Opening a Restaurant

by compound complex 11 Replies latest jw friends

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  compound complex

  A friend and I were talking today about a child-friendly restaurant she wants to open. The accommodations will suit the small stature of children, their food likes, a decor that pleases little guys and gals. She said to me, "You're children only once." Because of a memorable experience at a famous Pier 39 restaurant, San Francisco, California in 2009 -- the wait staff were genuinely solicitous toward her and her family -- she wants she open a business in the food industry.

  Lacey is a passionate cook and is always sharing her recipes with me. She describes in minute detail the list of ingredients, the food prep, how to determine when the oil in the skillet is just the right heat to put in the breaded chicken fingers, etc. Today she showed me plans for the restaurant layout; we went online to draw ideas from a Geneva, Switzerland restaurant. She explained how she will hire consultants to help get her fledgling business off to a good, solid start. She made it clear to me this whole endeavor is about passion for a good meal and giving her customers the very finest in haute cuisine and impeccable service. It is not about the money, she reassured me.

  Lacey is biding her time. She is eleven years old.
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  Listener

  Good on her. What does she consider to be haute cuisine? Whatever it is, don't be too hasty with printing the menus. There's going to be numerous changes to the menu before opening.
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  compound complex

  Good advice, Listener.

  I'll have to consult with Lacey on the menu. She's several more years in the planning.

  Actually, haute cuisine is my description of what food ideas she's shared with me. Considering the fact that children's palates will be catered to, I imagine the fancier fare will feed the accompanying parents, they who provide transport and foot the bill.

  Thanks!
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  Listener

  Actually, she might like to consider the fact that she would find herself catering for a large number of birthday parties.

  My daughter's first job was to host children's themed birthday parties. She was in her element and thoroughly enjoyed it. They had three seperate rooms for the different themes. Boys are incredibly loud when having fun together so the seperate rooms were great.
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  compound complex

  My daughter's first job was to host children's themed birthday parties. She was in her element and thoroughly enjoyed it. -- Listener

  I appreciate that comment so much. The enthusiasm Lacey exhibits is so palpable that it's catching. I bet you've seen similar in your daughter.

  I will pass on your thoughts to Lacey, who is actually a student of mine.
  
  
• 

  truth_b_known

  Bright kid.

  The low levels of entrepreneurship have festered ridiculousness. This child is a glowing beacon of hope.
• 

  OrphanCrow

  Coco: It is not about the money, she reassured me.

  I know she is only eleven years old, Coco, but you need to nip this one in the bud.

  Change this narrative if you truly want her to be happy and successful. "Not about the money" is a noble enough position but it doesn't translate well into making dreams come true.

  Little girls (small women) need to be taught that it IS about the money. Money is how you measure business success.

  Chase the dream...with money in hand and money as the goal. That dream will come true then. Make money an integral part of the equation and Lacey will be running that restaurant with flying colors.

  Good luck little woman :)

  *to add - if she doesn't make it about the money, someone else will and there she will be...just standing in line to join the ranks of the brightest and most creative who make other people rich
• 

  compound complex

  This child is a glowing beacon of hope. -- truth_b_known

  Thank you, truth_b_known, for such a beautiful thought!

  Change this narrative if you truly want her to be happy and successful. "Not about the money" is a noble enough position but it doesn't translate well into making dreams come true. -- OrphanCrow

  You sound like a very successful business person yourself, OrphanCrow. I wish I had had your sage advice earlier on for myself! Lacey is a starry-eyed little girl and, of course, will be led properly through the financial aspects:

  She explained how she will hire consultants to help get her fledgling business off to a good, solid start. -- from OP

  However, I understand your point about the attitude toward why we're doing this -- making money. I get how one's talent and so-called noble cause can be parlayed by an outwardly sincere but unscrupulous individual into his own financial gain. Personally, I have been naive in such matters and given out more than had been taken in.

  As per your good counsel, I will help steer Lacey's passion and talent properly, insofar as I am only her school teacher -- and friend, it is hoped, for life.

  Blessings and Peace.
  
  
  
  
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  OrphanCrow

  coco: Personally, I have been naive in such matters and given out more than had been taken in.

  Me too. The bane of the creative ones.

  We are just so happy to be doing what we like that we blissfully meander along, giving away ourselves for free and then wondering, looking back, where it all went wrong

  I could have been a good business person - if I had learned early on that money is the goal instead of happiness.

  Happiness will look after itself. Money won't
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  compound complex

  Thank you, OC, for understanding.

  You could not have expressed our situation any better than you just did!

  Happiness will look after itself. Money won't