Eric Koslowski, proprietor of Primanti Bros. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, doesn’t appear to be taking the recession mendacity down. When alternative knocked, he answered in an enormous manner. Koslowski lately opened a 4,700-square-foot retailer by negotiating with the constructing’s proprietor. Consequently, gross sales are constantly hitting $50,000- plus per week at his latest location.
Q. Why open a brand new retailer in an ailing financial system?
A: We had been capable of finding that landlords are keen to provide very, very long-term favorable leases proper now for about 60 cents on the greenback, and now we have the choice to buy the property which we most likely couldn’t have executed years in the past. We took over a constructing that had been an out parcel to a shopping mall and the place went bankrupt. It was a seafood restaurant. It’s sometimes $10,000 to $12,000 (a month in hire) for the sort of constructing, and I acquired it for $8,000. As a substitute of getting a five-to 15-year lease, I acquired a 30-year lease. Each single factor we needed, the owner was like, ‘Yeah! We would like someone right here.’
Q. You’re providing a prixe fixe household evening menu on Tuesday and Thursday nights. How is that working for you?
A: We actually acquired an awesome deal on the property and that being, we had been capable of have a really economical menu for our clients … Tuesdays and Thursdays we do a 20-inch pizza with three toppings and a pitcher of Coke for $16.99. You’ll be able to substitute a pitcher of beer for $17.99. Final Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., we bought like 130 of these (packages). It was superb. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, now we have strains.
Q. How is enterprise at your different places?
A: We even have 16-percent development at our two present eating places, 2009 versus 2008. Every retailer grew by 16 p.c. Individuals are ‘buying and selling down’ from the higher-end eating places to extra economical ones, however they gained’t commerce down in high quality. We’ll fi nd that we’ll have The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility kind buyer come to our retailer as a result of although it’s pizza, it’s nice pizza. They’re not going to exit and spend $35 on an entrée, however they’ll exit and get a pleasant pie and a lasagna so long as it’s good.
Q. What are your targets for 2010?
A: We’re eager to do 5 shops whole in Broward County. I’ve one (retailer) on the ocean, one to the west and one within the middle. We wish to do one to the north and one to the south.
Q. What recommendation would you give an operator in an analogous state of affairs?
A: If folks would exit and look, the buildings are on the market. The best pizza product on the proper worth offers large alternatives proper now for operators.
