WE SHOULD OPEN A RESTAURANT!

This is how it all begins

My wife continually prepares delicious meals at home and I think to myself that we should open a restaurant. The move from preparing food for a few to a gaggle of people shouldn’t pose much of a problem.

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How difficult can it be? Taking orders and serving food can’t be that challenging. I’ve dined out enough to know how it works and could probably do it better. This could be fun?

And it could be fun meeting lots of people and we could even become local celebrities.


Stop right there!

I even calculate food costs in my head and what the menu offerings could be. It would be a 50 seater so it would be manageable. My wife just glares at me when I broach the subject and she knows I’m kidding because we’re in our 60s and I’ve been there, done that. And it didn’t end well. Fun to think about though.

Many people can cook for family & friends and they believe they could do the same for a restaurant full of people. They have grandma’s famous recipes and they love to entertain. It’s one of the personal activities we do that could translate into a business venture.


Big mistake

There are many different foodservice options, such as full service, bar, bistro, fast-food, and food truck. One of them should fit their budget and experience, so they think.

The passion is soon replaced with commitment. Legal, financial, and time commitments that are not easy to swallow. They realize that this is a serious job now and there are many risks. There are no greater “hands on” businesses and taking time off vanishes.

And if they’re not making much money, the work doesn’t seem to be worth the effort anymore. Additionally, there is no guarantee that it will be profitable. It’s not duck soup.


Dessert is served

For many, the talk around the dinner table of opening a restaurant is just pie in the sky, but there will always be someone who convinces the others to do it. Good on them as we forever need new independent restaurants. Take the plunge, but wear a life-jacket.