George Patterson wrote:
Jay Honeck wrote:

We also want to make the first floor available for banquets. Banquet
halls are in very short supply in Iowa City, for some reason.


In that case, you might collaborate with some local organization. Here,
many fraternal orgs (like the Knights of Columbus) rent out their
meeting halls as banquet halls. Perhaps you could do the reverse.

There's also a diner in Edison, NJ (called "The Pines" for some reason
not involving trees that I can see) that does exactly what you have in
mind. Most of the money comes from being a typical New Jersey diner, but
they have room for banquet hosting.

Jersey diners are real phenomenae. Large meals, lots of selections,
reasonable prices, and open long hours. Don't know how they do it.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.
That's what he should open!! A real, New Jersey Diner! Start thinking
stainless steel, greek flair to everything (read stuffed grape leaves on
the salad bar), good burgers, long hours, a bar helps. Open 24 hours.
Market to the grad school crowd, they have some $$, stay up at all hours
and will be a good base. Add a party room (book the room and the hotel,
get as smashed as you want, walk to your room). It would be great.

Margy