I need a some help on restraunts......

[JESTER]

I have decided that I am going to open a restraunt. It will be a partnership type thing with my dear sweet mom. She use to run cafetrias and restraunts for people back in the day.

But what I need a little help with is that I am thinking of getting a franchise. I am looking for something they dont have around here (North Carolina). Maybe something you guys up north or out west have. If I had ever heard of a Fire House Subs before we got one, I would have held a banker hostage to get a franchise. Best sub I've ever ate.

Anyway, what kind of kick butt franchise restraunts do you guys have in your area. Help me out here. This job I'm doing is driving me nuts. And I was crazy before I got here, if I go any futher crazy, there may be no hope for me at all.

Thanks in advance.

[Nathan]

Hooya's! It's a build your own burrito place, they go over GREAT with people, something for everyone Same goes for Freebirds which is the same principle, and Chipotle.

[SmithSR]

You know, every time I drive by Krispy Kreme there's a line out the door and starting to wrap around the building....

[JESTER]

Nathan I will have to check into those. Thanks.

Smith, If we didn't have one that would be on the top of my list.

Funny story: About a year and a half ago we had two of our deputys wreck in front of the Krispy Kreme. One ran into the back of the other and pushed him into the car in front of him. The news paper had to aim the shot on the front page just right to get both patrol cars and the store sign in there.

Somebody said they must have been watching to see if the "hot" sign was on. Both good deputies. At least they could take a joke.

[Mr1der]

make fast food place with variety, fish, chicken, massive burgers and mexican food.

and hot dogs.

price it good, and they will come. Oh, it can't hurt if it tastes good.

[Onizuka]

My mom ran a sandwich shop for years, and my nextdoor neighbors just opened up a chain called MESA FRESH. Quality control is essential, as well as a nice looking shop. My area has about 1 restaurant per 3 people, so its been easy for me to figure out what makes or breaks a place. For example, this one shop called Appetites Delight was like THE sub and sandwitch place to go to at the gateway shoping center for YEARS, always pretty pricy, but taste was awsome, and every sandwitch was big enough to make your stomach rip open. BUT, they ruined it all earlier this year by reducing the amount of meat in their sandwitches without lowering the price to save money. Raising prices is ok, but getting rid of what makes your shop famous is a deathwish.

Good luck man, I have lots of fun memories serving up sandwiches :thumbup

[MaineExport]

I've been involved with EVERY aspect of restaurant work EXCEPT for ownership. But all the owners and/or franchisees I've worked for had one universal axe to grind. Restaurant ownership becomes your ENTIRE life if you want to be a success. I'm sure you and your mom already know that... just thought I'd throw it out there anyway.

Anyway... the handful of franchise operations I've had experience with were rather annoying from the management end of things. They certainly have their benefits, but from my perspective... I know what works, I'm in the building every day... I run it... I know what's best. So, I don't want to answer to a corporate suit looking to maximize HIS bottom line. Ownership and control are worth more than any benefit a franchise will provide.

If it were my time and money, I'd start from scratch and NOT go the franchise route. If you really want a franchise, I have heard that Subway (Doctors' Inc>) is a reasonably good company. The start up costs are low and franchise fees are below industry standards. But, they are among the most active in terms of having their hands firmly lodged in your day to day operations.

I've worked for Uno's Restaurants LLC., IHOP DAL Inc., Hospitality Well Done! Inc., Sysco Inc. and Sodexho.... all of which were franchise operations or food service management companies. None of them were terrible, but none of them were great either.

[Mr1der]

wise man say don't pay to wear another man's shirt, he say buy your own shirt!

[MaineExport]

Amen to that bortha!

[Nathan]

I thought of another one for ya, a small girly restaraunt we have called "Celebrity Bakery" its mostly a soup and sandwich place. My girlfriend used to work there and the food is really good, really easy to prepare, and sells for a relatively high price. Its all pink and frilly and the chicks go ape **** over it

[MainEvent212]

yuppies kill for "baja fresh" in the dc area...chipotle is good too...hmm...subway used to be the spot, but not anymore...uh, what about like chilis? those are sweet lol...matsutake? japanese food is popular and delicious...

[Rex]

Chipotle from there site

We own and operate nearly all of our restaurants today and like it that way. We have franchised individual restaurants in the past and do not license markets for development. We have not sold licensing rights to anyone, anywhere in the world. Additionally we are not currently adding franchise candidates and are not awarding franchises. We are also not negotiating any growth outside the United States, and there are no plans yet to explore international markets. Yes this may all change someday. If it does, it will appear on our website. In the meantime, informational or mailing lists regarding franchising do not exist. If you desire to speak to someone about real estate, then please talk to our real estate people on the previous page. If you wish to work for us, then check out our WORK section. If you wish to say anything else to us, then please go to our SPEAK page. Thanks for your interest!Lisa CrosbyDirector of Franchising[email protected]

[JESTER]

A friend of mine from up nawth mentioned Angel's Hotdogs. Any of you ever eat at one of these?

And keep the ideals coming. I aprreciate all the suggestions.

We actually don't have a chilis here, amazingly. Not sure why, we have about every other type place like that. Japanese would be okay, if I had done it about two or three years ago. Belive it or not, we have them ever few miles apart. Every fast food joint that went under now has a japanese restraunt in it. But they all seem to be making money.

I haven't heard of a few of these places and will deffinetly be checking them out. That's what I'm after. Somethig different from the stuff we have. Heck if nothign more than to steal ideals from estabilished restraunts if we decide to go solo.

I am not comitted to a franchise. Just doing the research right now. I am coming up we ideals and directions to go, and then running them past my mom who is the one that knows how to run things. When I do finally get this endeaver underway, I will be taking my lead from her.

Thanks

[Mr1der]

the best way to score is by loading the bases.

[MaineExport]

He who goes to bed with itchy butt... wake up with smelly finger.

[szh]

Quizno's.

I tried one for the first time today and was impressed. Better subs than more other places.

Z

[MainEvent212]

blah quiznos sucks!

one GREAT place, if you're in a business area, would be "potbellys" like quiznos cept 100 times better...i odnno if they're franchise or not...but if you're ever in arlington (saying it's not franchise) go to ballston and find potbellys..it's amazing

[MaineExport]

Wings N' ThingsLone StarLong HornMacaroni Grill'99Ground RoundWeathervaneBugaboo CreekTGI Friday'sO' Charley'sUno'sD'Angelo'sOlive GardenApplebee'sRuby Tuesday's

I dunno... there's a million different franchise restaurants out there... they all suck in my humble opinion... but then again I'm biased!

[szh]

blah quiznos sucks!

one GREAT place, if you're in a business area, would be "potbellys" like quiznos cept 100 times better...i odnno if they're franchise or not...but if you're ever in arlington (saying it's not franchise) go to ballston and find potbellys..it's amazing

I have never tried "potbellys", so I cannot gauge your comments, but I found Quizno's better than Subway and Togo's for sure. The toasted wheat bread was the difference, in my opinion!

My point being that people expect a certain standard (whatever high or low that is) from a franchised name brand, and the traffic (i.e., customers) are easier to generate and sooner. Means you start making money and paying your bills/loans/bank/lease more quickly.

When I have travelled overseas in places where I did not know what to eat, I can assure you that walking into a McDonalds (poor as I know it to be) at least guaranteed a certain "known" quantity and quality. That is the benefit of a franchise over a "roll your own" approach.

Z

Trivia question: where is the LARGEST McDonalds in the world (at least what I have personally seen) ... from the perspective of most cash registers and number of seats? The answer may surprise you!

[slw240sx]

restraunts will consume and kill you..... i know i manage one and thats all i do , 15+ hrs a day 5days if im lucky 2pm till 5-6am every day. alright money , but not good enough, especially when you have no time to spend it or play with your toys . im looking to open my own in the next few years i plan on working 7days a week as many hours as humanly possible for the first few years then franchise it or sell it and never have to "work" again. either that or become a decently wealthy homeless person.