OT - Anyone here own a restaurant?

"Blanche" wrote

Start with breakfast & lunch OR only lunch & dinner. Once business gets
established, then go for more.

I respectfully disagree. If the business model is sound, do a big grand
opening, lots of advertising, and start it up with all the draws to all of
the different groups and needs, all at once.

In my way of thinking, if they don't get what they need or want the first
time around, they may not be back for the second time.

Jay, don't be bashful about asking for advise from all of the different
skills that are represented in this group, as planning and construction
begins. We have contractors, electricians, lawyers, engineers, writers,
illustrators, ect, ect, all over the place. Use us for, if nothing else,
reality checks along the way. I can only speak for myself, in saying I
would be thrilled to be even a small part of it.
--
Jim in NC

("Flyingmonk" wrote)
Thank you Montblack. Have you ever eatten at 94th Aerosquadron? There's
one in College Park Airport near DC. Great aviation theme(WWII)
restaurant.


Nope to DC.

Downtown St Paul, MN (Holman Field - KSTP) had a restaurant on the field
that I used to eat at, in the early 80's. Neat old building.

http://makeashorterlink.com/?L1222167C
"This castle-like building served as the headquarters of Northwest Airlines
during the 1930's and 40's."

http://www.weisman.umn.edu/exhibits/Cap/holmanbg.gif
National Register of Historic Places - added to the list in 1991.


Montblack

Is the food any good, could n't tell from the picture because the
parking lot was empty.

The food at 94th Aero Squadron is very good, not the best, but great
for the money. I used to work near there and that's where I'd have
lunch with my customers and vendors.

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/CGS94th/ ---- The one in College Park.
http://www.94thaerosquadron.signonsandiego.com/ ---- The one in San
Diego.
http://www.visitvalleyofthestars.org...o_squadron.htm
---- The one in Va Nuys.

Must be a franchise. They have realistic looking full size WWII era
planes parked at the entrance, I thumped on them and found that they
are fiberglass nonflying displays.

Great place to eat, great lunch buffet with live chef at the buffet to
cook your pasta.

The Monk

In article .com,
"Flyingmonk" wrote:

Is the food any good, could n't tell from the picture because the
parking lot was empty.

The food at 94th Aero Squadron is very good, not the best, but great
for the money. I used to work near there and that's where I'd have
lunch with my customers and vendors.

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/CGS94th/ ---- The one in College Park.
http://www.94thaerosquadron.signonsandiego.com/ ---- The one in San
Diego.
http://www.visitvalleyofthestars.org...o_squadron.htm
---- The one in Va Nuys.

Must be a franchise. They have realistic looking full size WWII era
planes parked at the entrance, I thumped on them and found that they
are fiberglass nonflying displays.

25 years ago they were all the real thing.
Towards the end of the 80', early 90's, Talichet started sending
mechanics around getting them flyable and flying them out.
I have no idea where they went.
I saw a B-25 that had sat in place for the better part of 10 years get
three days of maintenance go flying off into the western sky after only
a short test hop and check for leaks.

OK... my hat goes in...

Jay, business _is_ my business...my job is helping people start,
maintain, operate, expand etc. businesses..

so...(with the caveat that this may be worth only what you are paying
for it )

.............................................

Sell an experience with the (good) food... this is your "edge"

BE THERE! They say customers are always right! Right?

I have news!, - they lie , cheat and steal! And employees... the
same.. (But you run a motel, you have already figured that out...)

Know what EVERYTHING COSTS before you serve it..

I have a very successful friend in the business, (37 years)- he
monitors the costs of his portions to two decimal places, and never
violates his margins.

Waste and "little dishonesties" can kill you.... And you have to
(according to him) know all the tricks.. the stories he can tell
about how some people would steal just leave me shaking my head...
unfreakin believeable! And how he managed to catch them.. !

Stay current, with your theme and your market..

Servers? Gender should be obvious, and find the ones who are outgoing
and smile with their eyes... (here is that experience thingy again)

We have a place here that after you get beat up all morning, you
can drag yourself in for lunch, and head backto work walking on
clouds,- because of the people there. Dono where he gets them, but he
does. They make "regulars" out of everybody....and the servers
average about double in tips than the servers in some other
restaurants...

Find a mentor that can guide you along, - " learning " this particular
business can be expensive, .........get a head start.

Last tip... the successful restauranteurs here have something in
common, the LOVE what they are doing!

Cheers and the best!

Dave



"On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 13:56:20 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

There is one at Fayetteville (AR) Drake field that seems to struggle and
is not open on Sundays.

I always think these things should be open both weekend days.

Isn't that nuts? There are precisely two days for a restaurant to make $$$
on breakfast, and so many of them choose to be closed on half of them.

Close Monday, if you must -- but never Sunday morning.

Waste and "little dishonesties" can kill you.... And you have to
(according to him) know all the tricks.. the stories he can tell
about how some people would steal just leave me shaking my head...
unfreakin believeable! And how he managed to catch them.. !

I'd like to hear those stories!

Jose
--
Money: what you need when you run out of brains.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Dave wrote:

I have a very successful friend in the business, (37 years)- he
monitors the costs of his portions to two decimal places, and never
violates his margins.

Does he weight each portion to a hundredth of a pound as well? If he
doesn't, then computing costs to the penny is simply delusional.

Matt

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Dave wrote:

I have a very successful friend in the business, (37 years)- he
monitors the costs of his portions to two decimal places, and never
violates his margins.

Does he weight each portion to a hundredth of a pound as well? If he
doesn't, then computing costs to the penny is simply delusional.

Matt

I have always heard that food costs are the least important cost in the
restaurant business which is why many serve up huge portions. Labor,
facility, overhead and other costs are the important ones. Could be why
buffets are so popular.

Waste and "little dishonesties" can kill you.... And you have to
(according to him) know all the tricks.. the stories he can tell
about how some people would steal just leave me shaking my head...
unfreakin believeable! And how he managed to catch them.. !

I'd like to hear those stories!

We've got a list of some pretty amazing "guest stories", after just 3 years
in the lodging biz.

People being people, you get all kinds. I've seen some pretty remarkable
displays of stupidity, arrogance, ignorance, and fraud. (None of this from
pilots, mind you.) I can't imagine what a guy must have seen after 37 years
in the restaurant business!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

How about...

A cashier giving her friends free meals..

She would hit the "no sale button" or hold the cash drawer almost
closed with her body from the previous sale, accept a large bill and
pass back the same amount in change in smaller bills. (!)

"Doggie bags" containing full meals.....

Sigh..

Dave


On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 04:23:05 GMT, Jose
wrote:

Waste and "little dishonesties" can kill you.... And you have to
(according to him) know all the tricks.. the stories he can tell
about how some people would steal just leave me shaking my head...
unfreakin believeable! And how he managed to catch them.. !

I'd like to hear those stories!

Jose