Restaurant Death watch part deux

Went and peeked in the windows today. They've been closed for a few weeks due to a "death in the family". They've also been served an eviction notice from the leaseholders and have bounced payroll checks. It's possible that there is now an arrest warrent out for the owner. Not a good businessman.

It's a great building. I meant to bring the camera, oops. Maybe this will help.



We could see two small dining rooms that looked perfect, one with a fireplace. There's also a small ballroom on the righthand side, behind those trees, but it's been painted a garish pink and has Mexican decor. I think the kitchen is pretty small, not good. And there's a bar somewhere, but we couldn't see it. Apparently there is also a bowling alley downstairs. The location is great. Half a block off Main St., and just around the corner from a courthouse and other county buildings. It's a little further to the university, just over a mile.

It's such a big building that the lease is probably going to be very high, but we're wondering if we'd be able to live upstairs for a few years until it was profitable. And we're curious about how much of the fixtures and furnishings would remain. Dan's already been e-mailing the person who handles the lease (friend of the family, of course!)

The big problem of course is that we have no money. None. Nada. If this were any other business, our ideas and skills might be enough to get funding. But restaurants are considered such a risk that it's hard. It's a slow slog to get a return on the investment, not a sudden windfall. We've got to start gathering hard data to see just how much we'd need for the first year.

I want this place. I don't think this is just us getting caught up in the romance of it. I KNOW it's not romantic, the reason the last two owners flamed out was because they got divorced. It just seems right. Now that we're back here, it feels like home. We want to stay.