[DougB]

...

[johndamelio]

Get ready for the "singing servers".

[George Stella]

I miss Havana and The Villages--for sure!

[buzzy]

Thanks, George

[damily]

[I] RECENTLY received an email with a copy of a recent State inspection of Havana attached. Repeated, repeated voilations for filth, fire hazards and cock roaches, cock roaches and more cockroaches. Stated they were all repeat offenses. We wont eat there any longer - their food, and service is severely lacking compared to other restaurants.

[DavidHoe]

Okay folks...recently a few folks have posted facts on here about a few things related to Havana...and for the most part they know not of what they speak, so please let me enlighten you.

I am the David Hoefer that a few people have mentioned in recent posts in regards to Havana. Yes, I was the original Assistant General Manager when the restaurant first opened. Yes, I am a lifelong friend of Kris Brown the owner at Havana. Other than that, and the information shown in regards to my address and previous corporation information, the truth seems to take a dubious bend. The reason my previous corporations address and information is shown associated with Havana is that my previous company owned and operated a food truck/trailer and I used Havana as the central location/commisary where the state inspectors could view the trailer. The state requires food trucks/trailers to have a "commissary" for grease disposal, etc, hence why my trailer was there. Nothing more, nothing less. I currently have, have never had, and have no intent to go into any licensing or lease within The Villages or at Havana. Please know that all food trucks/trailers have the same requirements and use a variety of restaurants for that purpose.

I will not get in to any mud slinging about the situation up there. One post by "someone in the know" stated that Kris fired me and that is 110% FALSE!! I chose to leave for my own reasons and nothing more. I know that Kris is a fine restarateur, and I would be more than happy to enter into a restaurant partnership with him at anytime if I was lucky enough to be extended that opportunity.

Running a restaurant is a very tough business. Most restaurants do not last a year. Kris has kept Havana up and running through incredibly dire economic times for 5 years now. Quite an achievement. Despite multiple attempts by multiple people with personal vendettas to make Havana fail, it's doors will open again today.

Restaurants average a yearly turnover rate of 44% or thereabouts. So when a few of you say, all the owner is doing is bringing in new managers, that is true of most restaurants. Hopefully you find the right chemistry between guests, staff and management. The few that keep managers and staff for any real length of time are few and far between.

One thing I find ironically funny is that in my many years in the hospitality industry, I have heard these words often from guests..."I have never worked a day in a restaurant, but let me tell you how to fix yours". Did anyone ever tell you that about your business? Probably not! Words to chew on.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by DavidHoe

Okay folks...recently a few folks have posted facts on here about a few things related to Havana...and for the most part they know not of what they speak, so please let me enlighten you.

I am the David Hoefer that a few people have mentioned in recent posts in regards to Havana. Yes, I was the original Assistant General Manager when the restaurant first opened. Yes, I am a lifelong friend of Kris Brown the owner at Havana. Other than that, and the information shown in regards to my address and previous corporation information, the truth seems to take a dubious bend. The reason my previous corporations address and information is shown associated with Havana is that my previous company owned and operated a food truck/trailer and I used Havana as the central location/commisary where the state inspectors could view the trailer. The state requires food trucks/trailers to have a "commissary" for grease disposal, etc, hence why my trailer was there. Nothing more, nothing less. I currently have, have never had, and have no intent to go into any licensing or lease within The Villages or at Havana. Please know that all food trucks/trailers have the same requirements and use a variety of restaurants for that purpose.

I will not get in to any mud slinging about the situation up there. One post by "someone in the know" stated that Kris fired me and that is 110% FALSE!! I chose to leave for my own reasons and nothing more. I know that Kris is a fine restarateur, and I would be more than happy to enter into a restaurant partnership with him at anytime if I was lucky enough to be extended that opportunity.

Running a restaurant is a very tough business. Most restaurants do not last a year. Kris has kept Havana up and running through incredibly dire economic times for 5 years now. Quite an achievement. Despite multiple attempts by multiple people with personal vendettas to make Havana fail, it's doors will open again today.

Restaurants average a yearly turnover rate of 44% or thereabouts. So when a few of you say, all the owner is doing is bringing in new managers, that is true of most restaurants. Hopefully you find the right chemistry between guests, staff and management. The few that keep managers and staff for any real length of time are few and far between.

One thing I find ironically funny is that in my many years in the hospitality industry, I have heard these words often from guests..."I have never worked a day in a restaurant, but let me tell you how to fix yours". Did anyone ever tell you that about your business? Probably not! Words to chew on.

[skip0358]

The plot thickens. Maybe, just maybe ALL of us who have complained about Havana should give them another try. I understand from someone who works there things have changed and for the better. Maybe he deserves another chance to see IF it's true. Game on, whose up to the challenge? Try it and report back. JMO

[Bonny]

Yep, we go there. Hubby works there quite a bit helping to get everything all ship shape.

[gomoho]

Running a restaurant is a very tough business. Most restaurants do not last a year. Kris has kept Havana up and running through incredibly dire economic times for 5 years now. Quite an achievement. Despite multiple attempts by multiple people with personal vendettas to make Havana fail, it's doors will open again today.


I don't believe The Villages experienced the hard economic times for 5 years that you speak of - remember the lines this winter to get into restuarants???

[DougB]

[Russ_Boston]

Dire times for 5 years in TV? Don't think so.

Went to Evans last night and the outside patio was almost full and the inside seating was about 50%. Not bad for the slowest night of the week in one of the slowest times of the year in TV. It's about service and quality (and cleanliness)

But I'll give Havana another try - just not anytime soon.

[ilovetv]

"Running a restaurant is a very tough business. Most restaurants do not last a year. Kris has kept Havana up and running through incredibly dire economic times for 5 years now. Quite an achievement. Despite multiple attempts by multiple people with personal vendettas to make Havana fail, it's doors will open again today."

"Incredibly dire economic times for 5 years now".....in The Villages?????

Anybody with eyes can see that the market here in TV has been almost immune to the slump the rest of the nation has been in. Any person running restaurants and food service should know the facts contained in The Villages Commercial Property website linked below.

Anyone doing business here should know a couple of key facts about the "economic times" of the people here who would LIKE to frequent Havana CC, but have been served food literally unfit for a dog within the same week in which we had really good food and decent service!

If anybody has caused dire economic straits at Havana, it's been the management itself, that has allowed this sloppy customer service to continue for so long.

Take a look at the "incredibly dire economics" of the customers of Havana CC and all its competitor clubs here:





The excuse of "incredibly dire economic times" in TV and right around Havana is incredibly lame. For one thing, it is surrounded by hundreds of homes that cost over $200,000 with many being over $500,000, and they're filled with people who have money who do not want to cook and they have disposable income to go out to dine 4-5 times a week, at least!

The lameness of this claim explains EVERYTHING about why Havana has been dying for 5 years!

And by the way, I have worked in restaurants and know it's no easy job, but that's why you have to look for staff with brains that look at facts and listen to the customer!

And hire staff that have the brains and ambition to go over to Walgreens in 2 minutes flat and buy some 12-packs of BEER instead of telling golfers coming in from 18 holes in 90 degree heat that "we're out of beer"!!

[Russ_Boston]

Great rant Love it!

Especially the run over to Walgreens (or Publix for that matter) idea. Idiotic to say you are out of something so basic. Maybe no draft beer (bad pumps etc.) but you could at least say "But we do have some nice ice cold cans and bottles!"

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

"Incredibly dire economic times for 5 years now".....in The Villages?????

Anybody with eyes can see that the market here in TV has been almost immune to the slump the rest of the nation has been in. Any person running restaurants and food service should know the facts contained in The Villages Commercial Property website linked below.

Anyone doing business here should know a couple of key facts about the "economic times" of the people here who would LIKE to frequent Havana CC, but have been served food literally unfit for a dog within the same week in which we had really good food and decent service!

If anybody has caused dire economic straits at Havana, it's been the management itself, that has allowed this sloppy customer service to continue for so long.

Take a look at the "incredibly dire economics" of the customers of Havana CC and all its competitor clubs here:



Attachment 16677

The excuse of "incredibly dire economic times" in TV and right around Havana is incredibly lame. For one thing, it is surrounded by hundreds of homes that cost over $200,000 with many being over $500,000, and they're filled with people who have money who do not want to cook and they have disposable income to go out to dine 4-5 times a week, at least!

The lameness of this claim explains EVERYTHING about why Havana has been dying for 5 years!

And by the way, I have worked in restaurants and know it's no easy job, but that's why you have to look for staff with brains that look at facts and listen to the customer!

And hire staff that have the brains and ambition to go over to Walgreens in 2 minutes flat and buy some 12-packs of BEER instead of telling golfers coming in from 18 holes in 90 degree heat that "we're out of beer"!!

Well thanks for nothing!

Before reading the info in the charts you put up, I thought I was doing great. Sigh!!! Anyone know who is hiring in The Villages.


Only kidding. Nice information. I did think the average income would be less here since so many complain about the price of beer