OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

I think I've come down finally. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. We're (almost definitely) going to get the restaurant. I think if we'd gone in last year it would be a shoe-in, but they're feeling burned after renting to a guy who was only in business for 10 days before skipping town with bad checks and arrest warrants in his wake. It's people like that who make it hard for real restaurateurs to get funding. Anyway.....

The rent is going to be on very easy terms, and we basically get to keep (or not keep) every bit of furniture, plateware and cooking equipment that is already there. Huuuuuuge savings for our start-up costs if we don't have to replace things. I'll have to take the camera next time, but I'll walk you through.

To the right of the main door are two small dining areas that will be our lounge. They're separated from the bar by pocket sliding doors and one of them has a fireplace. Lots of windows everywhere, wood floors, gorgeous tin ceilings. The bar is a beautiful long mahogany piece with an honest to god copper top. Never seen such a thing before. Most of the tables are heavy with dark wood, the chairs have black leather cushions, with brass tacks.

To the left is a large dining room that has been used for functions. Occupancy Max is 300. Right now there is a raised stage that's carpeted, I'd like to pull that up, but I may change my mind. More gigantic windows, 6 feet maybe? This will usually be the main dining room, but can be used for functions with the restaurant shifted to the lounge for the night.

The kitchen is not too big, but Dan says it's enough. And there's a gigantic server station that could be used as a prep area too. Okay, that's the ground floor.

The tour continues upstairs with the billiard room. I swear, I just about fainted when I saw it. Floor to ceiling wood paneling, wood floors, tin ceiling and a little area in the back that will have a wet bar (currently MIA). There are another three rooms in various stages of repair. One will be an office for me and Ryan(have I told you about Ryan yet?) I'm not sure about the other two, one may be set up as a sitting room for people who want a break from events in the billiard room.
There's a third floor too, and attic, which are not fit for public consumption.

The basement has the remains of a 4 lane bowling alley, which is now just a land of broken furniture and banquet tables. One of the previous owners wanted to set up a second kitchen for baking down there, and that may be do-able sometime.

Bathrooms are an issue though. I, like DG, am a stickler for a well-maintained restaurant bathroom. The main floor has a women's room and a co-ed/handicapped room. But wherefore is the men's room? Our tourguide said it was the one in the basement, but we'd prefer that for employees only. It's also hell and gone from people at the bar. There's one on the second floor, but it's outfitted as a residential bath, with a shower, clawfoot tub and bidet. Let me repeat that, a bidet. WTF?

We have to do a bit of painting. They have some gawd-awful fake windows looking onto a seascape in the bar. Blech. And there are bits of chili peppers here and there. But other than that, we can really open very quickly. I think we'll push to be open in time for May graduations, then take care of other issues (like the bathrooms) in the summer when it's slower. And try to get the catering business ramped up in time to do Christmas parties.

Brain exploding. Bye-Bye