Potential move to Bloomington (Madison, Hope: find a job, college, places to live)

[kyle19125]

I'm a late 40-something gay WM apparently having my mid-life crisis and considering a move to Bloomington from my very urban, very different existence on the East Coast. I'm a Retail Store Manager (have been for several years) and the prior 15 years a Waiter/Bartender and Restaurant Manager.

Everything I've heard about Bloomington is pretty much what I'm after...a somewhat cosmopolitan/laidback/relatively inexpensive college town. I've heard how it's colder, quieter (yippee) and relatively isolated in terms of proximity to major cities. I have two concerns that are unanswerable thus far through research.

First is whether or not I'll be able to find a job there. With the state of the current economy aside, what are the job prospects for someone looking for a
job as a waiter/bartender with years of fine dining experience?

Secondly, I'm entertaining the thought of opening a small business (food oriented) once established and wonder what is the current state of the gourmet food-to-go scene in town.

Thanks...I know it's a lot to process but would appreciate any firsthand feedback.

[Future Trooper]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I'm a late 40-something gay WM apparently having my mid-life crisis and considering a move to Bloomington from my very urban, very different existence on the East Coast. I'm a Retail Store Manager (have been for several years) and the prior 15 years a Waiter/Bartender and Restaurant Manager.

Everything I've heard about Bloomington is pretty much what I'm after...a somewhat cosmopolitan/laidback/relatively inexpensive college town. I've heard how it's colder, quieter (yippee) and relatively isolated in terms of proximity to major cities. I have two concerns that are unanswerable thus far through research.

First is whether or not I'll be able to find a job there. With the state of the current economy aside, what are the job prospects for someone looking for a
job as a waiter/bartender with years of fine dining experience?

Secondly, I'm entertaining the thought of opening a small business (food oriented) once established and wonder what is the current state of the gourmet food-to-go scene in town.

Thanks...I know it's a lot to process but would appreciate any firsthand feedback.

I would think you wouldnt have much of a problem finding a job. It's a big college town full of collegiates who are always spending money. A waiter/bartender position you will definetly find something

I dont think the gourmet to go scene is really good. Although if a few very bright people like you opened such place I am sure you would make a killer fortune!!

[kyle19125]

Thanks for the feedback and the welcome! I hope to whittle down my options and do a roadtrip in early summer. I'm considering Champaign, IL...Iowa City, IA...and Fayetteville, AR as well. Bloomington was the first reply I had from any of the posts so that might be a good sign! Hope to hear more about the town, the people and a bit about good places to live. Someplace walkable, near downtown and not overrun with undergrads if that's an option..

[Future Trooper]

your welcome! Bloomington is a nice city. Bloomington is like a small town trapped inside a big town. I'll find some websites for Bloomington for you tomorrow. I have been up for to long today.

[Future Trooper]

Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce | Home

--Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Bloomington Indiana Tourism Center : Meeting Planners and Convention Information

--Statistics,events,tourist activities,entertainment etc.. for Bloomington

Welcome to the City of Bloomington IN Website

webpage for the City of Bloomington


I hope these websites will be of assistance to you!!


Hopefully you will relocate to Bloomington!!

[kyle19125]

Thanks! I'll get busy researching these...hope we can chat soon.

[plaidmom]

Since you are a "foodie" you may also be interested in these sites:

Welcome to FARM bloomington - Real Food in Bloomington Indiana USA

Restaurant Tallent - Home

Good luck

[gimme it]

We have been to Bloomington several times now and absolutely love it. It's extremely liveable and has the right balance of peacefulness and activity. The restaurants that we ate at were very good. We would move there in a minute if jobs were not an issue right now.

[mbrindle]

One of the big things Bloomington is known for is its mix of restaurants. The people in Bloomington are really quite diverse and open-minded (thanks to the IU crowd) and restaurants that have an interesting twist seems to do really well. FARMbloomington opened right before we moved away and you would not believe the reception it got. The one really bad thing is it's a college town - the service industry suffers when the students leave for the summer and booms the minute they return.

[domergurl]

I think you'll LOVE Bloomington. The only other area I'd suggest you look into is Madison Wisconsin.

You should have a visit to Bloomington once campus empties out, then you'll get a feel for what the down time is. But you can be assured that from August to May, depending on where you work, you'll be busy as heck.

Here's another site you may want to look at:

http://www.visitbloomington.com/stat...34&sectionID=1