Trader Vic's Downtown Los Angeles!, Los Angeles, CA (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

LL Limbo Lizard Tiki Socialite Aboard the 'Leaky Tiki', Dallas Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 788	LL Limbo Lizard Posted posted on Mon, Mar 24, 2014 10:21 AM Some speculation on my part... With the Emeryville location as the only "company store", I suspect it does "double duty", also serving somewhat the same purpose as a model home, on a new housing development. It can function as a tool to sell the concept and help prospective franchisees see the potential. As such, everything has to be a cut above,... even if it means barely breaking even, or even subsidizing it somewhat from other operations. Like the model house, everything has to be near perfect, even if it costs more than the house will eventually sell for, as simply another house in the completed development. In this way, perhaps the Emeryville location is able to focus on overall excellence, on 'getting it right', partially shielded from the financial pressures of other locations. I wonder if the company owns, rather than leases, the property, further insulating it from rising rents. Add to all this the pedigree that Emeryville enjoys as the "crown jewel", which gives a further sense of pride to the staff and makes it a destination location, and this may help explain the success and longevity of this location, compared to the upstarts of the last decade. "The rum's the thing..." [ Edited by: Limbo Lizard 2014-03-24 10:23 ]

Some speculation on my part...

With the Emeryville location as the only "company store", I suspect it does "double duty", also serving somewhat the same purpose as a model home, on a new housing development. It can function as a tool to sell the concept and help prospective franchisees see the potential. As such, everything has to be a cut above,... even if it means barely breaking even, or even subsidizing it somewhat from other operations. Like the model house, everything has to be near perfect, even if it costs more than the house will eventually sell for, as simply another house in the completed development. In this way, perhaps the Emeryville location is able to focus on overall excellence, on 'getting it right', partially shielded from the financial pressures of other locations. I wonder if the company owns, rather than leases, the property, further insulating it from rising rents.
Add to all this the pedigree that Emeryville enjoys as the "crown jewel", which gives a further sense of pride to the staff and makes it a destination location, and this may help explain the success and longevity of this location, compared to the upstarts of the last decade.

"The rum's the thing..."

[ Edited by: Limbo Lizard 2014-03-24 10:23 ]

Post #711967 by Limbo Lizard on Mon, Mar 24, 2014 10:21 AM