Captain&#39;s Log

I hear ya. My subs wouldn't be all the greasy like a Subway Sandwich. My main thinking is that most of the folks I know buy their new comics each week then immediately take them to some fast food joint to read. Subs seem to be the least-greasy option here, as opposed to say Burger & Fries. But I want the restaurant end to be strong enough to support the comics end should that ever come to a slow time, and vice-versa.

Plus, I love the play-on-words for the name :)

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pastilla.livejournal.com

Love the play on words!

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Me too! I think it just might be clever enough to bring in some media attention!

I'm thinking it should be in Renton... close to Nintendo and Microsoft.

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eleri.livejournal.com

Maybe some control on the flow of stuff, like comics can go into the food area, but food can't come into the comics area, would cut down on potential lost product from food damage.

Ad a rentable back room for gaming, and yer on.

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strryeyedgrrl.livejournal.com

I agree with the control of keeping food out of the comics area. Also, maybe keeping the food area a little more mainstream as well, to attract the non-geeky types so as to ensure a continuous cash flow.

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Yip! That's the plan! The restaurant area would have framed original artwork on the walls, maybe a "Themed" menu (The Superman Sandwich, The Avengers Combo meal, etc), but other than that I'm counting on each half of the business carrying the other half during slow times :)

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strryeyedgrrl.livejournal.com

You know, I could see something like this working out really well in the Downtown Tacoma or North Tacoma/Stadium District area as well.

*cough*

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But to do it in tacoma, wouldn't we have to offer Crack Cocaine as a side-dish?

:P

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strryeyedgrrl.livejournal.com

See, you really need to visit Tacoma more often. If you want to buy some crack, you need to be in Central or South Tacoma. North Tacoma/Stadium District is the more indie-hipster scene.

If you want crack, you need come down my way towards Parkland. While you're there, you could get yourself a hooker that flashes the cars from the bus stop. Whee!

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I was gonna make the restaurant part be the default "Gaming" area... lots of tables, lots of chairs, 'Cafeteria" style seating...

As long as you've bought something to eat or drink, you can be there for 2 hours. Register reciepts will be time-stamped.

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OMG! My husband just about shat himself when I told him this! He was thinking of doing something almost identical to that! Except not only hero's and sub's, like gourmet sandwiches (he's been a gourmet chef for quite a few years now). It's so funny how much you have in common with my husband! Teehehehe.

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Too cool! My idea was to have your 'Common" sandwiches on the menu for the non-adventurous, then having my "Themed" sandwiches be all Gourmet!

Where do you live and how much money should we pump in to this business of ours :D

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Hehehe. Well, for the moment we're still in Ellensburg. We'll be here until March 2009 (when the husband graduates from CWU) then we're moving back to the west side...either Lynnwood (I'm trying to talk him into this, since I have tons of family still there) or Lake City, since he has sisters who live there. Hmmm, I can see a future business partner! :D

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Dude, you *know* I'm in Lynnwood, right?

This could be AWESOME!!!

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Do you remember me commenting you in the "Christmaslovers"commiunity!?! I was like "OMG! You're from Lynnwood!? I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LYNWOOD!!!" Teeehehehe. This could be VERY awesome! :)

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Oh yeah... *THAT'S* how you got on my Friends List! i remember now :)

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LOL! At least you remember now! :D

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melancholywings.livejournal.com

The name is awsome. Would it be a resturant with a comic book theme? Or a comic book shop with a sandwhich counter? The first sounds more interesting to me, the second though isn't as appealing. I think it's more of the idea of a cook who sells comics as well, vs. a comic book guy who sells sandwhiches. A cook touching your food is more trustworthy and appealing.
And I like the idea of getting a couple of comics with a meal but there might be an issue of legal infridgement as it's a food premium? Then again maybe the sandwhich could be offered as part of a rewards program with the comics.
Sorry to go all QA.^^

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It would actually be two seperate shops, connected by the front section. I've seen businesses *sort of* like what i want to do before, like a sandwich shop and an antique store. But there would be a seperate crew doing the Food Prep than there would be doing the comic book selling, but just one central check-out cashier area. So in essence it would be both! A Comic-themed sandwich shop AND a comic book store with a sandwich counter!

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elith.livejournal.com

Only problem with mixing the two...not sure if you'd want un-purchased merchandise in the food area. Could get mucked up quicker.

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No food allowed in to the comic shop... BIG SIGNS and employees to tell them NO!

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pullipsushi.livejournal.com

Ah that works! I worked at a bookstore that was set up very similar, with a shop - cafe.

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hallerlake.livejournal.com

There was a place in Ballard which was a pizza-by-the-slice joint on one side of the wall and a gaming/comic place on the other. They're outta business now, so I'm not sure that's a good recommendation. They had a lot of warhammer-esque games and not a lot of RPG stuff, and I don't know how much they had in the way of comics really. Ton of action figures though.

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My "Heroes" would be almost completely Comics, RPG and CCG. Those Warhammer kids are just too darned space-hogging!

Also, Pizza is a bit too greasy me thinks. Nothing but cold sandwiches for THIS shop!

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Limit the amount of stuff you have to heat.

Yes, Warhammer takes a lot of shelf space and it is expensive to start since you can't just carry a few things. They want you to buy enough stuff to support at least one of their 3 primary games.

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Exactly. Not only that, but you cna usually get the stuff on-line much cheaper than you can at a shop! The only way I ever see shops making money is by running tournaments, get a few players bored and waiting they'll eventually buy some stuff.

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Not really. At least not with Warhammer. A lot of people don't buy over the Internet. A lot are too young to and there is the satisfaction of getting something immediately.

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Tons of opinions and brainstorm ideas follow.

I think it is a good idea. The way I've seen it before is with a coffee shop attached to a store rather than a sandwich shop.

My first thought as far as workability was to look at similar style stores already out there. The closest I can come up with is the Borders cafe at Alderwood Mall. They have the set up (and I highly recommend getting in on the espresso bandwagon - low investment, high profit) with light food, beverages, and tables for eating. The merchandise is off to the side of the dining area. There are some tables and some fluffy chairs.

I would suggest keeping your menu very simple. It keeps investment low and also keeps your time behind the counter limited as well. I love Hot Dog on a Stick's menu. They have like 3 things. They can expand that to about 6. But that is all. Very simple. You can do similar with sandwiches.

A simple menu also allows you to limit your refrigeration needs, the clean up, etc. Less expense and less work for you would be good. Have a healthy selection of food and use that as a marketing tool.

One downside is that you have to enter the frightening world of restaurant regulation. There is a lot of paperwork, requirements, inspections, permits, ad infinitum that you have to go through to get established. It is certainly not impossible, but it is something to consider.

Another downside is that you will almost certainly need a couple of employees. That is more expense and paperwork and another level of government bureaucracy.

Hire a CPA. They will save you more money than they cost.

I would focus primarily on new comic books. I know you have a boat load of back issues, and that is fine, but don't turn the place into a garage sale. As a restaurant you need to look sharp and clean. Beaten up long boxes and the musty smell of decaying paper do not lend themselves to building that atmosphere. An immaculate store will also encourage people not to make messes. A messy store suggests you don't mind if people make a mess and the next thing you know Spider-Man is covered in mayo. I love the idea of giving out comic books with the meal though. Every meal is a kid's meal!

I would also recommend, once established, to reach out to the comic book and webcomic creators in the area. Get them to come in and sign books. Hang their photos on the wall (autographed 8x10s naturally) as celebrities that have visited.

Also participate in things like the 24 Hour Comic Book day and National Novel Writing Month. (google them if you are a hermit and don't know what they are)

Here is an idea. Every year at the Emerald City Comic Convention name a sandwich after a local comic celebrity. Make a ceremony out of it. Give out coupons to the audience. Your hero accepts the award (including a free sub a month for a year) and in doing so they endorse and advertise your store. They will likely put it on their website as an honor. This drives people who are part of your target audience into the store.

By the way, I love the name Heroes.

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All ideas I've already got, thanks!

I *have* seen it work with a musty setting, a place in lake City called "Craniums". They were a sandwich shop/antique & Collectibles store. His problem was not enough new stuff comeing in to make the antique store thrive, and the name of the business told no one what to expect when they came in. It was a happy accident that we discovered it! But it also had that simple "Food and tables up-frontish, store inventory to the side" format that really apeals to me... and an entirely enclosed kitchen area! You placed your order at a little window! It was *perfect*!

"Heroes"... I need to gets me some investors :)

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Good luck finding investors. :D

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thecookielady.livejournal.com

What I wanna know is....

Do the employees get to wear costumes to work?? Cuz I'm already calculating the commute. And you KNOW I can kick butt in the waitstaff department :)

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