"ImStillMags" > wrote
>
> One is a breakfast and lunch 'deli' in a downtown office area.
>
> One is a quick service (not fast food) breakfast, lunch and dinner
> 'blue collar' fare joint in an industrial park area.
>
> One is a more upscale 'southern comforts' dinner house with an
> elegant bar.
>


Different rules apply, different expectations too.

In the first two, you have to make you money in five days. Unless you
build a fantastic reputation for something special, people are not going to
go to those areas for a meal that can be had closer to home or where they
are shopping.

I pass a place every day that is like your number 2 concept. It started
about 12 years ago and has had at least five owners in that time. When I
pass in the morning, they have two customers at 6:30 while the convenience
store and gas station is selling coffee and snacks to 10 or 20 people at a
time. I've only ever stopped at this place once for a bagel and coffee
and my wife and I were the only ones in there. They have good location,
plenty of easy parking. reasonably priced, food, but very few customers.
The food and décor are OK, but nothing special about them at all.

In both the #1 and #2, I'd expect quick service, reasonable prices if you
want me to come in for lunch every day. You can dress up a ham sandwich
only so far and if every place around is 5.95 you'll struggle to charge 6.95
unless it really is better. What are you going to do to tempt me? Or to
get me to spend more than usual for lunch? Or to take extra time?

The places above I look at as "I need to eat and you fill a need" rather
than a destination for a special meal. Market conditions vary so be sure
I'm not going to comment if you have the potential customer base or not.
Most people I know go to the modest priced places every day, but the higher
priced only once a month or so. All that said, some seem to be little gold
mines in the right place with a loyal base.

For breakfast, I want quick and reasonably priced unless I'm on vacation or
taking a leisurely day for a special meal. There is a diner in RI that
serves standard far all week, but Sunday the menu changes to things like
lobster omelets and other specialties. The line goes outside.
http://www.judysbook.com/cities/pawt...dern_Diner.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyi/36397656/

#3 sounds like more of that place for a special lunch or upscale dinner.
There are people that go to Applebees and the like a couple of times a week
and you can get some of that crowd. I'd have higher expectations on food
and service. I rarely go to a restaurant bar so that is not an attraction
for me. Done right, it is a money maker though.

I'd be willing to pay a couple of dollars more than the chain places if the
food and atmosphere is better. I'd rather go to a good local place than a
chain.