We've been watching a few of those "failing restaurant" shows on Max. They're entertaining, to say the least. I especially like the one called Kitchen Undercover (the Antonia Lofaso version), which doesn't really manufacture drama because it's already there. And of course, I just finished The Bear, so that's fresh in my mind, too. The overall takeaway, and reality, is that restaurants are a horrible business.
But I love the idea of showing people a good time. Like most things in hospitality, success comes from excellence, done in a repeatable, fiscally responsible way. It doesn't seem like a mystery that treating people well and providing the best possible product is key, but I'm surprised at how often I encounter the opposite at restaurants, hotels and theme parks.
The scope of my ambition is not large. I can imagine a long, narrow spot, with a long bar and small kitchen. Coffee and pastries in the morning, drinks and small plates at night, vibe all day. I'm sure there's a specific concept I would gravitate to (pirate-tiki bar?), but who knows. The location would have to be perfect, preferably in a neighborhood where you could attract regulars. I would want a qualified manager to run it, but help out when I felt like it. At the same time, I wouldn't want to put a lot of my own money into it, because that's a bad idea. I just want to see people having a good time together.
I also imagine that there could be an even lower risk scheme. A so-called "dry hire" business would be a blast, I think, especially if you did mixology presentations. Those are situations where the host buys all of the liquor, and you show up with your tools to serve it. You have some "inventory" to keep in terms of serving gear and glasses, and probably bring the ice, but you're not putting significant cash into it. That would be a fun gig.
It's strange how I've gravitated toward this sort of thing, if you don't count living in a place that depends on hospitality for its economy. But I think I've always thought about it, just in terms of the arts, or going back far enough, to working in radio. Entertainment is all about making people happy. Turns out there are other ways to do that, too. I have to think more about this.
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