I am so glad November is over. It was the slowest minth Kanoe Cafe has ever had since I took it over in May of 2007. Sales are down however it looks real good in December. A Good start.
Many new specials the $5 specials are starting to take off like a rocket. I guess many do not have any real spendable income. Lunches are getting busy and gas prices are coming down. Now you might want to ask why I said that?
Many articles I read collate the price of fuel with the business. Many thought if fuel comes down business would increase. Well they are wrong. Many small cafes are going under very quickly. I am hearing of at leaset two a day in the Dayton/Cin area.
However this means less competition for the big full service casual places.
I am running the Kanoe Cafe like I ran my print shop in the 80's. Then it was stated the USA is in a recession but I did not look at it that way I saw postive results. I thought of ways to get to the people. I am doing that now.
You can change the menu all you want but if the patrons do not know what is new then what is the use?
I have a salad that is veryy tasty Spinach almond. What makes it tasty is the pomagranites. however poms are seasonal and in a month will be gone.Then what?
How about a spinach pear salad. well pears are seasonal too? yes but they will be coming from the south and we will still have them. and if we want to we can eat can pears.
What is new at the Kanoe.
Come and see?
John
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
It is getting closer the biggest home cooking day of the year. No, not the Super Bowl but the day families get together and friends Thanksgiving Day. The books come out, crock pots, and old family recipes, traditions.
I love the part in "Fiddler On the Roof" when the father dances and keeps asking God about the old traditions. He realised the old ways are going away with each generation of his girls. He says he has to change.
Eating out is the same way. The traditional restaurants are going away and new ideas have to materialize. Isaiah told me of Boston market was torn down near Fairfield Mall to make way for a New Cafe McDonald's. The arches are even going to be different.
I have noticed in some of my restaurant newsletters I receive on a daily basis Dairy Queen are putting on a new face lift. The one comment was it is traditional to have Dairy Queen even the name will change to Brazier Chill and Grill more focus on food. Wendy's and Arby's have merged and new menu items are overlapping in to each store.
Times are changing and eating habits are changing. The homemade meals on one day of the year has taken over the traditional family daily meal using the traditional recipes mom and dad passed down.
Things change. The Kanoe Cafe is changing and doing quickly.
Eat Well
I love the part in "Fiddler On the Roof" when the father dances and keeps asking God about the old traditions. He realised the old ways are going away with each generation of his girls. He says he has to change.
Eating out is the same way. The traditional restaurants are going away and new ideas have to materialize. Isaiah told me of Boston market was torn down near Fairfield Mall to make way for a New Cafe McDonald's. The arches are even going to be different.
I have noticed in some of my restaurant newsletters I receive on a daily basis Dairy Queen are putting on a new face lift. The one comment was it is traditional to have Dairy Queen even the name will change to Brazier Chill and Grill more focus on food. Wendy's and Arby's have merged and new menu items are overlapping in to each store.
Times are changing and eating habits are changing. The homemade meals on one day of the year has taken over the traditional family daily meal using the traditional recipes mom and dad passed down.
Things change. The Kanoe Cafe is changing and doing quickly.
Eat Well
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Watching Sitting in The Car
I was talking with a restaurant buddy yesterday and we were discussing marketing. One thing we both agreed on was "What other business gives something away in order to get customers in the door"? The answer we are finding is people are looking for a deal. Business has to entice potential customers to get out of there car and come inside to order and eat.
Every morning I look at a local McDonald's and watch cars line up past the driveway into an intersection. I wonder what are they giving away?
I want people to know what i am and what do I have to offer? Marketing and branding the name are two areas I need to explore. Market the good food concept and have people when they have the urge to eat know Kanoe cafe is the place to go. To go even if it mean a long wait.
The Kanoe Cafe is a great place to meet, greet and eat.
Eat Well
Every morning I look at a local McDonald's and watch cars line up past the driveway into an intersection. I wonder what are they giving away?
I want people to know what i am and what do I have to offer? Marketing and branding the name are two areas I need to explore. Market the good food concept and have people when they have the urge to eat know Kanoe cafe is the place to go. To go even if it mean a long wait.
The Kanoe Cafe is a great place to meet, greet and eat.
Eat Well
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Land of Oz
I was really disheartening when I pulled up to the Burrito Loco in Huber Heights and the lights were turned off. It was like watching the last Seinfeld and seeing Friends fad off into a dark scene. Many cafes and restaurants are closing its doors due to the economic conditions.
My wife Pat, called one day and said did I know Culver's and Lincoln Park will be closing after there New Year's Party? I must say I did not know.
Small and medium eateries that are independently owned are falling out of the race. The corporate owned that have the money behind them are still running in the race. Constantly, I have to visit Sam's Club on Miller Lane and you know the area is restaurant haven. This was on a Tuesday and usually the lots are next to vacant. Recently, they are full. I noticed at Smoky Bones cars being parked in a vacant Joe's Crab Shack and patrons walking over to wait.
These are tough times and many small places like mine Kanoe Cafe are wondering will we make it through the tough January and February time period? We are offering new dishes at reasonable prices. If people are willing to come and meet and eat many places are willing to shave the price a cent or two. McDonald's is advertising a combo meal for $3.33. In hopes you buy three. Subway started with the $5 sub and Quezon's followed. Many casual restaurant chains offer 6.99 meals.
Were are we going with this I do not know but what I do know is this to start at the beginning and follow the yellow brick road. It is a journey if you can hang in there you will end up in the Land of Oz.
My wife Pat, called one day and said did I know Culver's and Lincoln Park will be closing after there New Year's Party? I must say I did not know.
Small and medium eateries that are independently owned are falling out of the race. The corporate owned that have the money behind them are still running in the race. Constantly, I have to visit Sam's Club on Miller Lane and you know the area is restaurant haven. This was on a Tuesday and usually the lots are next to vacant. Recently, they are full. I noticed at Smoky Bones cars being parked in a vacant Joe's Crab Shack and patrons walking over to wait.
These are tough times and many small places like mine Kanoe Cafe are wondering will we make it through the tough January and February time period? We are offering new dishes at reasonable prices. If people are willing to come and meet and eat many places are willing to shave the price a cent or two. McDonald's is advertising a combo meal for $3.33. In hopes you buy three. Subway started with the $5 sub and Quezon's followed. Many casual restaurant chains offer 6.99 meals.
Were are we going with this I do not know but what I do know is this to start at the beginning and follow the yellow brick road. It is a journey if you can hang in there you will end up in the Land of Oz.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
My First Experience
Hello Everyone,
This is my first attempt in blogging. Many in my Kanoecafe circle knows that I love to talk and I also love to write. I do not get enough time to just sit and write and tell others what I am thinking.
i have one big thought that has followed me for approximately two years which is "Follow your Dream." I tell my sons to keep your eyes on the goal at hand and go towards it. Sometimes that is harder than it seems.
The Kanoe Cafe was created by Carolyn McDonald approximately 6 years ago. She had a dream to become a cafe owner. When I reached 50 years old I wanted to follow my dream. A dream i had ever since I was in the first grade. I carried this dream with me and finally I can catch a hold of it and hold on and see where the ride will lead me.
The food industry right at this time is going through a big transformation, several of my mentors have gone out of business and our conversation changed from what you need to do to what I should have done and do not make that same mistake. And I will try not to fall in the same deep well as my mentors. However the Kanoe Cafe has gone into a transformation process to ready it self through the up coming storm of economics.
So every time I greet someone entering the cafe I thank God for them because the customer service and good food are bringing them in to help the Kanoe Cafe to go through the storm.
I hope to take time each day to write a blog. Come and visit me while I get transformed.
Eat Well
jk
This is my first attempt in blogging. Many in my Kanoecafe circle knows that I love to talk and I also love to write. I do not get enough time to just sit and write and tell others what I am thinking.
i have one big thought that has followed me for approximately two years which is "Follow your Dream." I tell my sons to keep your eyes on the goal at hand and go towards it. Sometimes that is harder than it seems.
The Kanoe Cafe was created by Carolyn McDonald approximately 6 years ago. She had a dream to become a cafe owner. When I reached 50 years old I wanted to follow my dream. A dream i had ever since I was in the first grade. I carried this dream with me and finally I can catch a hold of it and hold on and see where the ride will lead me.
The food industry right at this time is going through a big transformation, several of my mentors have gone out of business and our conversation changed from what you need to do to what I should have done and do not make that same mistake. And I will try not to fall in the same deep well as my mentors. However the Kanoe Cafe has gone into a transformation process to ready it self through the up coming storm of economics.
So every time I greet someone entering the cafe I thank God for them because the customer service and good food are bringing them in to help the Kanoe Cafe to go through the storm.
I hope to take time each day to write a blog. Come and visit me while I get transformed.
Eat Well
jk
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