Although the din of Auld Lang Syne has faded, we can still hear ZuZu saying, “Teacher says, every time a bell rings another restaurant closes” … something like that. As we have recently learned (and continue to see), pandemics are hell on restaurants. When a business sells a product that depends on social gathering through […]
So, You Think You Know How to Run a Restaurant? Read More »
Opening a restaurant should be a passion, not just a business venture you hope will make you money. The best kind of business to invest in is one you truly believe in, and that matches your personality and interests. For those with a passion for food and dining, a restaurant can be a very satisfying
Why You Should Invest In A Restaurant Read More »
As more hospitality businesses continue to reopen and grow during the COVID life environment, we are all trying to figure out how to hire and retain staff. This is a great time for owners to review some of the aspects of their business to make sure they are set up for growth and have the
How to Successfully Hire and Retain Staff Read More »
It’s the end of the 2020 Summer and COVID-19 is still running wild. Elections are on the horizon and, regardless of your political bent, moving left or right carries downsides that don’t quite feel great for the country as a whole. The only constant is uncertainty and restaurants continue to suffer mercilessly with no end in sight until a vaccine is imminent (no easy or automatic task) or herd immunity runs its course. So why on earth would it be a great time to START a restaurant?
Opening A New Restaurant…NOW?!? Read More »
By January 2020 the restaurant business was getting crowded and hyper-competitive. Since about 2009, on the heels of the worst recession in most people’s memory, restaurants around the country struggled and failed. Panera Bread, Chili’s, Cheesecake Factory, Seasons 52, and Red Lobster were suspiciously still standing while higher quality mom-n-pop concepts were crushed to dust by the downturn. The sub-prime mortgage business disgusted the public.
Can You Afford Consulting? Read More »
As states begin to allow businesses to reopen, most in 3 phases of lessening restrictions, all restaurant owners are scrambling to decide what to do. Questions like “can I afford to reopen my dining room with only 10% capacity”, “when will we go to phase 2 and phase 3”, “is there a possibility that I
How to Reopen Your Restaurant – Safely and Profitably Read More »
In the last few weeks, I have had some very difficult conversations with a lot of restaurant owners that I consider not only clients but friends. I’ve listened to them as they have made hard decisions to close one or all of their locations, worried about their employees while understanding that they could not financially
What Do We Do Now? Creating a PLAN to Reopen Read More »
The holiday hubbub is settling down as Part-Time workers head back to school and holiday parties are in the rearview. Hopefully, your restaurant has fared well and all of your planning to deliver record-setting performance has paid off. But now what? Quarter 1 is notoriously abysmal and there is often a bit of a hangover
Restaurant Resolutions in 2020 Read More »
You may feel all alone in an empty dining room but take comfort in the fact that almost every restaurant suffers the September Slump. For the most part no matter how much you promote your business or how big a discount you offer, it really doesn’t drive people through the doors. Last minute vacations, back
7 Restaurateur “Must Do’s” for September Read More »
A few weeks ago, my wife and I ate San Francisco. A recurring line item on our checks was “EE Benefits Surcharge” or “SF Mandates” charge. My first reaction was, “hey… why do I have to pay for employee benefits…isn’t that the restaurant’s problem?” It got me thinking about the whole idea of cherry-picking line
Restaurant Surcharges – Health Insurance vs. Tips Read More »
