[graciegirl]

Another reason that chains are more successful than some smaller businesses is that they buy larger and can get discounts from manufacturers and some do pass that on to the customer and probably is the reason they succeed.

It is more of an issue of what is happening in today's market than not liking to patronize family owned business.

[Russ_Boston]

Carl - Arrogant - OK.

Angry at the world? You obviously don't know me. I'm being very realistic. I do the math and THEN determine if the business will be a go. If not then I look for a cheaper site and redo the math to make sure I still get the same foot traffic etc.

Angry at the world? You may never meet a more positive upbeat person than me. Maybe we can meet when I get down there and we'll share a drink and a laugh at this.

And besides it's my birthday, I can't be mad at anyone today

Russ

[jadebox]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Carl - Arrogant - OK.

Angry at the world? You obviously don't know me. I'm being very realistic. I do the math and THEN determine if the business will be a go. If not then I look for a cheaper site and redo the math to make sure I still get the same foot traffic etc.

Angry at the world? You may never meet a more positive upbeat person than me. Maybe we can meet when I get down there and we'll share a drink and a laugh at this.

And besides it's my birthday, I can't be mad at anyone today

Happy Birthday Russ!!!!!
I agree with you. I wonder about the quote of the rent but it could be. If you have what the people want they will come AND spend their money.

Russ

[Shirleevee]

Happy Birthday!

[Donna]

Russ....

[wxradio]

Good service, good food and a fair price and you've got it made! That's why Whiskey Creek is gone (instant mashed potatoes? Gimme a break)....and Bone Fish Grill has a crowd every night...even in the summer

[carlent]

Happy Birthday Russ

I wil take you up on that drink for sure !!! I will be down Dec through March. We will get together. I too, am a very upbeat and positive person and just would like to see all of TV residents able to play on a level field.

Carlent

[carlent]

Gracie

Chain discounts have nothing what so ever to do with their success or lack of it. We have a small Mom and Pop restaurant and our discounts with the same vendor's are only about 3% off what the big boys get. That is not the reason. check out the startups and then the one's that have closed. The big boys are closing at a rapid rate! I still say it is the rent per sq food that is killing everyone. The turnover is obscene.

Bu the way Russ and Gracie and all of you fine TOTV folks....check out this web site and you can see Michelle and I in the upper right hand corner of our site www.downtownmarketgrille.com


Carlent

[Shirleevee]

Nice restaurant....however, I couldn't find you in the picture

[maxine8]

carlent - you call your place a "mom and pop" business... but its adorable! I LOVE IT

Your business is exactly what we need in TV land... a place to eat REAL food and have a quaint atmosphere...

GOOD luck with your future plans!

[Village Kid 2]

Carlent, Your restaurant looks very inviting indeed. My preference is always Mom and Pop restaurants over the chain restaurants and I do miss that in TV. Perhaps one of the reasons is that the landlords only want to deal with well established businesses, rent issue aside. A friend who is a a very good businessman inquired about space in LSL for a retail store. The landlord asked whether he had ever had a store before and when the answer was no, the landlord told him they were not interested in even talking further. So it seems only the Big Boys are going to be in TV. There are several Mom and Pop restaurants along 441 that seem to do well but not in TV.

If I'm ever in NH on my wanderings, I'll be sure to stop by your restaurant.

And RUSS, Happy Birthday, guy!!!!

VK2

[Sidney Lanier]

Russ: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

And you're right, Russ, in terms of economics. Potential businesses have to do their market research and know what they're doing. Sure, many of us grew up in a time when everything 'in the neighborhood' was mom & pop and one traveled 'downtown' to go to, say, a major department store (don't want to mention names; don't want to be accused of advertising...). Small town America (where we live in rural NY) still lends itself to this type of business; our nearest market town has been successful for years now keeping out all major chains in the downtown area with the exception of a well-known coffee chain that was allowed in only because a bookstore of long (forever?) standing wanted it in its own space.

Carlent, your place in NH looks exactly like that--a small town with locally owned businesses (presumably others besides your restaurant). TV doesn't seem to lend itself to small town mom & pop business, sadly; this is reality, not judgment or arrogance. There is what I believe to be a privately owned Italian restaurant in the Publix plaza on 466 which we patronize often; otherwise, for other small places like this, we have to get into the car and drive, not necessarily very far, but no golf cart because they're not part of TV commercial property. It's the way it is, and as consumers it's OUR money and hence OUR choice where to spend it.

[Russ_Boston]

Nice place Carl - It may be mom and pop but Wolfeboro & Winnipausaukee are not exactly low rent. Best of luck!

[carlent]

Maxine and Others

thank you for your positive comments and I am glad you took the time to visit our restaurant. Oh by the way, I am in the top right corner with my wife Michelle. The third person is a wooden Chef! LOL
We had an idea that we would open another branch of Downtown Market Grille in TV, but soon found that it was not affordable. Our future plans are to stay right where we are, a small town (7,000) in the Lakes Region of NH. We are wicked busy most all of the time and even in the winter we are full. At some point when we are not willing to do this anymore, we will sell it and perhaps move to TV. I am so sick of the winter that we are renting a house this winter on the historic side from Dec-Mar. i will be there and Michelle will close the restaurant in Dec and spend the month. she will close it again for the last two weeks of Mar and join me then. So I hope to be able to meet all of you this winter. That is why this forum is so important...not only to discuss the issue's, but to actually get to meet those who you talk with here.

Carlent

[Rokinronda]

Originally Posted by Donna

Russ....

Wishing you a wondrous day!! PS Thanks Donna