anastaziax
01-18-2009, 02:27 AM
So, I've been a bit of a lurker on the board for a few weeks. Have enjoyed reading through some of the stories people have shared, and found many things that I can identify with.
So I have decided to start sharing my story (well, our story--me and my husband Rick).
I will not give you too much introduction, but just give you this link...
http://www.spring4th.com/index_old.php (http://www.spring4th.com/page_story_overview.php)
This link will take you to a home page that allows 2 options--"our story" and "our center." This is not our main home page---everyone else just goes to a home page about our facility without this story line.
We're not a night club, although some of the events at our facility are nightclub-like events.
Here's another link with a few pictures of prior events:
http://www.spring4th.com/page_event_pics.php (http://www.spring4th.com/past_event_pics.php)
The story on the web site should be enough to deter anyone from trying to open any small business, let alone one that involves liquor. The sad thing is, that I have gathered dozens and dozens of stories like this in our city and beyond. You will see probably every one of the classic mistakes, especially about not doing enough due diligence upfront on local zoning and building issues. And although we've had a very supportive landlord who has given us numerous concessions since we originally signed our lease, we still could have done a better job in the lease negotiations.
The story line goes through January 2008. But guess what? It's January 2009 and we're still here!! And we truly actually expect to be selling beer, wine and liquor by the end of February 2009. We have had many peaks and very low points, sometimes within days and hours as we crawl our way through the politics and unyielding bureaucracy of city government.
There are many more chapters to the story after January 2008, but that will give y'all a year's worth of history to get started with before I catch you up to where we are now.
And, just so you know, yes, my husband wants to write a book about this "adventure." He is somewhat of a regular blogger on LiveJournal so has lots of posts over the last two years, which he's supplementing with my more comprehensive web site timeline. In the book, there will be "good guys" and "bad guys."
The only way we could possibly have survived this venture financially is that I have been lucky enough to have a great career that pays very well, and even though I've gone to a 70% reduced schedule, it still pays extremely well and I have incredible flexibility. Right now, I am mostly working a lot of hours for a period of about 4 months, and then sometimes only about 10-15 hours a week. This schedule allows me to focus some of my time on the business. Even when I am working at my other job, I have the flexibility to work from home so I can answer the phones, etc. Oh, I guess I should mention that we sort of live above the business. Although we do have a mountain cabin only 70 miles away.
I have learned a lot already from reading the forum, especially about all the issues we will face with inventory control and staffing, etc. Thanks to everyone here who is so generous with their time in actively participating on this forum.
Stacey
So I have decided to start sharing my story (well, our story--me and my husband Rick).
I will not give you too much introduction, but just give you this link...
http://www.spring4th.com/index_old.php (http://www.spring4th.com/page_story_overview.php)
This link will take you to a home page that allows 2 options--"our story" and "our center." This is not our main home page---everyone else just goes to a home page about our facility without this story line.
We're not a night club, although some of the events at our facility are nightclub-like events.
Here's another link with a few pictures of prior events:
http://www.spring4th.com/page_event_pics.php (http://www.spring4th.com/past_event_pics.php)
The story on the web site should be enough to deter anyone from trying to open any small business, let alone one that involves liquor. The sad thing is, that I have gathered dozens and dozens of stories like this in our city and beyond. You will see probably every one of the classic mistakes, especially about not doing enough due diligence upfront on local zoning and building issues. And although we've had a very supportive landlord who has given us numerous concessions since we originally signed our lease, we still could have done a better job in the lease negotiations.
The story line goes through January 2008. But guess what? It's January 2009 and we're still here!! And we truly actually expect to be selling beer, wine and liquor by the end of February 2009. We have had many peaks and very low points, sometimes within days and hours as we crawl our way through the politics and unyielding bureaucracy of city government.
There are many more chapters to the story after January 2008, but that will give y'all a year's worth of history to get started with before I catch you up to where we are now.
And, just so you know, yes, my husband wants to write a book about this "adventure." He is somewhat of a regular blogger on LiveJournal so has lots of posts over the last two years, which he's supplementing with my more comprehensive web site timeline. In the book, there will be "good guys" and "bad guys."
The only way we could possibly have survived this venture financially is that I have been lucky enough to have a great career that pays very well, and even though I've gone to a 70% reduced schedule, it still pays extremely well and I have incredible flexibility. Right now, I am mostly working a lot of hours for a period of about 4 months, and then sometimes only about 10-15 hours a week. This schedule allows me to focus some of my time on the business. Even when I am working at my other job, I have the flexibility to work from home so I can answer the phones, etc. Oh, I guess I should mention that we sort of live above the business. Although we do have a mountain cabin only 70 miles away.
I have learned a lot already from reading the forum, especially about all the issues we will face with inventory control and staffing, etc. Thanks to everyone here who is so generous with their time in actively participating on this forum.
Stacey