Some comments in the FB discussion:
Tessa Bardo
Does anyone know if the new restaurant is still going into Avenue Diner building ?
Danielle Hinton
If you mean hoof fin and fowl no they aren't.
After more inspections they found a lot more wrong with the place and asked the owners of the avenue to help pay for some of the costs they said no so they got their deposit back and trying to find another place
Bernadette Loeffel-Atkins
Nope. Not going in there. Very sad.
Tessa Bardo
Sorry to hear that
Gene Golden
I have known for some time now, but I didn't want to be the one to break the bad news.
Whoever moves into that place has a LOT of issues to deal with!
Having problems with cooperation from a landlord is NOT a good way to start.
Michelle Nett Smyers
Jeanne Davies Shriner....that's the place I was trying to tell you about but....looks like the old Avenue has way more issues than we thought!
Jeanne Davies Shriner
Wonder what all those issues are?
Danielle Hinton
Where to start but the reason they stated was kitchen equipment needed work am sure there were more issues
Annette Ritchie
well if someone knows what they are they might as well spill their guts on here instead of hinting around.
Danielle Hinton
Do you mean why they backed out or what is going into the old avenue
Karl Anderson
I own a business right next door , I bet it's going to be a long time before its rented
Mark Golob
It's killing business in the lower 1st block of Steinwehr! At this point, it is a tear down. I'd like to see some non profit buy it, tear it down. Build an info center, bathrooms, and charge for use of the parking lot.
Carrie McDannell
My husband and I were going to buy it but then didn't due to the condition of the building
Karen Shaw
Carrie McDannell you used to work there?
Carrie McDannell
Yep
Gene Golden
Okay, without beating around the bush...
I'll disclose what little I observed, just from walking through while discussing things with the potential new business owner.
These things are from MY "non-foodservice" impressions.
Some may be easy fixes, but many appear to be "major":
· The outside front of the business is "passable", although dated.
· The sign is in total disrepair
· Inside, front - you could use the booths "as is", but probably wouldn't want to.
· Behind the front counter is passable, I think - but the wait staff had to go to the kitchen for ice - no "servers station".
· The electrical organization is a scrambled mix - the breakers are not divided up in any "sensible" configurations.
· A confusing "secondary" breaker under the stairway to upstairs (apartment)
· The "Office" is sorely lacking in function.
· The "back room" for lack of another name, is a waste of useable space.
· The KITCHEN is wreck...
· The "walk-in" fridge (freezer) needs major cleaning - it's scary.
· Neither standing freezer obtains the proper temperature (possibly just a freon issue - possibly not)
· Some items, necessary for daily business, were taken by the landlord
· The flooring is sunken and crumbling
· The ceiling has "questionable" patching
· There is a serious leak in ceiling, at the back corner where the kitchen meets office
In addition, in MY opinion, the rent is EXORBITANT considering that the new "owner" is also responsible for the Property Taxes on the building. (I consider $3,200, plus taxes, plus, plus, plus... to be exorbitant.)
... and that's before even sinking a dime f your OWN money into the place.
Knowing that this building/business sold at Sheriff's Auction, and brought in $200,000 (if I recall) the landlord has nothing to lose
The "lessee" would have the responsibility to build this place out, and make it useable as a viable restaurant once again.
I certainly would not be the one to have to put that sort of investment into this landlord's property!
The only way I would go, is to BUY the building from the new owner, and go from there.
All told, if you could get up and running for less than $250,000 to $400,000 maybe(?), I'd be surprised.
Of course, if you bought used equipment, kept the interior and front unchanged, got a good crew to do total clean up, and then the inspectors turned a blind eye
, you might get in for under $125,000.
Again, just my opinions, but semi-educated opinions at that -
I spent a good amount of my youth in the restaurant field, and was part owner in an ice cream shop/restaurant for a few years.
THIS place needs help!
, you might get in for under $125,000.
