TooFarTampa
SoWal Insider
Go for it Kat!!
Just because the economy, or other circumstances, meant that keeping D&K's open was not realistic for the long term (I'm assuming), doesn't mean you can't do something on a smaller scale and be successful ... and very happy.
A couple of local-to-me stories come to mind. There was this guy whose family owned a huge local produce market and deli for 75 years. That 7500 square foot market was no longer viable and it had to close last summer. The times are so different now. But the guy had many loyal customers and as far as I know is happily catering and looking for other opportunities to open a smaller market.
There is this guy who owned a farmer's market for nearly 20 years on a popular street corner. He closed the market in 2002 because "progress" dictated that the land be used for something else. After the real estate market went bust again, he saw an opportunity a few blocks down the street in a gas station that had closed two years ago. He opened last weekend and the place was packed! Lots of people remembered him and were happy to see him back.
There's this woman who opened a tasty sandwich shop with great original recipes about 20 years ago. Over the years she grew to expand to five restaurants. It was too much and she agreed to sell when an offer came. Now, a year later, she has opened a tiny cafe with a different concept in an office building and she could not be happier.
The lesson here is: If you have a fan base, and you have a love for it, you can figure it out!
Just because the economy, or other circumstances, meant that keeping D&K's open was not realistic for the long term (I'm assuming), doesn't mean you can't do something on a smaller scale and be successful ... and very happy.
A couple of local-to-me stories come to mind. There was this guy whose family owned a huge local produce market and deli for 75 years. That 7500 square foot market was no longer viable and it had to close last summer. The times are so different now. But the guy had many loyal customers and as far as I know is happily catering and looking for other opportunities to open a smaller market.
There is this guy who owned a farmer's market for nearly 20 years on a popular street corner. He closed the market in 2002 because "progress" dictated that the land be used for something else. After the real estate market went bust again, he saw an opportunity a few blocks down the street in a gas station that had closed two years ago. He opened last weekend and the place was packed! Lots of people remembered him and were happy to see him back.
There's this woman who opened a tasty sandwich shop with great original recipes about 20 years ago. Over the years she grew to expand to five restaurants. It was too much and she agreed to sell when an offer came. Now, a year later, she has opened a tiny cafe with a different concept in an office building and she could not be happier.
The lesson here is: If you have a fan base, and you have a love for it, you can figure it out!
