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Title: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy... Post by Melissa on Feb 16th, 2006, 10:37am because I told him I want to open a pizza place. It'd be called "Mel's Pizza Parlor" and would have a fireplace, pool table and video games for the kids, plus would serve not only tastey pizza, but also beer and wine. ;;D He said that's all he needs right now is a $300,000 lean against him. I told him he's silly, there's some land for sale right off the highway in the nearest town where we could have a parking lot big enough for semi's! :D There is no pizza place there, and I know it'd do really really well. Besides, I know how to make a VERY tastey SAUCE! That is THE key ingredient to a pizza you know... ;) Anyway, I've always wanted to open some sort of restaurant, and since "Mel's Diner" is taken (I wanted a coffee shop), Pizza is the next best thing! :)melly OH! Almost forgot! And there'd be bird feeders at every window!!! :D |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by imnotbub on Feb 16th, 2006, 10:44am If you can swing it, why not. Having my own business is my biggest dream, so I can relate. It does take a lot of time and money though. Takes it to make it. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Opus on Feb 16th, 2006, 10:46am You will need lots of money to start, check on local and federal grants on starting a small business. As for the land, check what the local zoning is, there maybe no way to start a business there. Don't give up on your dream, you may have to start selling pizza's of your house but making a name for yourself first will help bring in the necessary money to build. Opus/Paul |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Melissa on Feb 16th, 2006, 10:52am on 02/16/06 at 10:46:26, Opus wrote:
The zoning is commercial (I checked it out some time ago, lol) and know they give grants to people starting small businesses, so that's why I'd need hubby on my side (his credit is close to perfect). I don't know, maybe this is just another one of my fleeting ideas again. I get so many of them! But I do know that if one is ever decided upon, you bet your ass it'll happen! ;) |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by vig on Feb 16th, 2006, 10:55am mmmmmmm pizza.... |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Charlie on Feb 16th, 2006, 11:33am It's been nice knowing you Mel....http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/pizza.gif I know you can do it but that will keep you busy 75 hours a day. Seriously, I wish you the best of luck if this is something you gotta do. I wish I still had that kind of drive. We'll need lots of coupons and of course a break on Mel's Catering when in your area (2.500 miles of your area) http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/cheesehead.gif Charlie |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Sandy_C on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:21pm A woman of many talents to be sure. What happened to the camouflage baby booties? Now it's a pizza parlor! ;;D Sandy |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by burnt-toast on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:22pm Growth in life often requires taking risks. The key is to objectively evaluate the oportunities, make a decision, and chase the dream. Tom |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Melissa on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:23pm on 02/16/06 at 12:21:59, Sandy_C wrote:
LMAO! It's a baby blanket, and I'm almost finished with my 1st one. ;;D [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Sandy_C on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:34pm ;;D ;;D ;;D ;;D You GO Mel! As I said, a woman of many talents!!! Sandy |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by vietvet2tours on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:36pm Pizza joint ? In a town with no pizza joint.Ya better get lots of bags for the money. You're gonna need them.I average four or five a month at twenty five bucks a pop. Thats over a grand a year and I only got one teen left at home.Get cookin kid. Potter |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by echo on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:42pm on 02/16/06 at 10:37:41, Melissa wrote:
I, for one, am shocked. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Racer1_NC on Feb 16th, 2006, 12:44pm As part of your business plan it would be a good idea to include product sampling results. MilCon would be the ideal venue as there will be many hungry mouths with no shortage of opinions. Hamburger and extra cheese please...... ;;D Bill |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by minnie on Feb 16th, 2006, 1:09pm Mel, I say go for it but be prepared.You might want to see if theres any courses in your area for starting a small buisness.Think about cost rent,employees,supplies IE. napkins,Boxes insurance and if your doing delivery price of gas $$$.A start up business take alot of time from you and the entire family If you get good employees that really want to work and relize if you succeed they have a stable job.You might even get some stay at home parents doing crafts like your knitting and set up a counter with things sold as commission.Once again if they go out to dinner it benefits them if you succeed and word of mouth is great.don't forget fliers to factories and bigger business especially if you deliver they can be a loyal clientel.think hard before jumping in but if it truly is your dream I know you'll make it work.If ya lived closer I'd put my application is I love working in food prep. "Mel's Pizza Parlor" sounds good Minnie |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by nani on Feb 16th, 2006, 1:37pm Like Charlie said... it'll be time consuming and a helluva lot of work. But, it sounds like it could be very successful. If you are sure you want to take it on, I'm sure it'll work. Put in a little play area for little kids, too. So, will you deliver? To New Mexico? Double cheese, please. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Ree on Feb 16th, 2006, 2:33pm I wish I had your guts right now.... go for it.... your young... I hope you do it... I am cheering for you... You are not crazy... its chickens like me, we're the crazy people....love ree |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by sandie99 on Feb 16th, 2006, 2:36pm Mel, that's not crazy at all. I've dreamed about (among other things) opening my own place, you know, a combo of cafe/diner/restaurant/health bar/night club... ;) I love pizzas, so you bet I would visit your pizza parlor. ;) Sanna |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by fubar on Feb 16th, 2006, 2:40pm Melisa, We take ownership of a great coffee shop here in Arroyo Grande (Pismo Beach) on the 1st of March. This is my 3rd small business (one coffee shop, one bar, and now this coffee shop). Each one has been a challenge, a nightmare, a blast, a terror, a joy... they are just like children. If you are smart and really lucky, they can be profitable too! Words of caution... make sure you have the time to be there pretty much anytime of day or night. You may think it's running well enough to let it go without you all the time, but that's when things get out of control fast. A cash business does stupid things to people's brains, and you *will* get robbed blind if you aren't there a LOT. I went so far as to install cameras I could watch from home, but even that is not the same as your presence. In my opinion, a cadre of small businesses is the only sure path to a real retirement, as long as you have the ability to run them right. When I was on my own at the age of 14 as an emancipated minor (long story), I had to survive somehow, so I spent many years working my ass off in restaurants, eventually managing a pizza place before I got a job in my chosen line of work (computer programming). I learned a lot about running them, and also about being the grunt who makes it all come together at the end of the day. It helps me be a better owner when I can see it from my employee's side as well. I've seen 1000 ways to be ripped off, and I know I'll see 1000 more, it's amazing. Bottom line... go for it but prepare yourself. Show your husband how dedicated you are to preparing yourself and he'll simply have to let you give it a shot... this could take time. I'm not talking about preparing by knowing a recipe or checking out land prices... invest small amounts in courses on restaurant management or books on running a profitable pizzeria... find and architect to design some plans for a building on the site so you can do a budget complete with estimates on tops (your nightly turnover on guest count) and expected cash flows. This will require a lot of research, but it helps you build a business plan that can tell you how much you need to borrow(or get in grants) and shows those people how serious you are. Plans will cost you about $2 a sq foot, but if you're serious, it's a required investment before you seek money. The order of things as I see it... - get as much operational education as possible over the course of, say, 3 months - make a mental plan of the site on your own, commit it to paper and seek a designer/architect to plan you a site - start building a business plan for Mel's - have an accountant review the business plans - make adjustments as necessary and repeat until satisfied by now you have invested a lot of time and some money (maybe $1000-3000). You'll know if it's worth seeking and risking and capital (or your hubby's credit rating) You can make an intelligent choice. Plus, your hubby's confidence in your plan will increase a lot. Good luck! |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Melissa on Feb 16th, 2006, 3:41pm WOW! Thank you SO MUCH everyone for all the thoughtful posts and advice!! You guys are amazing! I had always thrown around the idea of opening up my own place, but always thought it was just a silly dream. Now that I am older and more solidified in my life, I have been thinking about it again. I mean, I have really never been one to work for others, although I outsucceed myself at whatever task I come up against, I have found that I get bored with it after it's conquered. Well that, and I always seemed to piss off my boss. Don't know why, I was always nice and did my duties like I was supposed to. :-/ Anyway, enough of that. TY again for all the help and who knows, I may just end up doing it, who knows? Heck, I'm still young! :D |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by jimmers on Feb 16th, 2006, 10:28pm Mel, I have been in a business of my own. I just sold it. Not because I wanted to, it was because it was the easiest way to divorce my business partner(We'll talk more at the convention). But Hey! I'm great at marketing! How about you call it: Melizza Pizza ;;D I'm there man! Jimmers |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Charlie on Feb 17th, 2006, 3:51am Quote:
I tollja she'd buy it. http://www.kolobok.wrg.ru/smiles/standart/mosking.gif?SSImageQuality=Full Charlie |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by BobG on Feb 17th, 2006, 5:39am on 02/16/06 at 10:37:41, Melissa wrote:
That’s a hellava concept. A good pizza with a tasty sauce. I like it! Don’t say it too loud though. Pizza Hut may hear you and steal your idea. And we won’t even mention Chucky Cheese. Go for it. A good product with good service at a fair price will work every time. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by floridian on Feb 17th, 2006, 5:55am on 02/17/06 at 05:39:58, BobG wrote:
I doubt it - the Hut has gone all these years with uninspiring pizza, why would they switch now?? Good sauce is half the equation; the bread is the other half. The toppings are 20% (maybe more) then add ambiance and divide by price. That puts you around 125%! |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Opus on Feb 17th, 2006, 8:24am The funnest pizzeria sign I ever saw was Quote:
And under it was a sign saying Quote:
Toppings do matter I guess. Opus/Paul |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Melissa on Feb 17th, 2006, 8:29am on 02/17/06 at 05:39:58, BobG wrote:
Have you ever had Chuckie Cheese pizza?? [smiley=hurl.gif] BTW, the customers pick their toppings, I just supply them fresh. ;;D Also, Flo's right about the crust. That's why I have it written down to perfect pizza crust....someday. ;) :-* |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by maffumatt on Feb 17th, 2006, 8:33am I'd buy your pizza Mel. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by BarbaraD on Feb 17th, 2006, 2:27pm Listen to Fubar... He has some really good advice. I bought a restaurant a few years back and it was a 25 hour a day job... employees will drive you crazy. and you'd better have enough time to spend 25 hours a day there or you WILL be robbed blind. Your business plan is very important and you'd best have a policy manual and run the business by it. And one thing to remember (and you won't believe me, but it's true) if the cash register comes up OVER - someone is stealing from you. Get the cameras put in.... Good luck kid. BTW - I loved it, but just couldn't hold up to 25 hours a day at the restaurant and 25 hours a day at the accounting office too, so had to make a choice - one or the other -- took the accounting office and sold the restaurant. I've been toying with the idea of Granny's Kitchen when we move to the farm. There's this place up there that's empty......... kill me now!!!!! Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by kissmyglass on Feb 17th, 2006, 2:36pm Hey Mel, Trust me on this one....the key to GREAT pizza is.......... a brick oven. Hope ya go for it then we'll all have somewhere to go for free apizza!! ;;D Kev |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by Melissa on Feb 17th, 2006, 2:46pm Ya know, someone had an excellent idea. Doing it right out of my home! I even mentioned that one to hubby. He kinda liked the idea. ;) Of course, it'd have a brick oven, but it'd be carryout only, no delivery. I love these ideas! :D P.S. Does anyone know what sort of license I'd need for something like that? |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by echo on Feb 17th, 2006, 4:04pm on 02/17/06 at 14:46:31, Melissa wrote:
I'm thinking some kind of food service license would be handy. But what the hell do I know :-* I'll go lay by my dish now. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by nani on Feb 17th, 2006, 4:10pm on 02/17/06 at 14:46:31, Melissa wrote:
You'd need a certificate from your local health dept. It will likely involve conforming your home kitchen to professional standards. It's hard to do in some places, I have no idea how hard where you live. In NM, you'd need a 3 compartment sink, a seperate hand washing sink, etc. Call your local health dept, the office that does restaurant inspections. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by JenniferD on Feb 17th, 2006, 5:36pm Mel, great idea! A couple of notes though: there's more myth than truth to getting a grant for business start-up. The guy in the commercials who runs around "buy my book and I'll hook you up to TONS of govt money" is just out to get your money. Go to the small business administration website or your states corporation commission. Links available all over the place that give you info on starting your own business. I am a pizza FREAK so I'm hoping you get this going! Jen :) |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by echo on Feb 17th, 2006, 5:39pm Ok -- I give. All this talk about pizza has worn me down. It's pizza and a hockey game for dinner tonight. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by LadyElaine on Feb 17th, 2006, 5:48pm Last night I came on line and was going to post to this. I was reading it to Buddy and JD started screaming Pizza. I never did get a change to post had to fix pizza. ::) I am never reading another food post to him. This tread cost me 5 lbs ! Good Luck on this Mel. Research this real good before you jump in. If anyone could do it you could. |
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Title: Re: Well, once again my husband thinks I'm crazy.. Post by BlueMeanie on Feb 17th, 2006, 6:08pm Hi Mel, Are you willing to work 14 hours a day 6 days a week ? Are you willing to gamble on all that money. Most small businesses fail within the first 5 years. Not trying to scare you out of something that could be worthwhile, but it's lots and lots of work. I believe running a business from home would require your house to be zoned commercial before the city would allow that. If you choose to build a parlor with booze, the liquior liscense would be very expensive and would require city councel approval. Have you concidered buying a business that's already established ? It seems to be it wouldn't be such a gamble. Good luck with whatever you do Mel. I LIKE PIZZA [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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