Location,Location,Location ?

It's a small island, where restaurants are concerned. I'm by no means an expert on restaurants but it seems to me that "if you build it, they will come." By that I mean that if you offer a good time, good service, good value, then you can set up wherever you want. Location is less important than reputation. More than anywhere else my family and I eat at the Buccaneer and Paradise Cafe because the service is good, the food is good, and above all it is CONSISTENT.

My word is my reputation. We may start small,but you're going to like it.

Like many car dealers find out, nearby competition is good. That being said, the problem with the places in C-sted and F-sted is parking! Sometimes I just pass them by, especially at night if I can't park close.
Good food and good service mean a lot, as does atmosphere, price and the type (or look) of customers. Don't take that as a color thing. There is a open bar on the board walk that I don't go into because most of the crowd ( who are the same race as I am ) look either drunk or stoned. I will drive all the way out to Off the Wall just for a couple of slices because of all five. I never went to that cute little coffee shop that was across from Times Square ,( they have since moved) because of location.
I will drive to miles for lunch at La Rein Chicken Shack or To Norma's in the rain forest. Love her Johnnie Cakes!!! She said I hold the record for the most at one sitting. LOL
I don't care for enclosed places where there is a lot of smoke. I went a couple of times to Golden Corral (name?) but it was so smokey I don't go back even though the food and service was good.
Being from the mainland where smoking is prohibited I get spoiled. I do have mixed emotions with the Big Brother intrusion of telling a business owner that he can't have people smoke in his place since it is a legal substance. If a owner wants people to be able to smoke I feel he should have that right. I have never been run down and made to go into a restaurant. I just wish they would outlaw smoking and put a bounty on the heads of people caught smoking. I would be first in line to buy a hunting permit. LOL.

Restaurants spread by word of mouth here. Location doesn't seem to matter. There are awful places in C'sted and great places. People will travel to Norma's in the rainforest, Rowdy Joes in north shore or East End Pizza if the food is good and that is what they want. You want to know what we are lacking? variety of ethnic food. Mexican is severely lacking, we only have one sushi place, one thai, two that specialize in BBQ, etc. Bar scene outside of C'sted in non-existant. Basically, if the food is good, the prices aren't horrible, and the service in Island good, then people will come.

What kind of people are you looking to attract? The lunch crowd? the bar crowd? fine dining? You need to give more information.

I still think strand st in F'sted is such a potentially great location. The sunset views are fantastic. I know allot of people may think the area is not the safest, but that's unfortunate because its really a nice relaxing and romantic location

Thanks Mike. I am thinking F' stead or C' stead . Two week working vacation coming up in Feb. I will definately have a better feel for a location when we return to the land of the snow.

Maybe check out the Salt River Marina location.
There use to be a restaurant for years there. She recently closed.
I think it is a prime location.

Years ago there use to be a Restaurant at Hotel on the Cay, I'M not talking about the Harbor Master. The space is still vacant but the Kitchen facilities and bar are still there collecting dust. It has a beautiful view of the Harbor and Ocean. There were several operators that couldn't make it go. One reason, they had to utilize the Hotel Ferry which wasn't fast enough to get people to and from the restaurant.. The Ferry had to be shared by the Hotel guests. Another reason (word on the street rumors) the original developers were difficult to work with. The original developer was given the boot by court order and the VI Government gave the management to the Condo Association and extended the lease on the land (cay) which is owned by the Govt. I think the new land lease runs till 2035. If a new operator/owner had his own boat/ferry, knocked off the the dress code requirement for night dinning a great business could be had. Because the Cay is basically and island all deliveries have to come in by boat and all garbage has to be taken off the cay by boat. It's not a logistic nightmare that people who know nothing about the restaurant business profess. Here is the only extra cost which has to be incorporated in the cost of dong business on an island like the cay 1) You need your own Boat/Ferry ( 3 qualified Boat Captains) 2) insurance for the Boat. 3) Have a back up plan for when your boat breaks down or needs maintenance. There may be additional problems with leasing the space, however I think it would be worth looking into.8-)

I knew a group that tried it--years ago--parking for customers was a problem . Another thing to consider.

Wouldn't the boat need to be Coast Guard approved? That's not easy unless you buy a boat that has already passed inspection. I see a bunch of other issues, too. Nothing that can't be overcome, but still...I think in terms of myself (don't we all), and I would go every once in a great while, probably if we had company on island, assuming I thought it was worth going, and I could find a place to park. I wouldn't make it a regular drop in for a burger and beer kind of place, or even a Friday night out place, which is what I've been reading into chockman's posts. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt most people that live here would, and you can't survive on tourists alone. Just thinking out loud.:-)

:-oWhat if the "hula hoop" was square?:@)

We would have bruises on our hips.

Chicken Charlies is for sale. I think it is a good location. Not sure about the cost.

Chicken Charlie's is listed on the MLS for 339,000 + leasehold for $1800 a month.

We start small and will grow as You, the good Patrons allow us. Thanks for all the suggestions,Chicken Charlies is way out of budget. Besides I have my own recipes for Chicken and Ribs. You'll love the flavor but you won't have to wear the condiments. Of course there will be BBQ Sauce if you want it. Looking more for the Bar and Grill type atmosphere.

Hurry up Chockman...I am getting hungry....LOL

The restaurant at ST.C condos is for rent. It has been closed for many years and needs to be re-equipped. Fantastic view.

I agree,it is a fantastic view. I wonder what kind of access people who don't live there might have ? How far away is it from the Condos ?

You are going to need a lot of $ and patience unless you aquire a running business.Peter and the Pickled Greek took almost a year to negotiate the Licensing and Health Dept and a lot of unexpected expenses.
I would reconsider Barbacue, there are so many places already doing it, some good and some not so. How many times a week can one eat barbacue?

There was a resturant in Portsmouth NH we love called Jumping Jay's Fish cafe which as you may guess specialized in the freshest well prepared fish and seafood. Jay's was always good and always wedged. Fresh fish from all over the world prepared expertly and creatively. They also had a very cool bar with afishing motif that was interesting.

There was a resturant here a few years ago called the Chart House, It was great. Steak, Chops, seafood, very creative appitizers and desserts and a mud pie to die for.

How about Pit Beef, pit ham & pit turkey.
Love those places back in Maryland.
I'm still looking for a good steak sub. Made with real steak not sliced deli roast beef.

There are certain cuisines that are just lacking on this Island and if they existed we would drive anywhere for them...
Indian, GOOD sushi (sorry, Dashi doesn't cut it), a low country boil, Noodle house and/or Dumpling house, Vietnamese,

Yes I moved from a city but I've been to other Islands that have amazing Culinary reputations, this just doesn't have it.

It is right in the middle of the complex next to the pool.

You won't get any argument from me if you choose a Mexican dish or two...

Correction. It will be a New Mexican dish or two.