Some restaurant owners will try anything, in this down economy, to ensure success. Consider Jonathan Moldovan, a partner, with his two brothers and his sister, in a New York Burger Company franchise opening at 470 West 23rd Street at the corner of 23rd Street and 10th Avenue in New York. Four restauranteurs have tried their luck at that spot in the past twelve years. How have they fared? You can figure it out for yourself. Mr. Moldovan is opening his burger joint there.
So he and his partners decided to have their new venture blessed by not one, not two, not three, not four, but five clergy--Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Native American, and Episcopalian. As he told the New York Times, “We figured we might as well get as much blessing as we could.” But I note that he missed some denominations. No Wiccans? Hmmm. But the new owners aren't trusting only the blessings. They also factor in proximity to transportation, other businesses, mundane stuff like that.
Other folks who have tried to coax financial success out of the location are somewhat at a loss to explain failure. Successful restauranteur Robert Arbor notes, “It is the Bermuda Triangle, the evil nest, my downfall, my only failure." A local attorney and resident of the area said she had no theory on the successive restaurant failures at the spot but speculated that the menu might attract customers. Well, maybe fifth time's the charm. Or maybe it'll be the burgers.
Comments