What market is underserved in San Diego (El Cajon: low income, transplants)

[nyny2sdca]

My wife and I are contemplating a move to SD. If I can't find a job as a Senior IT project manager (I have 15 years' experience), then I may start a business.

If I start a business or purchase an existing business, it will NOT be in IT. Instead, I will take a decidedly LOW-TECH route...

It could be a coffee shoppe or a bowling alley or a dry cleaner or a bakery or... whatever. You get the point: low tech. No HTML. No status meetings.

So, my question is: Which markets are under-served in SD? Where is there a business opportunity? Which types of businesses are not done right, or not done at all?

Thanks

[kettlepot]

Here's an opportunity: A neighborhood coffee shop or diner in the neighborhood of Talmadge. Talmadge is located between Fairmont and Collwood north of El Cajon Boulevard. Population is between 8,000 and 9,000. Any establishment should be off of the boulevard, not on it, probably on the 4400 block of Euclid Avenue.

There are no neighborhood dining establishments in Talmadge. Those establishments that do exist are on El Cajon Boulevard which is a high traffic volume, high noise, high police presence, anti-pedestrian thoroughfare. Also, the establishments on the boulevard cater to low income City Heights not middle income Talmadge. Any business of the type I am describing would have a monopoly position within the neighborhood.

[coaster12]

San Diego has to be one of worst possible places you could pick. People in sd have less to spend than almost anywhere elese in the contry. Not to mention it doesn't appear to be easy to get permits etc. Your chances of taxes going up for both you and business is virtually 100%..

[Charles]

Originally Posted by nyny2sdca

I will take a decidedly LOW-TECH route...

With a lower barrier to entry, you'd be competing with a larger population. Unless you have big capital to risk, then you're competing with every Tom, Dick, and Harry that want's to start a business.

[nyny2sdca]

So which is it? Is there a lower barrier to entry (e.g., every Tome, Dick, and Harry) or a higher barrier to entry (e.g., escalating taxes and permit challenges)? I am guessing that starting a business is no more difficult in SD than NYC.

Coaster12, why is San Diego is one of the "worst possible places" I could pick? Do you have a cautionary tale to tell? I'm not afraid to fail. Rather, I'm afraid never to have tried. Fifty years from now, I don't want to be wondering what would have happened if I'd moved to San Diego.

By the way, I would come with maybe $500K to invest. $200K would go into the business. $200K would be for rent, cars, and living expenses for a while. The remaining $100K would be for emergencies or to escape if necessary.

[coaster12]

Well good luck. I've been around entrprenuers for a long time, and SD tries to do a good job. The problem though isn't people it's fundamentals. Do your homework, hell just read the threads of late..

[cruitr]

nyny2sdca: I'd buy a business in SD rather than start from scratch. There are lots of small biz for sale around town. Many failed/marginal businesses are selling well below basic buildout costs.

Here are two local biz brokers with good reputations:
Business for Sale San Diego Buying Selling Businesses VR Business Brokers Valuation
First Choice Business Brokers

If you do a startup, SCORE is a good place to get started:
https://www.score-sandiego.org/index.asp
Most SCORE classes are good and the costs are minimal.

[nyny2sdca]

Great links. Very handy. Thank you, cruitr.

[sdlife619]

A nice quality diner with style, good food, and character would be great. San Diego doesn't have great sit down breakfast places. I'm sure NY is loaded with them, but we need some here badly!

Just to let you know, running any business is tough, especially a restaurant where you work practically everyday, unless you hire a manager to free up your time, but that cost money and can cost you customers if something goes wrong that's if you have a weak manager.

You have to love owning and operating a business, or else it will fail, so if you have the passion and drive then I would give it a shot. And yes starting your own business from the ground up is hard and takes loads of cash, buying one that is already successful is a major plus, but you don't get the same satisfaction like you do when you create one from scratch.

[sav858]

I got an idea. How about a "The Cheese Steak Shop" franchise? These are very popular in Northern CA and are the best cheese steaks I've had by far, but I've never been to Philly of course. My friend's dad who was born and raised in Philly said they are the best he's had outside Philly too. And with all the Northern CA transplants here people would instantly recognize it. Hopefully all the east coast people would like it too b/c it is damn good and I have yet to find anything that comes even close in SD. A thread a while ago was asking about where to get good cheese steaks here. Me and a friend who grew up in the Bay Area lives down here talk about how we wish someone would open one up down here. All the main ingredients are shipped from the east coast so it is pretty damn good imo. I think if you opened one up in PB it would do well, especially if it stayed open late on Fri and Sat.

Cheese Steak Shop, Original Philly Style Cheesesteak Franchise