Good location for Texas BBQ restaurant (Chicopee, Holyoke: theatre, shopping center, donate)

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by AandD

I have been watching this thread with keen interest. LOL. I had Sticky Fingers last week. That was decent. I'd just about sell a child for some Salt Lick bar-b-que or a Chicken Fried Steak and mashed taters smothered in white gravy.

Someone call social services. Hahaha. I knew you'd be watching this one after seeing your thread a few months back and reading lukewarm responses on the quality of places. Really though, I think there's a hell of a market for this type of establishment here. Hopefully txbaker can help.

Originally Posted by Hollytree

You might look into the area around the No Name restaurant on the Fish Pier. It's a funky location but I think quite suitable and does attract tourists. You could also get parking (?).
There are a few restaurants out there but since there's a lot of condos in the area they could probably use some more. Texas BBQ would offer some good variety as well.

It's funny you bring this up. I was discussing this with some people the other day and someone mentioned an article listing 24 (24!) restaurants on the block around the World Trade Center with others in the surrounding area. I would have NEVER guessed that many. In fact, my estimate was 5. This area has a lot of restaurants already do to the Convention Center and Hotels (and Condos). It would be worth looking into and it MIGHT be a good investment because there are a TON of developments going in right there on the waterfront... Fan Pier (already under construction), Seaport Square, and a couple close to Anthony's Pier 4 are about to bring in millions (well into the tens of millions close to 100 million) of square feet of mixed-use development to the area. If you can find land there, it may be a good investment because this is really the only open space left in Boston and it's so close to downtown and attractions (Heck, you have the ICA, Convention Center and Children's Museum all within a 5-10 minute walk). I'd look into it, but there are more restaurants here already than one would think.

[christo19]

As some previous posters have noted, Boston itself wouldn't be a bad idea for a good BBQ location. And if your place is really good, people will travel a bit for it no matter where it is.

One other thing, check out the previous post which showed a lot of the local BBQ restaurants. It indicated to me that there were very few places on the south shore (south of Boston)...maybe that area might be of interest...

[DreamworksSKG]

I still like Woburn :-) its a good corporate and residential town (if you opened near the Woburn Mall or off the highway or on route 38 it would be good, we need a good BBQ places in this area. We don't have a decent BBQ place north of Boston within driving distance. I know for sure I would not go as often to your place if it was in Boston than if it was in Woburn- If it was in the WOburn-Wakefield Vicinity I would go more because its easier for me to drive to . You might also look at Stoneham (red Stone Shopping Plaza maybe?) off 128 and maybe Wakefield near the Jordan's Furniture? or downtown ?

hehe Sticky Fingers BBQ actually sounds good for a chain or future chain :-)

lol

[DreamworksSKG]

New England Style BBQ is different from Southern Texas Style BBQ though that's what will make thsi place stand out.

I think you'd draw more customers north of Boston, as the towns are closer together and the towns are larger .
not to mention if you locate along a highway, its easy to get to.

Towns are smaller and more spread out south shore, and while there might be a demand in a few places like a Plymouth or Braintree or Dedham or something I still think your best bet for revenue would be Burlington, Woburn, Wakefield, Stoneham area. along the highway

I think you should consider leasing space from Cummings park, near the new Woburn Courthosue. Or maybe on route 38 just past the rotary. exit from the highway. You'd be close enough to the new courthouse where people could go there on lunch hour or after work, there's other offices in the area as well (Cummings properties, Woburn Mall etc.) Could get people on their lunch break or while out shopping. If you had signs out on 93 and 128 directing people to the Woburn Exit for your restaurant you could do very well. If you eventually want to have a chain you might try to market to truckers, and put some smaller chain ones at truck stops along the Mass pike or something. -
Being on the highway - or close to it you could market yourself to families, office works, and truckers who want a taste of the south far from home :-)
Make sure you make it an old wild wild west saloon theme...
and make it interesting for families and tourits. (maybe have old western movies playing on a wall projector screen on one of the walls)
could have some old wanted posters and other wild wild west decor maybe some old newspaper articles and other things on the tables.-featuring texas outlaws and texas rangers. A old jukebox is a must, by the bar, which should look like the bar of an old saloon. with the doors and everything. Same thing with the entry doors, should be the swinging saloon type. aa big texas flag is needed as well on the wall, and a everything's big in texas them you could play on too, (Maybe in the portion sizes as well) :-)
Make sure you hire friendly southern hospitality attitude type waitors and servers/hosts. Who might wear old fashioned wild wild west clothes for a uniform or somethig to make it look like back in the day. Play on the southern comfort and southern hospitality theme with the staff. Do not hire (Or let people go who have attitudes and such) You need the southern charm and hospitality that they would give back then in the south and still do today.
Of course despite the old fashioned stuff you could still have big plasma HD tv's around for people to watch and an old stage off to the side of the saloon for music nights (country and western music) (folk music ) (southern jazz) etc
depending on the night
You could get a good mix of clientele if you locate in the north shore :-)

[ME Hokie 07]

I'm moving to East Cambridge in a couple months so I suggest there simply so you'll be close to where I'm living, haha. But seriously, if you open ANYWHERE near Boston and you're serving good bbq and sweet tea please send me a message, I will definitely frequent your place. I'm from VA, moved up here two years ago and miss sweet tea and bbq so much! Heck I might just buy a gallon or two of sweet tea from you every time I stop in.

[lorilou]

We're ex-Texans in Franklin and would drive to Taunton in a heartbeat...for the real deal. Good luck!

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

I agree. Metrowest to Central MA would be the best place for it.

I was thinking the same thing. Lowell to Fitchburg and west would be where it fits in altho people close to Boston like good bbq too Id think.

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by ME Hokie 07

I'm moving to East Cambridge in a couple months so I suggest there simply so you'll be close to where I'm living, haha. But seriously, if you open ANYWHERE near Boston and you're serving good bbq and sweet tea please send me a message, I will definitely frequent your place. I'm from VA, moved up here two years ago and miss sweet tea and bbq so much! Heck I might just buy a gallon or two of sweet tea from you every time I stop in.

Me also TxBaker. Send me a message along wth this guy when you do open a location up.

[txbaker27]

Sorry computer has been down for a while, thank you all for the great information. I will take all the input and def. put into our idea. I will of course let you all know what happens

[Coolhand68]

I like Blue Ribbon in Arlington on Mass Ave.