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I would totally dig an Outback in Blakeney. The nearest one is too far away. I like their coconut shrimp and love doing carry out from there when my husband is out of town and I am on my own.
I would totally dig an Outback in Blakeney. The nearest one is too far away. I like their coconut shrimp and love doing carry out from there when my husband is out of town and I am on my own.
Or a Baja Fresh!
I caught myself saying the same thing. God, how spoiled have we become...we actually have to drive an extra 10 minutes to Pineville.
Here's an up-to-date list of tennants signed for Blakeny Crossing: Blakeney Crossing (http://www.crosland.com/retail/properties/blakeney_crossing/ - broken link)
Sorry, but I must say, Monty's and Ballantyne Bean and Bakery have failed in that location b/c no one knew they were there. Ballantyne jewelers, and a few other places have closed up in there. Location is the most important consideration when planning any business and I really don't think that location is going to do it. Blakeney is a much better choice but I would still think about it and then rethink it again in this economy. Unless you have a good savings b/f you open to use for advertising, slow periods, etc., you need to think twice.
The second most important consider is a financial back up for 3 to 5 years. Once you commit to opening, regardless of whether you succeed or not, you will be personally responsible for the lease and usually restoring the place back to the original space, meaning you have to remove the equipment and repair anything (like the roof where the hood was) you may have damaged or changed which can be very costly. Most landlords require it. Equipment is like a car, the minute you use it, it depreciates. Besides foodservice is a very hard business with probably a 50% success rate. Charlotte is very competitive. Why would you want to complicate your life? Unless you grew up in a family where foodservice was the way of life? Twelve to fourteen hour days. When you shut the door, you're not done for the day. There's ordering, sheduling, cleaning what undependable employees didn't. I'm not trying to be a downer but these are questions you need to ask yourself. IMHO
I have to say it b/c I am watching a friend go through this and it can be disaster and there is no turning back if you make a mistake.
Very good informational post. One of the knocks against Charlotte in the eyes of many transplants is the fact that we lack many mom-and-pop restaurants and tend to cater to well known national chains. Well, truth is, national chains are national chains for a reason, and mom-and-pops are mom-and-pops for a reason; it's called, funding, success and business IQ. It's not the 1950's anymore. The restaurant business profit is marginal at best, especially for understaffed, underfunded attempts that represent most independent ventures. The same could really be said for any retail opportunity. So, while others see blandness when a new chain restaurant is opened, I see security and staying power. A new Outback today, will more than likely be a 1 year old Outback next year. A new Rusty's Steak House (or whatever) will more than likely be on it's third tennant this time next year.
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