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Oct. 2nd, 2010 12:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vicarzBusiness idea in b'more:
My own a coffee shoppe dream is in high gear after that storefront / former coffee & bookstore dropping from 1 mil, to 750, to 650, to today's mere 500k. That's about $50/sq foot. I can't get a luxury 2br condo in my area for 500k (nor any housing at all) but like Hugh's old sportscar home - "I could afford to buy it, but not to own it." The prospects of me starting and running a business, with no such experience, is daunting. A business was there, and went out of business. Taxes are 10k a year, adding on a need to pull an extra 1k a month profit just to exist. It's between the business district and Mt. Vernon - but I fear too far between to draw from either market. In my view walkers from Mt. Vernon or from the business district cut off around the 2-3 block mark, and this is...unlikely to be a successful business model.
It's terrifying for a security oriented fellow like me - more so when I already have a good salary with a successful career. Sure it's a neat dream, but what if succeeding at that isn't as good as what I have already? I don't think my most successful dream of "winning" the business idea is as lucrative as just keeping on the secure government job with associated benefits and retirement plan. I also recall that I disagreed with my country friend who lives in Luray VA to have a big country estate for pennies, but commutes 2 hours each way to enjoy it. If I commute from b'more, especially if my job moves back downtown, isn't that just as expensive in terms of time for a city estate?
I talked to the guy who was selling the antique shop with rooms above it - he sold it "to a young guy like" me for $200k. He agreed with my assessment of the place down on Charles, noting that no parking was a killer, and saying rather than a benefit the extra space (10k square feet!) was just a big expense to heat and cool. I note that on antique row they seem to have hit a tipping point - there are very few shops left and a lot of unoccupied spaces
Perhaps a bar could add value, but then you face huge license and oversight costs, parking is potentially a problem in the area, and staffing also more an issue. I do have some fun design ideas though - picking up random books for next to nothing, fabric and thrift leftovers for the walls...stuff you can touch if you want and looks neat if you don't. Or, I'm over romanticizing a junky college basement apt. that has no business appeal.
An added incentive is the 3 or so stories above the place with HUGE windows. I could totally live there, cutting my expenses by being my...luxury condo of doom. I see this is why college connections are such a good idea - a couple friends with 100k each and varying expertises would make this far more reachable a dream.
Checking people out?
I'm creepy and I can't turn it off. I'm sitting in one world café and it seems it is a great morning to run as runner after runner is jogging by. Almost all are quite hot (the shoppe is next to a college). I know people get all creeped out when someone "undresses them with their eyes," but ... I'm sorry since I was 12 or possibly younger I've always sort of sized people up at a glance. I try not to give anyone the creeps. I don't hit on everyone (and I'm taken - I don't hit on anyone). I try not to leer and frankly if someone does something that might actually expose themselves (I dunno, like bend over?) I look away politely. I try to smile (the difference between person and stalker I hear) but don't hold eye contact "too long." I'm sorry if it is horrible, but I do...I objectify everyone I see.
It's not all I do. I also tend to gravitate to things I find attractive. For instance, if you have cute shoes, customized boots, chucks, or funny socks - I will check them out. I read your t-shirt. I see what you did with the coloring in your hair. I LOVE yoru accessories, and the sharpie designs on your canvas bag are awesome. I don't really like tattoos, but I will check out your art and may like some of it (on a rare day I'll tell someone I really like their ink) (If you're my friend, I've probably politely focused on the positive of your ink when I spoke about it). I'm visual - I see things.
I think of it as appreciative, not demeaning. I hope to holy hell to inspire the same type of appraisal - feel free to run me up one side and down the other, and do it again, with your eyes. I hope you like my t-shirts; hell I custom design them so I really care about the positive feedback. I still remember when Jessica commented "Oh I've seen your calves, don't think I haven't, and I can tell you work out a lot."
But...if you hate it feel free to talk to me, but understand while I may change the way I ACT, my behavior, I am not going to stop seeing, stop noticing. I can not-stare, but I cannot not-see. I'm open to commentary on what you think it means, though I warn you: While I try not to be a rationalizing bad behavior douchebag, I'm also not about to swoon to your 100 level college fem studies analysis of my unconscious habits. I also will not allow anyone to use a loud display of disgust of my thought processes as a platform to display your lefter-than-thou persona. I will listen, and probably respond in all other cases.
Nobody gets my eye more than my "poor" girlfriend. I never get tired of gawking at her.
My own a coffee shoppe dream is in high gear after that storefront / former coffee & bookstore dropping from 1 mil, to 750, to 650, to today's mere 500k. That's about $50/sq foot. I can't get a luxury 2br condo in my area for 500k (nor any housing at all) but like Hugh's old sportscar home - "I could afford to buy it, but not to own it." The prospects of me starting and running a business, with no such experience, is daunting. A business was there, and went out of business. Taxes are 10k a year, adding on a need to pull an extra 1k a month profit just to exist. It's between the business district and Mt. Vernon - but I fear too far between to draw from either market. In my view walkers from Mt. Vernon or from the business district cut off around the 2-3 block mark, and this is...unlikely to be a successful business model.
It's terrifying for a security oriented fellow like me - more so when I already have a good salary with a successful career. Sure it's a neat dream, but what if succeeding at that isn't as good as what I have already? I don't think my most successful dream of "winning" the business idea is as lucrative as just keeping on the secure government job with associated benefits and retirement plan. I also recall that I disagreed with my country friend who lives in Luray VA to have a big country estate for pennies, but commutes 2 hours each way to enjoy it. If I commute from b'more, especially if my job moves back downtown, isn't that just as expensive in terms of time for a city estate?
I talked to the guy who was selling the antique shop with rooms above it - he sold it "to a young guy like" me for $200k. He agreed with my assessment of the place down on Charles, noting that no parking was a killer, and saying rather than a benefit the extra space (10k square feet!) was just a big expense to heat and cool. I note that on antique row they seem to have hit a tipping point - there are very few shops left and a lot of unoccupied spaces
Perhaps a bar could add value, but then you face huge license and oversight costs, parking is potentially a problem in the area, and staffing also more an issue. I do have some fun design ideas though - picking up random books for next to nothing, fabric and thrift leftovers for the walls...stuff you can touch if you want and looks neat if you don't. Or, I'm over romanticizing a junky college basement apt. that has no business appeal.
An added incentive is the 3 or so stories above the place with HUGE windows. I could totally live there, cutting my expenses by being my...luxury condo of doom. I see this is why college connections are such a good idea - a couple friends with 100k each and varying expertises would make this far more reachable a dream.
Checking people out?
I'm creepy and I can't turn it off. I'm sitting in one world café and it seems it is a great morning to run as runner after runner is jogging by. Almost all are quite hot (the shoppe is next to a college). I know people get all creeped out when someone "undresses them with their eyes," but ... I'm sorry since I was 12 or possibly younger I've always sort of sized people up at a glance. I try not to give anyone the creeps. I don't hit on everyone (and I'm taken - I don't hit on anyone). I try not to leer and frankly if someone does something that might actually expose themselves (I dunno, like bend over?) I look away politely. I try to smile (the difference between person and stalker I hear) but don't hold eye contact "too long." I'm sorry if it is horrible, but I do...I objectify everyone I see.
It's not all I do. I also tend to gravitate to things I find attractive. For instance, if you have cute shoes, customized boots, chucks, or funny socks - I will check them out. I read your t-shirt. I see what you did with the coloring in your hair. I LOVE yoru accessories, and the sharpie designs on your canvas bag are awesome. I don't really like tattoos, but I will check out your art and may like some of it (on a rare day I'll tell someone I really like their ink) (If you're my friend, I've probably politely focused on the positive of your ink when I spoke about it). I'm visual - I see things.
I think of it as appreciative, not demeaning. I hope to holy hell to inspire the same type of appraisal - feel free to run me up one side and down the other, and do it again, with your eyes. I hope you like my t-shirts; hell I custom design them so I really care about the positive feedback. I still remember when Jessica commented "Oh I've seen your calves, don't think I haven't, and I can tell you work out a lot."
But...if you hate it feel free to talk to me, but understand while I may change the way I ACT, my behavior, I am not going to stop seeing, stop noticing. I can not-stare, but I cannot not-see. I'm open to commentary on what you think it means, though I warn you: While I try not to be a rationalizing bad behavior douchebag, I'm also not about to swoon to your 100 level college fem studies analysis of my unconscious habits. I also will not allow anyone to use a loud display of disgust of my thought processes as a platform to display your lefter-than-thou persona. I will listen, and probably respond in all other cases.
Nobody gets my eye more than my "poor" girlfriend. I never get tired of gawking at her.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-02 06:09 pm (UTC)[Or quite possibly you do]
Looking is fine. That's what people wear clothes and makeup and get their hair cut for. Gawking is not fine. I'm sure you're nowhere near the line.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-02 06:55 pm (UTC)But run a business? I'm not cocky - I know how to count, and financially conservative and responsible, and I even know some nibbles of accounting...but tax law? Zoning? Political monitoring of issues that might affect me?
How about real business - whom to hire and how to monitor enough but not so much as to impede? Which outreach to do? What to spend top dollar and which to be thrifty? What is the damn business? What profits are too expensive (does liquor cause shootings?) to make?
I think my big weakness is people - a large part of my investment trouble is not understanding mainstream culture at all. I never understand how people blow $100 - $500 just to hear music in their ears as they walk on the sidewalk or work out in the gym. How do I get the ipod shopper to buy coffee or books from me? Do I charge for internet? Can I sell dildos? I mean I seriously don't understand how people work so how can I figure out how to inspire them to patronize my nonexistent business?
Heh.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-03 11:50 am (UTC)I guess you'd need a very good marketing manager as your first hire. It's all about getting the right people in the right roles.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-02 06:36 pm (UTC)I'm not saying that "Starbucks does it, therefore you should do it" (it's reasonable to assume they play their exact game better than anyone else), but they did spend an awful lot of time figuring out their formula.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-02 06:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-02 07:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 04:47 am (UTC)Liquor licenses are really tough to come by in most areas of Baltimore (although you could get lucky, I wouldn't count on it), but you might be able to get away with a byob with corkage fee policy if you do a coffee shop and serve food. Another thought that might help get people in the door and return business is some type of not too pricey gourmet or hand made food. Chocolate and candies made in-house; or a bakery with good muffins, croissants, breads; or a high-end salad and soup bar; or crepes to order - both sweet and savory; or...
I think you could run a business quite successfully, if it's the right one. And a relaxed coffee/something shop would probably be a good fit for you. As for living upstairs, the location may prohibit that depending on the zoning regulations, etc. A lot of downtown is pretty flexible, but there are still some areas that are zoned such that living above your business is illegal; and other areas have curfews on what hours of operations can be which could present problems.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 09:52 am (UTC)shows up on google, or
317 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201
A no live on top my store policy? Racists!
no subject
Date: 2010-10-05 11:28 pm (UTC)Busy busy in the mornings and at lunch, a decent crowd during what would be happy hour/early dinner, and damn near dead by 9pm on weekdays/workdays. Holidays and weekends not so much - even the inexpensive Sunday brunch with unlimited mimosas/bloody marys was rarely more than 2/3rds full, and the main dining room had seating for under 100.
As for living above the space, it's probably doable in that location. A coffee shop with a bakery, soups and sandwiches, or other good light fare should work there. I'd suggest if you can setting up one or two smaller more private spaces for lunch meetings, private parties, etc. When I worked at the restaurant the basement dining room was often booked from mid-afternoon on even when the main room and bar were nearly empty. I think those bookings were what kept the restaurant in business as the owners were fucking clueless and horrible at budgeting, setting prices, or building a crowd of individual clients, but Carole was fairly good at handling the corporate events.
I'd also do whatever you can to draw local artists in and get their work hung/displayed in the space. First Thursdays (at least I think it's first Thursdays) draws a good number of people into the neighborhood for the gallery openings, etc. If you can incorporate those events into your normal business plan it should help draw the money crowd in, and once you get their attention it's easier to sell them on using the space for corporate functions.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-06 11:22 am (UTC)I forgot about the BYOB thing. You have some great ideas!
I probably won't budge on the thing though - I'm risk adverse. It's more a lottery dream.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-06 12:42 am (UTC)Damn! That puts a lot of pressure on me to stay hot . . . or something
Guess I'll have to go running . . .
Pillowcases of m&ms
Date: 2010-10-06 11:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-10-06 10:22 pm (UTC)