Eric Koslowski, proprietor of Primanti Bros. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, doesn’t appear to be taking the recession mendacity down. When alternative knocked, he answered in an enormous manner. Koslowski just lately opened a 4,700-square-foot retailer by negotiating with the constructing’s proprietor. Because of this, gross sales are constantly hitting $50,000- plus every week at his latest location.
Q. Why open a brand new retailer in an ailing economic system?
A: We had been capable of finding that landlords are prepared to provide very, very long-term favorable leases proper now for about 60 cents on the greenback, and we now have the choice to buy the property which we most likely couldn’t have achieved years in the past. We took over a constructing that had been an out parcel to a shopping mall and the place went bankrupt. It was a seafood restaurant. It’s sometimes $10,000 to $12,000 (a month in hire) for the sort of constructing, and I acquired it for $8,000. As an alternative of getting a five-to 15-year lease, I acquired a 30-year lease. Each single factor we wished, the owner was like, ‘Yeah! We wish anyone right here.’
Q. You’re providing a prixe fixe household evening menu on Tuesday and Thursday nights. How is that working for you?
A: We actually acquired an awesome deal on the property and that being, we had been in a position to have a really economical menu for our prospects … Tuesdays and Thursdays we do a 20-inch pizza with three toppings and a pitcher of Coke for $16.99. You may substitute a pitcher of beer for $17.99. Final Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., we bought like 130 of these (packages). It was wonderful. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, we now have strains.
Q. How is enterprise at your different places?
A: We even have 16-percent progress at our two present eating places, 2009 versus 2008. Every retailer grew by 16 %. Individuals are ‘buying and selling down’ from the higher-end eating places to extra economical ones, however they received’t commerce down in high quality. We’ll fi nd that we’ll have The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility sort buyer come to our retailer as a result of though it’s pizza, it’s nice pizza. They’re not going to exit and spend $35 on an entrée, however they’ll exit and get a pleasant pie and a lasagna so long as it’s good.
Q. What are your objectives for 2010?
A: We’re desirous to do 5 shops complete in Broward County. I’ve one (retailer) on the ocean, one to the west and one within the middle. We need to do one to the north and one to the south.
Q. What recommendation would you give an operator in an analogous scenario?
A: If individuals would exit and look, the buildings are on the market. The fitting pizza product on the proper worth provides great alternatives proper now for operators.
Eric Koslowski, proprietor of Primanti Bros. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, doesn’t appear to be taking the recession mendacity down. When alternative knocked, he answered in an enormous manner. Koslowski just lately opened a 4,700-square-foot retailer by negotiating with the constructing’s proprietor. Because of this, gross sales are constantly hitting $50,000- plus every week at his latest location.
Q. Why open a brand new retailer in an ailing economic system?
A: We had been capable of finding that landlords are prepared to provide very, very long-term favorable leases proper now for about 60 cents on the greenback, and we now have the choice to buy the property which we most likely couldn’t have achieved years in the past. We took over a constructing that had been an out parcel to a shopping mall and the place went bankrupt. It was a seafood restaurant. It’s sometimes $10,000 to $12,000 (a month in hire) for the sort of constructing, and I acquired it for $8,000. As an alternative of getting a five-to 15-year lease, I acquired a 30-year lease. Each single factor we wished, the owner was like, ‘Yeah! We wish anyone right here.’
Q. You’re providing a prixe fixe household evening menu on Tuesday and Thursday nights. How is that working for you?
A: We actually acquired an awesome deal on the property and that being, we had been in a position to have a really economical menu for our prospects … Tuesdays and Thursdays we do a 20-inch pizza with three toppings and a pitcher of Coke for $16.99. You may substitute a pitcher of beer for $17.99. Final Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., we bought like 130 of these (packages). It was wonderful. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, we now have strains.
Q. How is enterprise at your different places?
A: We even have 16-percent progress at our two present eating places, 2009 versus 2008. Every retailer grew by 16 %. Individuals are ‘buying and selling down’ from the higher-end eating places to extra economical ones, however they received’t commerce down in high quality. We’ll fi nd that we’ll have The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility sort buyer come to our retailer as a result of though it’s pizza, it’s nice pizza. They’re not going to exit and spend $35 on an entrée, however they’ll exit and get a pleasant pie and a lasagna so long as it’s good.
Q. What are your objectives for 2010?
A: We’re desirous to do 5 shops complete in Broward County. I’ve one (retailer) on the ocean, one to the west and one within the middle. We need to do one to the north and one to the south.
Q. What recommendation would you give an operator in an analogous scenario?
A: If individuals would exit and look, the buildings are on the market. The fitting pizza product on the proper worth provides great alternatives proper now for operators.
