The Twin Cities has had hit after hit of solid neighborhood restaurants by good chefs, and I believe Bar Brigade will be yet another of those hits for St. Paul. Neighborhoods help define a…
The IPO market always has been a funding source for growing restaurant brands. And, restaurants are active in raising equity through individuals and private equity, using creative approaches. With the help of my law…
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…
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…
(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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
