[BlueIguana]

Hello everyone, this is my first post on here. I opened a restaurant 3 months ago with my dad as a way to get out of my previous job (construction) and he wanted something better for me as well. He has 10+ years experience serving and cooking in restaurants, and I have none. We decided on a mexican theme restaraunt in a sort of niche tourist town in Alberta. In the summer the population goes from 10,000 people to 50,000 all summer with young people and old coming from all over alberta to be near the lake (which I'm convienently placed directly in the busiest part of) We have the location, we have a basic concept..but the finer details are eluding us big time. Dad's afraid to take a serious look at the books, but I think we're losing money big time, and he's in a sort of denile about everything. So it's up to me to make this thing work. This is basically our shot or we're screwed so... Should I hire a professional restaurant expert to come down and help us? I really don't have much of an idea how to run a restaurant but I'm basically doing most of the running and I need help. Where should I start? We have to make some money back next summer or we're going to have to close the doors. I realize one of the biggest mistakes we made was not applying for our liquor liscense sooner (we're just getting it now) and the summer is over. That lost us alot of revenue this summer. Any tips? Good books??

Thanx all

Blue Iguana

[mojito]

Hi Blue Iguana,
I feel your pain. Luckily you say you have the right "location" which is very important for a successful restaurant, however you really picked a fine time to start up??? This down turn for basically ALL businesses is the worst possible time. (the economy)
I think the first thing you need to do is manage your costs, train to the utmost in quality & care your servers & staff, & most importantly be "the mayor" of your restaurant. Which means every single person that walks in-Greet them with a smile, bend over backward to service them, they love being acknowledged by the owner...Create "New Ideas" for marketing...example: I just did a e-mail newsblast to my over 2000 guest subscribers via e-mail on Saturday Nite . It stated: Listen up Redskin Fans; If the Redskins WIN over the Eagles on 10/5/08 come in on Monday nite (which we are usually a little slow) and receive a FREE entree Meal with the Purchase of one meal at regular or of lesser value...It was a HIT!!! we were packed. I can go on & on about all the different "INCENTIVES" I throw out there almost daily because of the economy. I too must boost sales & get people in. I think the whole country is in panic mode.
Good luck!