User login

Who's online

There are currently 9 users and 52 guests online.

Online users

  • PeaceCompass
  • security_six
  • Laurian
  • White Rabbit
  • JT
  • The Fire Inside
  • memetic_alchemy
  • benny
  • Zero_One

Support OlyBlog

OlyBlog is run by volunteers who care about Olympia. If you like what we're doing, make a donation:

OlyBlog is powered by:

Who's new

  • memetic_alchemy
  • cfs
  • davefromcarolina
  • v4mp1r3
  • setty

    Creative Commons License
 
Submitted by jovial_cynic on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 12:21pm.

I just saw this ad on craigslist.

Here's the text from the ad:

This is the genuine item! A well appointed 'American Diner Style' restaurant in the heart of the State Capital with lots of pedestrian traffic. This restaurant serves food in generous portions: from hefty burgers to Philly Cheese Steaks. And everything in between!

All the furniture on the premises is new. Yet the look is that of an authentic 1950’s ‘diner’, This place is loaded with good feelings and lots of yesteryear charm. Yet the kitchen areas are modern and spotlessly clean!

After 3 years of operation, gross annual sales have reached $500,000 and are still climbing. 'Take Out' and 'Delivery of hot food lunches'(to the thousands of state government employees in the City) now comprise an increasing portion of sales.

This is the only restaurant of its type in the downtown area which is fully dedicated to what American hamburger ‘joints’ used to look and feel like, even down to the rotating vinyl counter stools.

Offered for sale at $175,000. Seller possibly willing to carry a note for a serious party with a down payment of $ 50K.

For additional details, call (360) 532-6800.

 

Crazy. I hope whoever buys it keeps making those cheesesteak sandwiches. And man, that cheesecake...

»

Alaskan Fishermen Services?

That's where the phone number points to. Weirdness.
»

legit ad or testing waters?

I wonder...any CJ gonna "call & confirm"? Cosmo?

 

»

I've called and confirmed

I called the clubside's real number (360-352-7565), and I've confirmed that the place is up for sale.  I'm not really sure what that number in the ad points to, but in any event, there is no testing of the waters going on.  The clubside is actually up for sale.

http://newprotest.org

 

»

Further information

Additional information:

I called Kenny (the owner), and chatted with him for a few minutes.  I guess he and his wife decided that the business forces them to spend too much time away from their two kids at home, and so they are exploring some more options.  They like working the place, but they want to spend more time as a family together.

Quite noble.  Good on them.

http://newprotest.org

»

family, yeah

That makes sense and it's too bad. They provide one of the most toddler friendly restaurants in town. We go there more than any other place downtown because they make room for our kid to enjoy herself. I hope new ownership has similar sensibilities.

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

»

A problem?

I was thinking about this today, also some of these thoughts stem from a conversation I had at Last Word Books with folks there.

The idea is that people don't buy existing businesses. Usually, people have an idea and then go into business with it. Rarely does someone taking over someone else's idea work (let's go get a bagel at Otto's, oh yeah). There just isn't the same passion for it that the original owners had.

I'm afraid that unless the employees get together and buy it or someone very close to Kenny, that any new owner will have to change the place to make it their own, and in order to be passionate about running it. It might still be a fifties style diner, but I doubt it'll be The Clubside as we know it today.

image
»

things change yes, but

If the current restaurant is in the black then many people won't change a whole lot after buying. Restaurants are notoriously difficult to make profitable. If Clubside Cafe is currently profitable and they find a buyer then chances are pretty good that the menu and theme would not change much. Now whether or not they maintain a kid's play area or opt for an extra table or two...

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

»

Gee

I've lived here 9 years and never eaten there!  I'm gonna have to go before they sell after reading all these nice things about the owners & the food!

 

"A point of view is only a view from a point..." ~ Unknown

»

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

OlyBlog.net

OlyBlog is devoted to hyperlocal news and discussion specifically about Olympia, Washington. Contributors to OlyBlog are citizen journalists who care about their community and are tired of corporate media.

If you'd like to contribute, please register for an account. Here is a list of local news beats that need to be covered. You can post your news as a personal blog entry, and it will be reviewed (and possibly edited) for promotion to the front page. You can also send news via email. All members of OlyBlog agree to abide by our Social Contract. You should also look at our comment and fair use policies. If you are frustrated about something said in a comment thread, go here.

Olyblogger of the Month:

decorabilia

Sponsored by:

Docents are fellow citizen journalists who volunteer to be at your service in order to help with any blog-related issues. They are:

Rob Richards
Interests: community building; participatory art, democracy and economics; local politics; citizen journalism.

emmettoconnell
Interests: City Council, developing a local issues forum.

enpen
Interests: OlyBlog calendar, Oly street art, local artist interviews, his family, poetry and stuff.

Robert Whitlock
Interests: peace, justice, nature, nonviolence, media, environment

Rick
Interests: citizen journalism, hyperlocal media, the knowledge commons.

Get Firefox!

OlyBlog is a site for news and discussion about Olympia, Washington.
free hit counter