PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Why Do Restaurants Close? A Financial Perspective on Why the Demise of Fine Dining Is Closing in on Us

In this column I write about new restaurants and their chances for financial success, but this month I wanted to make some observations on the recent closings of some beloved high-end restaurants in the…

Let’s Invest in Restaurants

Often I’m asked why people invest in restaurants, and in my articles I’ve certainly offered many reasons why. This time, let’s look at it differently: What if I had $750,000, or $250,000 or $50,000…

My Take on the Top 200 Franchisees

(The article refers to the Restaurant Finance Monitor’s list of top 200 restaurant franchisees of 2017.) The Monitor 200 provides an interesting look at key franchisee operators who have a bearing on our industry…

Pajarito Sings: Upscale Mexican restaurant has 2 talented chefs, classy good looks and best of all, ROI potential

The first time I visited Pajarito was in the company of Rick Nelson, the restaurant reviewer for the Star Tribune (Rick and I aren’t close personal friends; this dinner for four was a silent…

Dealing With Problematic Sale/Leaseback Transactions

The restaurant industry has been one of the most prolific users of sale-leaseback financing. Over the last few years, cap rates have been favorable. That means the price the potential tenant gets for their…

Restoring Glory: It’ll need high volumes, but The Lexington’s three revenue sources put it in a position to succeed

It was a long time coming, but the newly refurbished Lexington in St. Paul appears to be worth the wait. The beautiful, old building, once the sipping grounds for St. Paul notables, has been…

What Makes a Successful Chef-Driven Restaurant?

I must be asked once a week by a chef or someone looking to invest with them: “What makes a successful chef-driven restaurant?” The reason is we’ve become a country of foodies. Chefs dream…

The Trifecta: There’s a lot to love about the renovation and expansion of the Alma hospitality brand

I love numerous profit centers in restaurants. I also love maximizing the use of the real estate. With the addition of a café concept and a boutique hotel to his high-end Restaurant Alma, award-winning…

Ideas for Post-Election Tax Planning

There has been a great deal of speculation about the post-election tax policy and when it will, if at all, be implemented. What we would like to do in this article is not just…

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