfast from The Blockhouse in St. Hedwig. I called like I normally do — expecting a real human, a small-town greeting, that familiar “Blockhouse energy.”

Instead, a robot picked up.

Not a person.

Not a “Good morning, what can I get started for you?”

Just a full automated voice telling me to speak my order into the phone.

Look — I use AI every day. But having a robot greet me at a local breakfast spot felt off. It didn’t match the vibe. It didn’t feel personal. And honestly, it threw me so far left that I hung up mid-sentence.

The Website Was Smooth, Clean, and Easy

Since the phone wasn’t giving, I headed to their website.

And to keep it real — the online ordering system? Solid.

Easy to navigate

Simple layout

Clear steps

Quick checkout

Only thing missing: a clearly visible “pay in store” option. If it’s there, it’s hidden. If it’s not, it needs to be added. But outside of that, the whole online experience worked the way AI should — quietly in the background, making life easier.

Why the Phone Bot Hit Wrong

St. Hedwig isn’t a big city tech hub.

People expect:

a real person

a familiar voice

a sense of community

So getting greeted by AI on the first ring wasn’t the issue — it’s where it happened.

That’s the part that disconnects customers from the business.

Automation is helpful.

Automation is efficient.

But the front door of the business — the first interaction — still matters.

How Small Businesses Can Use AI Without Losing the Human Touch

This whole situation got me thinking about how AI can fit into small-town businesses without replacing the parts that make them special.

1. Let AI support, not replace.

AI is perfect for background tasks:

inventory, reminders, confirmations, scheduling, online orders.

But when a customer calls a local spot, they expect a human connection.

Let AI stay behind the scenes.

2. Always give people choices.

Some people want the smart tech.

Some want the old-school “pay in store and say hello” approach.

Make both options easy to find.

When customers choose how they interact, trust goes up.

3. Match the tech to the community.

Downtown Austin? A robot host makes sense. St. Hedwig? Folks are still tied to personal connection.

Use tech in ways that fit the culture — not fight it.

4. Keep the human voice somewhere in the process.

Even if you’re busy or understaffed, offer a real person option.

A simple “press 1 to speak to someone” changes everything.

What This Says About AI in Small Business

AI isn’t the enemy.

The Blockhouse didn’t do anything wrong. They’re just evolving like everybody else. This is simply a good example of the learning curve many small businesses are experiencing.

Customers don’t mind convenience. They love speed.

But they still want the heart of the business to feel human.

The balance point is simple:

Use AI to enhance the experience, not to replace the connection.

Final Takeaway

I’ll definitely keep ordering from The Blockhouse — especially online.

Their system works.

It’s clean.

It’s convenient.

But I’ll skip the robot on the phone.

And if you’re a small business trying to modernize without losing your identity, here’s the lesson from this morning’s breakfast run:

AI can help you run smoother, but people still want people.

Keep the tech — just don’t lose the touch.

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