[Muncle]

I noticed today that Juan's Mexicali in Colony Plaza has signs in the window stating that they are "closed for the summer." Considering the smallish crowds the place was attracting before the Birds left, I hope it's only for the summer.

Mentioned it before, but I think a lot of joints would be better off closing during the off season, at least for part of it. TV can support a lot of dining facilities in Jan, Feb, and Mar, but even the best ones go begging in Jun, Jul, and Aug. There would have go be some definite lease modifications, but if the landlord doesn't do that, he's gonna have a lot more empty bldgs, and that's likely true for stores as well as restaurants.

[renielarson]

Muncle

I don't think Juan's is closing due to the summer slow down.

Their food was absolutely horrible.

My bet is that they won't reopen.

If they do, I hope they change not only their menu but the way they cook and present their food.

[Muncle]

I also had doubts about whether the place was closing to the summer or for good. That's why I """"" it. I didn't care for it, but I hope it reopens regardless. Evidently some people liked it.

The bigger point is that this place cannot support all the restaurants we have now during the summer months. Feb they're packed. Aug they're empty. I don't want to see decent restaurants close because they cannot survive the summers.

[renielarson]

The point is...

If it is a decent restaurant it will survive...if plans were in place regarding profits from seasonal traffic

And...when making their initial business plan, consideration to seasonal traffic should have been considered.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Muncle

There would have to be some definite lease modifications, but if the landlord doesn't do that, he's gonna have a lot more empty bldgs, and that's likely true for stores as well as restaurants.

Munc,

I picked up a little piece of information that, if it is true, seems pretty unfortunate for those small business owners who are leasing their square footage from a landlord and trying to make a profit to keep the doors open.

There was a little coffee shop that belonged to a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend. The rent was high and headed higher. The coffee lady asked if the landlord could work with her on the rent by allowing her to cut down her square footage. She was even willing to put up her own walls.

And before the villain tied her to the railroad tracks, he said, "I can do better with the tax write off on empty space than I can do on rent reductions."

So anyway, Munc, I see your theory (and I like it a lot) but I have to raise you a little story. And even though alllll my little stories are true. I really hope this one is not. But the little coffee shop is no more.

Boomer

[Muncle]

Boomer,
Interesting story but it begs the question, who is the villain? Yes, landlords can get greedy, especially for property that is growing in popularity. You move into a new or struggling property and build a nice business. Suddenly the property is more attractive, so the landlord raises the rent. Yes, you could have gotten a 10 year lease with a 10 year option, but what small business can afford to think beyond the next couple months. Therefore, the landlord is the ogre.

But wait, your friend's friend's friend's friend's friend's friend's landlord says that the tax laws make it more beneficial to have an empty store than reduce the rent. Suddenly, the ogres just might be your friendly neighborhood political hacks. Maybe these tax laws should be an inducement for landlords to fill bldgs rather than drive out tenants with high rents.

Don't know if any of this applies, but I worry about the empty storefronts in Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing.

Oh, by the by, I like the little stories too. Difference is, not all of mine are necessarily true. In my youth, I knew a woodcarver who really wanted to have a real little boy. Unfortunately, his wife was a :edit: and refused to have kids. So the man carved a wonderful little marionette modeled after the son he always wanted. Then one night a cockroach and a fairy turn the puppet into a kid. When the kid lies, his nose gets like super big. But since the kid is still wood, the wife, who didn't want a kid anyway and nobody asked if she wanted a longnosed, lying marionette, go really torqued and threw him into the woodchipper and she made some toothpicks. Oh, and she killed the bug too, and the cat ate the gold fish. And everybody lived kinda pretty miserably ever after.

[lindaz]

The food and service were not good at Juan's. There is so much competition in TV you just have to be good to attract business!

[Indy-Guy]

I ate a Juan's once not good.

The Chinese restaurant in the same shopping complex has good food and good service. I eat there at least 2 or 3 times a month. They are busy every time I go there. They probably produce more $ per square foot than any other place in that shopping complex. The place is very small and does a great eat in or take out business. To me it just goes to show you that good food and good service will produce good results.

[lindaz]

Totally agree with you Indy. We frequently get take-out from the Chinese restaurant, but we never went back to Juan's.

[jtdraig]

We went to Juan's three times. Time #1 was actually pretty good....but Times #2 and #3 were bad and headed the wrong way. We didn't go back after that.

[Jullie]

Indy Guy,,,you hit the nail on the head. We ate at the Mexican place one time. They got us once, not twice. Terrible food and the prices seemed high for what you got.
LOVE the Chinese place!

By the way, are you from Indy, IN?

[Skip]

Juan Mexicali is closed for good. I heard a bagel shop will buy out the lease.

Skip

[villages07]

Skip is right.....we rode by there last night and there is a handwritten sign in the window "Coming Soon....Bagel Shop"

CiCi's pizza hasn't opened yet....still looks like they have a fair amount of inside work to finish. Guess they won't make their "first week of July" opening....but, hopefully soon.

Also read in today's paper that the new Walgreens at Colony Plaza will be open this Friday.