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Unless you were an avid fan of the television sitcom Frasier, you probably don't know about the fictional Seattle restaurant Les Frères Heureux ("The Happy Brothers") that opened and closed the very same night. The only reason we mention it here is because that particular episode from the show's second season - entitled "The Innkeepers" - should be required viewing for anyone who considers opening a restaurant.
It's Glamour - and Sweat
It is true that operating a successful restaurant or nightclub has a certain glamour to it. Whether it is an upscale downtown supper club with live entertainers, top gourmet chefs offering choice specialties and the most deluxe appointments or a friendly street corner tavern where people from the immediate neighborhood hang out to enjoy local microbrews and hearty sandwiches, operating an eatery is possibly the most satisfying occupation around - and a time-honored one as well.
Operating a restaurant is also perhaps the most difficult and challenging work one can do. There are literally thousands of details to attend to, and one can easily spend between 12 and 16 hours a day making sure that everything is properly done. In a very real way, operating a restaurant or nightclub is like making a feature film; the customer experiences only the finished product, but creating that product requires the efforts of many people, working hundreds of man-hours behind the scenes.
Survival of The Fittest
It is also a costly enterprise. It is true that many restaurateurs eventually make a comfortable, if not lavish living, and a few even become wealthy. Nonetheless, every dollar is hard-earned in the restaurant business; the fact is that for every four restaurants that are opened this year, one will not survive to see its second year of operation. By the end of the third year, three out of five new restaurants close their doors for good - whether they are independent operations or part of a franchise or chain.
What about the two restaurants that do survive? What is the secret?
According to a recent study conducted by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, successful restaurateurs have three characteristics in common:
- A clear vision and concept to which they are committed for which they have passion
- A commitment to working long hours in order to ensure everything is done properly
- Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and conditions
What JL & Associates Can Do For You
If you have those three characteristics, JL & Associates can be an invaluable resource in assisting you in taking your restaurant or nightclub to the next level. Whether you are just starting out or thinking of expanding an existing operation, our company is here with over a quarter-century of professional restaurant experience to provide consultation and support in all areas of restaurant operation, from food delivery to patron reservations.
Enter our site now and see what JL & Associates can do to help you in making your restaurant or nightclub a five-star establishment.
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