Restaurant
Mania
It's Getting as Old as
Many of Us
..and...
It's Time We Get it
Right !
Part Three of
Four
This third installment of our "white paper con job" critique has to do with common sense...money...and...the merits of a self-managed restaurant.
It's getting close to a
year since we last had a restaurant of our own.
And here's an interesting
observation !
Somehow I haven't seen
many people around "the hood" lose much weight
since Anthem Restaurant Partners hit the road, have
you?
And believe it or
not...somehow our community has survived without a bistro...despite the "cries" of the SELFISH FEW who
say it's a "must".
All one has to do is
examine not merely the comments by Anthem Opinions readers addressing
our initial two articles and Director Mayfield's intelligent and well thought
out comments, but those on other publications as
well.
We
survived and found alternatives that represented NO
COST to unit owners.
And...the arguments for
any eatery, private or leased, have more holes in them
than...
Supposed "experts" said our property values would decline without one, yet I haven't seen many homes decline in value over the past year, have any of you?
Doug
Proudfit's numbers that appear as an insert in each Spirit magazine show
steadily increasing prices as each month passes, and a recent comment by one of
our readers, after examining Mr. Proudfit's reports have shown...in the past two
years...
The value of our Sun City Anthem homes have increased from $176 to $178 per square foot.
During the past 17
years buyers have been paraded through Anthem Center looking at SHUTTERED LOSING RESTAURANTS...over and over
again....
...the last one....making
it...
in a row
in the
"WE LOSE"
CATEGORY
Conclusion....What a ruse !
Obviously seeing the last joint shuttered, hasn't had much of an
affect on people refusing to buy into our community, has it
?
Sales are at perhaps the
most rapid pace in years.
So much for that malarkey about property values increasing by having a
private restaurant !
We have another
contingency who is a vast proponent of wanting another eatery to grace our
premises....
...the ones who say they
"need" something close by because of their inability to
travel !
Our response to that is
simple:
If
you can get to a casino to drop those social security checks, you can somehow make it to a restaurant on the way...and if
you choose to eat at one of those casinos, chances are
they'll buy you one meal if you buy one
yourself.
And...if distance is still a problem....all you need to do is travel 3-4 blocks from Anthem Center and ....
(And for those who still believe a restaurant enhances our property values, what prospective buyer wouldn't believe Buckman's isn't an integral part of Sun City Anthem while they cruise Hampton Road and are dazzled by the Revere Golf Course on one side with a"restaurant" on the top of the hill offering such a magnificent view?)
But on this subject
there's something that overrides even common sense.
Sun City Anthem is billed as a...
"55+ INDEPENDENT LIVING
community"
If you can't make it out
of here to eat, then it's time to come to ONE of perhaps TWO conclusions:
Make arrangements to
have your meals delivered to you.
(Meals on Wheels is a
constant visitor to our community for those
individuals.)
OR
You
shouldn't be living here !
We don't want to sound
cold or uncompassionate , but that was the deal when you moved here; you agreed to live in a community that provided an atmosphere for
seniors who had the capability of
self-sufficiency....
...and to expect the many
who still are mobile to somehow compromise their lifestyles as a result, INCREASING THEIR PERSONAL ASSESSMENTS to cater to such
needs, is not, and never was, PART OF THAT
ARRANGEMENT.
With these facts in mind,
let's not forget that any restaurant decision
belongs in the hands of a population who live within its
boundaries...
Not...seven individuals who over the years are made some of
the most costly financial errors and have failed to listen to those who elected
them.
To make such a decision
requires FULL DISCLOSURE as to what any such
restaurant (if any) is going to entail...
...especially its COST to all of us.
Director Mayfield's
publication made it EFFECTIVELY CLEAR...that there are many aspects of any
arrangement that require COMPLETE ANALYSIS before our community embarks on
any such EXPENSIVE venture.
But in addition to a
proper analysis....
....one can longer deny
that after...
5
...resulting from the decisions made by a revolving "musical chair seven"....
...it's time
common sense should also be included in the decision
to accomplish any form of success, and that means...
Do this thing a lot
differently than previous times.
And so...rather than
acknowledging HIS SUPPORTED BOARD CANDIDATES AND
ELECTED OFFICIALS COST THE ASSOCIATION THOUSANDS of DOLLARS in poor
management decisions....
...that their track
record in making such
decisions......
... our "white paper con job" recommends another approach....
"A Do--It-Yourself
Operation"
Here's the "sound idea"
he's come up with.
But...keep in mind that the previous tenant couldn't even come up with
$1,000 per month in rent, pay his utilities, or pay us the $40,000 owed to YOU as a unit owner through improper financial
vetting.
His idea is to pay a manager a salary
of $50,000 to $75,000 per year, and without coming up with other numbers, it
appears the manager will also do the cooking.
Obviously we'd get a "burger flipper"
for $50,000 and perhaps an unemployed Sous Chef for
$75,000.
Ok, looking at my calculator, that
would mean we'd have to come up with between $4,167
and $6,250 EACH MONTH just to pay that
salary.
Now we need others in the kitchen to
help that individual prepare the meals, and for the sake of argument, let's say
we need three such individuals at $25,000 per year.
(an amount that will surely promote
loyalty to our association creating an economic incentive to work for us, and
even allow them enough money to rent a trailer in downtown Henderson in order
that they won't have to travel a great distance to obtain food
stamps)
Add in another
$6,250 per month.
Now we're up to between $10,417 to $12,500 per
month.
Of course we also have to have servers
for the "vast number" of RESIDENTS ONLY it will have
to serve.
Remember...a
Self-Managed Amenity operation EXCLUDES ALL NON-UNIT OWNERS...which of course, reduces the prospective market.
Let's further assume we have only 5
servers at about $5.00 per hour (the rest will be tips).
Assuming the place is open for 6 hours
each day, 5 people at $5 per hour = $150.00 per day or an
additional $4,500 per month.
(Double this if the minimum wage is increased to $10 per hour if particular candidates who support this measure are elected in November)
Now were up to between $14,917 to $17,000 per
month.
LIke your food hot? Your drinks cold?
Don't want to eat in 115 degree heat?
I guess that means we need utilities
too...Let's say the water and electricity add an additional
$3,000 per month.
Now we're up to between $17,917 to $20,000 per
month.
And oh yes.....FOOD.
Let's say the place serves 50 people
per day or 1,500 per month (which likely is a lot more than the previous
bistro).
At cost, let's say the food cost
amounts to only $5 per person, an extremely conservative number. That adds an additional $7,500 per
month.
(no fries or pickle with the
burger)
Now we're up to between $25,417 to $27,500 per
month.
(One again,
remember...that last tenant couldn't pay $1,000 per
month)
TOTAL FIXED COSTS FOR A
YEAR:
$305,004* to $330,000*
*Note we have NOT included
liability insurance, workers compensation, or the cost of any fringe employee
benefits which will add to these amounts....
...or the affects of an income tax form change that would
have to be used as per Director Mayfield's article.
With these costs in mind,
let's now address the "traffic" issue....people patronizing the
restaurant.
Once again, let's be
conservative in our cost analysis.
Assume that we have
those 50 people per day served
something.
(that's a lot more then the previous restaurant....unless we include our Board
Members)
Let's also "go big" hiring the Manager who is also the Sous
Chef.
Breaking down 18,000 meals served over a 12 month period with a VERY conservative annual cost of
$330,000....
What would each
patron have to spend to break even ?
$18.33
Want to take a guest
and add a 15% tip?
Total cost of YOUR
BURGER without fries or pickle
for that "casual" meal
with a friend....
$42.16
Conclusion:
Either
we...
MUST HAVE A SPECIAL MONTHLY ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT
or
FORGET THE ENTIRE IDEA
Our "white paper
con" has made a statement such numbers are within our budgetary
constraints.
Another con
job....something can't be included in a budgetary constraint unless THAT MONEY IS PLACED THERE for THAT PURPOSE TO START WITH ... and
we doubt that any item would be included....
...unless OPEN
REVOLUTION was expected !
As you can see, the
self-management idea proposed by a blogger whose success
rate at any restaurant recommendation is NIL...has no
relevant experience on which to draw ANY conclusion, and has ignored any realistic cost projections in his "white paper con" (other than making a senseless statement
that it is "within budget constraints", has once again, produced yet another
example of "pitching an idea" by only telling "part of the
story."
Our conclusion is obvious
when you look at the cost numbers.
That "white paper"
belongs in the same category as the "white paper" you see when you visit a
restroom !
What next, buy a meal, get a free round of mini-golf ????
Another idea floating
around to "sell" another restaurant is a "workshop"...something that "sounds good", but in reality,
will likely produce results that will, if history repeats, accomplish NOTHING....
...because it's been
obvious in the past, what YOU WANT is rarely what THEY WANT....
...unless ...
YOU, your NEIGHBORS, and FRIENDS within the community show up IN
MASSES and make your feelings CLEARLY AND LOUDLY
KNOWN.
Tell those Board
Members...specifically Rex Weddle , Bella Meese, Tom Nissen, and
OUR NEWEST MACHINE CONTROLLED WAFFLERS...Bob Burch,
and Aletta Waterhouse...who have clearly demonstrated
their inexperienced leadership since
election...
..coupled with the
journalistic DARK SIDE OF COMMUNICATION through wheeling and dealing HIS BACKDOOR communications trying to sell
his CONSISTENTLY ill conceived and MONEY LOSING
propositions....
This time..."the people" mean more than ANY OF THEM, that our
message appears very clear from the masses....
READ OUR LIPS....
We
are sick and tired of your decisions that have COST US THOUSANDS OF UNECESSARILY
SPENT DOLLARS....
THE PEOPLE ARE
MORE IMPORTANT
THAN ANY OF
YOU
and
DO WHAT WE TELL YOU TO
DO
Last but not least is
the timing of the meeting...at 9:00am
on Tuesday,
September 27th ...a date that in many cases,
unit owners who are "snowbirds" will not yet have returned to further reduce
attendance.
In our estimation this
should have been conducted in late October or November when most of those
"snowbirds" would have returned.
Nonetheless....
If you, our readers agree with
what we are saying, but do not clearly communicate
your feelings to this board, they WILL continue to do what they choose...
And that MEANS....
ANOTHER LOSING
RESTAURANT WILL SCAR OUR COMMUNITY
There is ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that Board Secretary,
Bella Meese, WILL support a restaurant as she has
again and again, despite the substantial losses sustained.
She has continually demonstrated a "let them eat cake" ..."I'm entltled"...attitude toward spending...and that, after 2+ terms on a Board will NEVER CHANGE.
She has continually demonstrated a "let them eat cake" ..."I'm entltled"...attitude toward spending...and that, after 2+ terms on a Board will NEVER CHANGE.
Thomas Nissen, the
Association Treasurer, whose recent reelection was so
tainted that NO ONE BELIEVED HE WOULD REGAIN HIS SEAT, much less being the
top vote getter, was an INSULT TO THE INTELLIGENCE of EVERY HONEST UNIT OWNER in
Sun City Anthem.
Nissen's record of
RECKLESS spending, and close association with Meese will undoubtedly cause
him to AGAIN, vote for another restaurant.
Rex Weddle, the
association president, and chief architect of IMPROPER MAILINGS TO ensure
Nissen's reelection, will also likely vote for another
restaurant.
Why will these individuals do
so?
TO SAVE FACE...to somehow
look for yet another reason to justify their Freewheeling past in which all voted
again and again, to "finance" Anthem Restaurant Partners that resulted in TOTAL LOSS in the thousands.
Waterhouse and Burch?
Based on past performance, they too will "go along
to get along".
Neither will "buck any system".
They are who they are...inexperienced BUREAUCRATS who need the acceptance of a "system" to survive.
They are who they are...inexperienced BUREAUCRATS who need the acceptance of a "system" to survive.
That sadly leaves only one possibility of avoiding
another financial calamity....
YOU...and...YOUR
VOICE...
and
YOUR ATTENDANCE
at the September
27th meeting.
If you have any concern for the financial well-being
of our community, we suggest you first express your feelings to the board members by email.
Here are the email addresses for your convenience.
Here are the email addresses for your convenience.
...and tell your friends and
neighbors this session will be more important than any mah jongg game or any
other activity in Sun City Anthem or elsewhere.
...that lack
of attendance is ALLOWING THIS BOARD A GREEN LIGHT TO
DO WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE.
...that this time they MUST MAKE THE TIME...
...or face the dire consequences
of yet another substantial loss and potential ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT to their annual
dues.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - -
Now it's your turn !
Your thoughts on the
numbers or concerns ?
Can this concept succeed
and are you willing to increase your dues assessment to ensure that outcome?
The last time this was
asked, only 4.4% of all unit owners responded
favorably to a dues increase.
Will that
change?
Send us your comments
to:
Tomorrow
Part Four
Our Idea...Do it
Right
From Donna & Marty W...to...Anthem Opinions
As the money talks, and B.S. walks, "they" will continually say, "this time it'll work, give it a chance….NOT" Once again it'll be another loser. Why (?), because they DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW!
Until "they figure out that (as an example) that we just got a new restaurant at the Albertson shopping center, and we just got a new restaurant next door to Kneaders called S & P.
Three restaurants! And so much diversity between them too.
Oh sure, maybe "they" have a bunch of people that are already there at the Independence Center,, but the numbers, as you point out won't cut it.
Give it up!
If as you say, 4% want it and are willing to pay for it, then give them the opportunity to "invest in it."
Let them take all the responsibility. You know that'll let the wind out of their sails after a while.
Let them put their money where their mouths are.
I for one, am so tired of the madness.
As a home owner of 3 properties, I'm appalled to learn of our Board considering another failing restaurant.
That's all I have to say........
I say give the space to the Foundation to run.
We could have great menu items on there too:
The Weddle Waffling Waffle
The Waterhouse Watermelon Salad
The Nissen Negligible (Surplus) Nachos
The Meese Monster Meatloaf
The Burch Busting Burrito
Carls’ Capable Cocktails
And last but not least . . . . . . .
Mayfield’s Magnificent Texas Toast
Great article on the restaurant!
Will definitely forward your article to others in hopes they will attend.