Help with Cafe name....

Glad to hear your stop in Idaho/mccall was good!

 

Awesome! Glad your travels went safe. Was great meeting and feeding you guys. Enjoy your time in Salem! Cheers

 

WebCam just outside the restaurant...
http://www.kdzy98.com/hotel-mccall-cam.htm

 

VERY cool meeting you today Ben!!!

 

it's a fun position to be in .....We will meet again!

 

yesssssssssssss! Glad to hear that!!

Pumpkin Pie Latte

 

http://youtu.be/WEtRoZ5FWNc

 

lmaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

Damn you. Now I may need to go to starbucks to get one of these...

 

did they have it?

 

I need advice, so I turn to TW.....

Do I move locations?

Coming down to the wire, need to move forward with a decision soon.

I am happy where I am, but VERY limited on the kitchen. New spot has a FULL kitchen and the menu could be endless. Without question it is the nicest location in town. Seats 50% more then I have now.

My best guess is that is would cost me about $800 MORE a month then my current agreement.( Lease is up in March ) He's ready for me to move in NOW, and give me 3 months rent free.

Thoughts? Questions?....anything you're thinking?

It would be the spot on the end, top and bottom floors, seats 65ish...with a beer and wine license...... Very busy spot like I have now, but different.

 

You probably know the answer but have you done the math to know how many new customers you need to bring in? Also, how would you expand the menu to bring those new customers in? Could you host events?

All the best with your decision!

 

how many (if any) more customers will you need to keep comfortable cash flow?
can you find any downsides to the new location?


IMO, it sounds like you would be wise to change locations.

 

Yes we've done the math, doing $100 more a day(then now) would cover monthly costs. Seems easy enough, right?!?!

Simply MORE items would be offered then our current menu. And then we get into dinner!!!! We don't really offer dinner currently.

YES, we could host events....even space for a band to jam. Catering could be a beast! Many events already happen in the parking lot year round.

At this point a five year lease turns me off, monthly rent needs to come down a little. We are in talks....and believe I have the upperhand.

Without question it is THE nicest/newest location in town.

 

The tale of two coffee shops, one in Alameda, one in Concord, both about the same size, good locations, one in Concord is failing and started to cut back hours and staff, used to have a pretty good little music scene but now closes at 7 M-Th, Fri-Sat till 9, Sunday close at 5, they are going down hill. Second shop, better menu, more lunch-y stuff, has liquor license, hosts private and public events,, sends out group emails for events, hosts local accoustic style bands, every night there is no band about a dozen local pickers show up and jam, each one buys like a couple of beers or glasses of wine and usually a little food too. They close at 9 or ten every nite. They have one staff member as opposed to the Concord one that keeps two on. The uneven hours are hurting the Concord shop and I've seen them close early somedays too.
The Alameda shop doesn't do a screamin amount of business at any one time but they do it steady and constant. They worked to build a base clientele that supports the business.
Look around at the local scene and try to figure out a niche for yourself, an investment on a basic PA system could set up some Jam Nites on your slow nights (Monday-Tuesdays).
Book Clubs, Knitting Clubs, whatever, if they like the atmosphere and the owners it could bring that extra revenue you need.
Perhaps there are local musicians that don't have any other place to hang out and jam?

 

im stingy, im a tight wad, and i hate risks. that's just me. im also not your accountant so i don't know what you're clearing at your current location, etc.

still, your restaurant is less than a year old right now isn't it? . . i personally would stay for now. i know your business i growing and it sounds like more and more people are coming to your place to eat. i would stay put. if things take a turn for the worse at this point financially you don't have as much to lose.

that's just the way i see it. i work at my family business and we make and distribute food products, to be blunt. not going into details on a public forum but you (geoff) are welcome to PM more if youre curious. . .that being said, ive been around the restaurant business all my life and ive seen good ones come and go. they have a good thing going in a little place, all they can think about is how to make more and more money, they move to a newer bigger place, and all of a sudden business slows down and they've invested too much or their bills at their new location are so big they have to shut down the doors. seen it a million times.

so anyway, that's just my opinion. by the sounds of it your business is progressively getting more and more popular. i would sit tight for a little while and try to pad that bank account so when you are ready to move to a new location comfortably, you have money to invest in advertising, and you have a large customer base who would be right behind you. . . but that's just me

 

something to think about...Thank you!

When I designed my menu, my thought was to get a grip on the locals. Keeping prices low and offering items NOT already offered at other local restaurants. It's worked!
And there are a few places that have local musicians jam.

 

well said, and I agree mostly. It's nice having smart people in my world.

If you saw my current kitchen you would laugh! But I have made it work. I could produce more out of a taco truck!

When I moved here, my plan was to open a restaurant with in 2 years. I was here for a year when the current space became available. It was too good to pass up, so I took the risk and opened. It's worked, we have a great customer base, but I feel like I have so much more to offer. I do. I'm paying the bills, but I'd like to pay myself oneday

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