A Girl So Pleasantly Strange asked: I was at a BBQ this past Saturday and a friend and I had come up with this pipe dream idea of creating a vegan/vegetarian restaurant and bookstore with a stage.
The menu would be made up of mostly vegetarian dishes, (there would be absolutely no meat, no beef, chicken or fish on the menu), but dairy would be an option. The kitchen would be split in two, and the vegan food would be prepared on the opposite side.
Please read my list of ideas below and if you could answer a few questions for me.
What do you think about my ideas so far? What were/are some issues that you have had in running your own business? How hard is it to start your own business? Do you feel like it was all worth it? Forget the cost of space, (I know it has to do with location), but what are the costs of the permits, or any other legal “mumbo-jumbo”? Obviously I have not researched this yet, and it’s still just a dream. But I want to know if this all sounds doable.
Here is how I imagine it:
You walk in the door and you can already tell that this is a place where creativity thrives. The walls are plastered with paintings and photographs donated by local artists. To your left there are a number of tall shelves packed with a large variety of books. In that corner you will also find four or five large and relaxing chairs pinning an area rug to the wood floor, and beanbag chairs scattered about the area.
It would be a place that you could come to and relax on a Saturday afternoon. Grab a cup of coffee and a good book and waste a rainy evening sitting snug in an oversized beanbag chair.
Beyond that you will see a stage where local bands can showcase their talents. (I also imagine the stage being used for book readings, poetry slams, and small plays.) And around it would be a spacious dance floor.
If when you first came in you had walked to your right, you would find the dining room. I would like for the style to be tasteful and somewhat classy, but I don’t want it to frighten away the everyday folks. So there would probably be tables and booths, because I think booths create a more comfortable atmosphere.
The prices would be slightly more expensive than a trip to Mc Donald’s, but not as costly as an upscale restaurant. (Imagine Panera Bread for price.)
There would be two separate menus, (one vegan, and one vegetarian).
Also, (and I think I would be the first to do this), I would like to create a book and make it available to any customer who is concerned, that lists the every ingredient that goes into our meals. I know that vegans have a very strict diet that they abide by, and I want to assure them that I have prepared their meals around their very specific interests.
I would also make a “cereal bar” available. (I saw the movie FLAKES recently, and I love the idea!)
There would be free WiFi available for paying customers, and I also thought of creating a sound proof room for local college students to utilize for studying.
The restaurant could host a number of fun activities to keep the community active and creative. A few examples could be:
family nights-
once a month we could show a kid friendly movie on an overhead
projector screen.
Fright nights-
Once a month we could show a corn syrupy massacre on an overhead projector screen =) I love a good horror flick
Beginner’s yoga classes
Writing classes/sessions
Still life drawing sessions
Karaoke nights of course
We could host themed dances
Book signings
Wine tasting
Student film screenings
Clothing swaps-
Trade in your gently used threads for some new style
An art gallery-
One weekend a month we could turn the dance floor/bookstore portion into a gallery where local artists can display their art.
Holiday parties
Game nights-
We could host teen lock-ins they could
Bamboo Steamers
