It seems now that every two years I open a new restaurant

yell01 · 10-12-2018, 5:59pm

This time I'm buying the building as it's bank owned. It's in a great area that's booming and where there will be lots of growth for years to come. The building is in great shape and I could honestly just add equipment and furniture and open but I'll make some changes to align it with my other two. It's got a great patio that people love about my other two locations and will be the best one around. Should close on the building by the end of the year and open for business by March 1st. First rounds on me!!

Here's a link. The equipment and furniture is gone but it will be similar...

https://tour.vht.com/392137579/901-e...l-60451/photos

#1 http://www.3cornersgrill.com/lemont/
#2 http://www.3cornersgrill.com/downers-grove/

Datawiz · 10-12-2018, 6:06pm

Long time no chat Frank! Thrilled that your ventures are taking off. Restaurants are not an easy business.

We still need to do a Chi-town cruise-in and come up and visit.

69camfrk · 10-12-2018, 7:12pm

Nice!!!

yell01 · 10-12-2018, 7:24pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by datawiz

Long time no chat Frank! Thrilled that your ventures are taking off. Restaurants are not an easy business.

We still need to do a Chi-town cruise-in and come up and visit.

That would be fun! I'm not on here or anywhere else much. My kids travel baseball and softball keeps us busy all the time.

I've got great people and that makes it easier. I'm lining up my crew for the new one so it's a smooth open as well.

VatorMan · 10-12-2018, 8:20pm

You keep staying in Illinois !

Glad you are making out ! Keep on truckin’ !

MrPeabody · 10-12-2018, 8:40pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by yell01

That would be fun! I'm not on here or anywhere else much. My kids travel baseball and softball keeps us busy all the time.

I've got great people and that makes it easier. I'm lining up my crew for the new one so it's a smooth open as well.

I watch all the Giants games in San Francisco. Whenever they bring up someone new from the minors for their first MLB game, they always have an interview with the parents if they are at the game. When they talk about what they've gone through to get to this game they all talk about how much traveling it has taken.

So if you're doing that, it's a good sign.

simpleman68 · 10-12-2018, 9:13pm

A new position with our largest client will put me in Chi-town more than just the usual couple times a year.
Been meaning to look you up the last couple trips but got sidetracked with business dinners.

I'll shoot you a PM next time I'm headed over your way. Would be fun to stop by and see the joint(s)

Best wishes on the new location.
Scott

yell01 · 10-12-2018, 9:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by VatorMan

You keep staying in Illinois !

Glad you are making out ! Keep on truckin’ !

Until the kids are at least in college...unfortunately. Going to start looking for places in FL & AZ soon though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPeabody

I watch all the Giants games in San Francisco. Whenever they bring up someone new from the minors for their first MLB game, they always have an interview with the parents if they are at the game. When they talk about what they've gone through to get to this game they all talk about how much traveling it has taken.

So if you're doing that, it's a good sign.

With all the traveling we do they better be All-Star, MVP, Hall Of Fame players.

My wife is on her way to Indianapolis with my daughter tonight for a softball college exposure tournament.

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleman68

A new position with our largest client will put me in Chi-town more than just the usual couple times a year.
Been meaning to look you up the last couple trips but got sidetracked with business dinners.

I'll shoot you a PM next time I'm headed over your way. Would be fun to stop by and see the joint(s)

Best wishes on the new location.
Scott

Definitely PM me. Lemont and Downers Grove are my current locations and New Lenox will be the new one.

Stangkiller · 10-12-2018, 10:51pm

Wow Frank that looks awesome! Congrats!

Sea Six · 10-13-2018, 3:54am

Congratulations!

VITE1 · 10-13-2018, 6:25am

Good to see things are going so well for you Frank. When you finally get down to Florida to start looking make sure you tell Craig and myself. We have to get together.

BTW the Port St Lucie area is booming. 4th fastest growing housing market in the USA with mainly high net worth people moving in.

mrvette · 10-13-2018, 6:49am

These restaurants part of a chain with same overall name, or they all individual on style/food/etc?? Sounds like you keeping the established ones and just adding to the empire....or maybe you flipping them??

When you head south, going to do the same here?? interesting concept no matter your approach.....

Thunder22 · 10-13-2018, 7:58am

Quote:

Originally Posted by yell01

This time I'm buying the building as it's bank owned. It's in a great area that's booming and where there will be lots of growth for years to come. The building is in great shape and I could honestly just add equipment and furniture and open but I'll make some changes to align it with my other two. It's got a great patio that people love about my other two locations and will be the best one around. Should close on the building by the end of the year and open for business by March 1st. First rounds on me!!

Here's a link. The equipment and furniture is gone but it will be similar...

https://tour.vht.com/392137579/901-e...l-60451/photos

#1 http://www.3cornersgrill.com/lemont/
#2 http://www.3cornersgrill.com/downers-grove/

Congrats.

The restaurant that appears to be there now, what happened to it? did it fail? or did it do well and you're buying a hot commodity?

yell01 · 10-13-2018, 2:22pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrvette

These restaurants part of a chain with same overall name, or they all individual on style/food/etc?? Sounds like you keeping the established ones and just adding to the empire....or maybe you flipping them??

When you head south, going to do the same here?? interesting concept no matter your approach.....

Same name, menu, feel, etc...

I have a regular at my second location in Downers Grove that was President & CEO of McDonald's for several years who loves the place and wants to franchise them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder22

Congrats.

The restaurant that appears to be there now, what happened to it? did it fail? or did it do well and you're buying a hot commodity?

Long story but the Cliffs Notes version is it was a place called "Charlie Horse" guy was a nut and his son killed someone in a DUI accident and he had to get out for financial reasons (lawyers $$). Hooked up with some new guys and he was a silent partner and the new guys grew to dislike him and booted him. They didn't have a clue and failed.

It's similar to my second location where a guy went in and didn't have a clue and failed.

DAB · 10-13-2018, 2:35pm

with two going, it appears you know what you are doing, so good luck with #3. i've heard and read that running a successful restaurant is rare.

Thunder22 · 10-13-2018, 3:56pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by yell01

Same name, menu, feel, etc...

Long story but the Cliffs Notes version is it was a place called "Charlie Horse" guy was a nut and his son killed someone in a DUI accident and he had to get out for financial reasons (lawyers $$). Hooked up with some new guys and he was a silent partner and the new guys grew to dislike him and booted him. They didn't have a clue and failed.

It's similar to my second location where a guy went in and didn't have a clue and failed.

gotcha, so it was mismanagement, not bad location or something inherent in the place. That's good news.

Black94lt1 · 10-13-2018, 7:00pm

Looks like a great place, as others have said the restaurant business is not easy but you seem to have it figured out. We’ll certainly hit one of your places on our next trip to Illinois

yell01 · 10-13-2018, 7:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAB

with two going, it appears you know what you are doing, so good luck with #3. i've heard and read that running a successful restaurant is rare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black94lt1

Looks like a great place, as others have said the restaurant business is not easy but you seem to have it figured out. We’ll certainly hit one of your places on our next trip to Illinois

Everyone hears the "60% of all restaurants fail in the first 3 years". After being in it for 4 years now what I believe is the reason for that is that the 60% are the people who love to cook or want a place to hang out and drink with their friends but don't know anything about business. I run my places as businesses first.

87 Ragtop · 10-14-2018, 4:20pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by yell01

Everyone hears the "60% of all restaurants fail in the first 3 years". After being in it for 4 years now what I believe is the reason for that is that the 60% are the people who love to cook or want a place to hang out and drink with their friends but don't know anything about business. I run my places as businesses first.

I've watched Bar Rescue a few times... that seems to be the exact thing you see.

Congrats!!

Mike Mercury · 10-15-2018, 9:27am

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