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expensive learning process and for the first few months, they try to figure out what days <br />they are going to be busy and what works to get the demographic out there. He added <br />that they could initially overstaff the place because they do not want people to come in <br />and have to wait an hour to get their food; they want the people to keep coming back. <br />He noted that the key to a successful restaurant is the repeat business; without it, the <br />restaurant would be done in six months. <br />Commissioner Olson noted that it was his sense that the difficulties that came about <br />with the former business were essentially caused by the theme of the place, which drew <br />and unsavory crowd. He indicated that the business owners were going to change the <br />theme, and the Commission put a lower occupancy level in place; but that apparently <br />did not work out. <br />Mr. DeBlasi noted that it was a music format theme, hip -hop, as he mentioned earlier. <br />He stated that the problem is, if the place offers a certain theme, especially hip -hop, it <br />invites a whole bunch of people to come over as there is nobody else in Northern <br />California that caters to the hip -hop community. He indicated that they are lucky to <br />have time on their side because the time they re -open, they are not opening as a <br />hip -hop place. He indicated that they are more of a margaritaville, and the chance of <br />that demographic coming back again to come and eat four -foot burritos and break <br />pinatas is very unlikely. He added that he does not see any threat and does not plan to <br />have any of their DJ's or to do anything to invite them to come. <br />Vice Chair Pearce noted that Mr. DeBlasi mentioned bottle- service, but there is no <br />mention of that in the narrative. She asked Mr. DeBlasi if he is planning to have bottle <br />service and how that is going to operate. <br />Mr. DeBlasi said yes. He indicated that, for example, he would like to serve bottles to <br />the local bridge and tunnel crowd that goes out here for the last 20 years on a <br />Wednesday or Thursday night. He stated that there is more markup in it and it's <br />actually more controlled because there is a bottle - service person who pours the drink <br />for them, keeps an eye on it, and keeps everything clean. He added that there is one <br />bottle - service person for every three tables to keep it well- monitored. <br />Vice Chair Pearce inquired if the situation is where the patrons purchase the bottles in <br />advance and then the bottles come to the table, if they have access to the bottle, and if <br />they can pour their own drink. <br />Mr. DeBlasi replied that the patrons are not told that they are not allowed to pour for <br />themselves but the service is so good that they don't need to do that. <br />Vice Chair Pearce noted that with a typical bar situation, the bartender cuts off those <br />who have had too much to drink. She inquired how, with a bottle service situation <br />where the patrons pre -pay for the bottle, they have typically in the past managed the <br />situation if people become overly intoxicated. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, February 27, 2013 Page 13 of 22 <br />