You know those places that seem to be constantly shifting owners? Like that barbershop that was Jeff’s Cuts, then it was Leroy’s Hair, then it was just Jimmy’s, and most recently it was cringingly called Bubba the Barber’s. And you wonder why people keep buying it and putting in the same business. Do they honestly think they have such a better recipe for success? Did Leroy even talk to Jeff and find out why he went under in the first place? Maybe he just thought it was the name, that the location was perfect, but the name had to go. All I know is that I am constantly shocked at the number of “reconfigurations” places get, and they still end up sitting empty more often than not because yet another wannabe entrepreneur has to admit to the demise of his business.
I recall there was this pizza place a few blocks down from my house. It was one of those places I just mentioned. At first the owner was an honest-to-goodness Italian guy, and they made really good pizza. I remember going in there when it first opened, with my family, and the place was slammed with customers, people wall to wall. It had a really good atmosphere, authentically Italian and whatnot, and I was excited it was in the neighborhood. But within a year of opening the place had closed. Apparently the word of mouth buzz had worn off and people just weren’t giving them enough business. A year after that another guy moved in and set up shop. The guy was Black, so the “neighborhood” identified with him and the place was jumpin’ again. It became the hangout spot on Friday nights, and I would see people coming in and out of there all the time. The problem was that it was just that, the hangout spot, and the people hanging out there weren’t buying pizza. That place closed in five months.
During the first season of The Apprentice, I remember Donald Trump talking about how the secret to success in any business was in “location, location, location,” and I nodded my head along with him, thinking about all those places that didn’t succeed. I guess the places that fail like that are cheap, but if you’re a business owner, maybe you should take a hint from that. If the place is cheap to lease, maybe the owner knows something you don’t. There’s a sucker born every minute, or at least that’s what the people who matter say. Don’t let yourself be that sucker. Don’t fall for the slick line that the place is in your budget. You’ll be lamenting that in five months or less when you have to let the place go, and you’re in the hole financially because of it.
Even large businesses sometimes make the mistake of choosing the wrong location. A few years back there was a Home Depot the company threw up in Rome, New York (I had to qualify that so you weren’t thinking I meant Italy). You’d think with the team of people working on locations that they wouldn’t have thrown up a loser, but that’s exactly what they did. Within four months the store was closed, and no one has moved into the husk of a building since. It happens to many people, choosing that definite wrong location, and it’s sad, really, especially when someone sinks their heart and soul into it.
And I wish that pizza place was still around. I’m sure someone else will start it up again soon. Just get in there on opening day, and hope it’s not closing day as well.
Sam
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