Sharing Resources
By Jenn | December 8, 2009
I heard this great story on NPR recently, about two different restaurants in Springfield Missouri which share the same space. One is a breakfast/eggs joint from which you can order breakfast and lunch, and the other an Italian restaurant which serves lunch and dinner. Though their menus, owners, and finances are separate, they share the equipment and space– which has allowed the businesses to continue to thrive despite the tough economy.
Of course, this is a tiny choice as well– only one set of equipment needed to be produced and purchased, and only one physical space is being heated/cooled and lighted. And if they share the same wholesale food purveyor, then only one delivery needs to be made to them, instead of two. It’s really an exciting business model, I think, and it opens up all kinds of new ways of thinking. Less overhead to open and run a new business means more of a chance of that business succeeding.
I’m wondering– do you know of any other businesses or organizations which share resources?
[Image by russeljsmith via Creative Commons]
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We used to go to a great bar in Munich that had no kitchen. The bar owner allowed you to bring food in from outside places but really the best was to order at the bar. He worked it out with the Thai place next door and the Indian across the road (both are stand up or take out places, no seats). You could look at the menu at the bar and order from him. He would send someone over to make your order. The restuarant would then sent a guy over with your plate of food (this way you could avoid the take out boxes). the bar would take the plates and you paid the total (drinks and food) at the bar. I assume the bar owner then worked it out with the dishes and money with the food places afterwards.
It was a nice way for everyone to get more business as it was damn easy as the customer to then get a beer with friends and some much needed food after work. Still one of my favourite hole in the wall places in Munich.
Pipp, I would really like to go to this amazing hole in the wall in Munich, pronto. I love that they served/delivered the food on real plates, and not disposables! What a great decision.
Actually the plate thing is pretty standard in Bavaria. Even in the beer gardens you get your food on a plate with real knives and forks, and your beer in a proper glass mug. You pay a few Euro ‘pfand’ which you get back when you bring the dishes and glass to the washing up station. It is a nice system, but then what would expect from a place where recyling your trash is the law and the fines for doing it wrong are not nice.
there’s a wonderful establishment near me in brooklyn–sycamore– that is a flower store by day and a bar at night. however, i am fairly certain it is the same proprietors for both, just making the most of the space. the best is their special– a beer and bouquet for $10!
my work collaborates with community organizations and we often do a push-in model of community education where we hire and train people from a particular community to teach community members in already existing community locations, i.e. religious establishments, back-to-work-type of programs, medical centers, etc.
Michelle, I keep meaning to check out Sycamore… love the odd combo of passions the owner(s) have made work!
a great added bonus is they allow dogs inside as well as in their back outdoor area. the same owners also have a lovely restaurant a few stores over. i really like that they are supporting the neighborhood. (jenn–we can have a date if you’d like. )
There is a local sandwich shop that does this. The breakfast is done from 6-10am by a woman who just graduated from culinary school and then the sandwich place opens @ 10:30am. The woman also has desserts and pies available for sale during the rest of the day
Maxine, thanks for sharing– this is so great!
There’s a place in downtown Olympia that does something. I think it used to be called the New Moon Cafe. There’s breakfast/brunch from morning until early afternoon, then it closes. Evening until 11pm, it’s a Mexican place.
I also was going to post about the New Moon in Olympia. I love that place. I think it’s great that they share the space with a Mexican restaurant in the evenings. The New Moon tries to use local and organic foods as well.
I’m sure it’s not true, but there’s always rumors about all of the indian restuaruants on E. 6th Street in NYC sharing kitchens. They’re each so small, it’s hard to imagine that they ALL have full kitchens behind them!