Hasnt everybody around here learned yet? Everyplace that has ever opened around here has a "soft" opening a week or so before they are "open". We can debate whether or not that actually means they are open or not. But usually what it does mean is you can get some kind of food and drinks if you go in there and give them the amount of money stated for the items on the menu. Further, attending soft openings gives one higher social standing. Soooo...it might be in one's best interest to lurk around the place in the weeks preceeding the "Grand Opening". I give you this advice to the detriment of my relative social standing.
Note: These MFs might just jump into the scene with both feet and skip the soft openining. In which case, H ST as we know it will cease to exist
It is concerning that every new business struggles for what seems like months dealing with permitting and bureaucratic inertia on the part of the D.C. government. This seems to be true even for businesses with experienced partners, including those who have gone through the process for the same type of business in the same part of the city.
It was one thing when businesses were racing into the District and the economy was hot, but now that we're dealing with an economic slow-down, it is even more unacceptable. What rational person who did even a bit of investigation into the unnecessary headaches you face would consider opening a new business here in DC?
I must admit I'm speaking as someone watching from the outside, but I can attest that getting permits to have our home's porch replaced took me far longer than it would have in any other jurisdiction (I'm a lawyer for a construction-focused nonprofit). The answer I was given when I complained? That's just how DC is. That may be how "DC is," but we all pay for it.
Not only is it unacceptable from a "just somebody do your job" standpoint for the bureaucracy to be so slow (experience with other city offices makes me think that there are just incompetent lazy people in most places), but it's just bad for economic growth in the city.
The city understands this as they try to put together a package to woo the Northrop Grumman headquarters. Why dont they just overhaul their permits processes and agencies? Why is it hard for people to want to improve the city?
I realize that H ST is one of the few places where almost every new business is an improvement so maybe it isnt so simple. Maybe this is also the same process that keeps strip clubs off M St in Gtown. I dont know. It is probably just a case of common sense decisions that need to be reduced to 200 check boxes in order to remove any possibility of human error or legal action
It was one thing when businesses were racing into the District and the economy was hot, but now that we're dealing with an economic slow-down, it is even more unacceptable. What rational person who did even a bit of investigation into the unnecessary headaches you face would consider opening a new business here in DC?
Not sure this is a whole lot different than any other large city. And "what rational person would consider opening a new business here in DC?" Ask the guys who opened Taylor.
The owners of the biergartenhaus are going to have a license to print money for the next 20 years. So, yeah, I think waiting an extra week for a CoO is pretty rational.
At a DC small business conference last weekend sponsored by Council Member At-Large Michael Brown, several speakers, including Council Members referred to studies showing that DC ranked 51st of 51 places (DC is considered a state in these studies) to do business as well as the worst for small businesses. The reason is regulations, bureaucracy, and taxes.
If you think that running any small business, especially a restaurant or bar, is a "license to print money," you should work in one, or try owning one. Profit margins are slim and even established businesses can crash easily. Long hours seven days a week. No paid benefits. Definitely no vacation.
10 comments:
It's on their website as May 14th: http://biergartenhaus.com/
no doubt, way too much work to be done. No C of O.
Hasnt everybody around here learned yet? Everyplace that has ever opened around here has a "soft" opening a week or so before they are "open". We can debate whether or not that actually means they are open or not. But usually what it does mean is you can get some kind of food and drinks if you go in there and give them the amount of money stated for the items on the menu. Further, attending soft openings gives one higher social standing. Soooo...it might be in one's best interest to lurk around the place in the weeks preceeding the "Grand Opening". I give you this advice to the detriment of my relative social standing.
Note: These MFs might just jump into the scene with both feet and skip the soft openining. In which case, H ST as we know it will cease to exist
Dave B's brilliant comment notwithstanding...
It is concerning that every new business struggles for what seems like months dealing with permitting and bureaucratic inertia on the part of the D.C. government. This seems to be true even for businesses with experienced partners, including those who have gone through the process for the same type of business in the same part of the city.
It was one thing when businesses were racing into the District and the economy was hot, but now that we're dealing with an economic slow-down, it is even more unacceptable. What rational person who did even a bit of investigation into the unnecessary headaches you face would consider opening a new business here in DC?
I must admit I'm speaking as someone watching from the outside, but I can attest that getting permits to have our home's porch replaced took me far longer than it would have in any other jurisdiction (I'm a lawyer for a construction-focused nonprofit). The answer I was given when I complained? That's just how DC is. That may be how "DC is," but we all pay for it.
I heard that they hadn't put in a request for their liquor license until recently.
If you want to get them to do anything in a timely fashion you need to tip them with a couple of hundreds. I've heard from friends that it works.
That's what the professional facilitators are for. They know whose palms to grease.
Not only is it unacceptable from a "just somebody do your job" standpoint for the bureaucracy to be so slow (experience with other city offices makes me think that there are just incompetent lazy people in most places), but it's just bad for economic growth in the city.
The city understands this as they try to put together a package to woo the Northrop Grumman headquarters. Why dont they just overhaul their permits processes and agencies? Why is it hard for people to want to improve the city?
I realize that H ST is one of the few places where almost every new business is an improvement so maybe it isnt so simple. Maybe this is also the same process that keeps strip clubs off M St in Gtown. I dont know. It is probably just a case of common sense decisions that need to be reduced to 200 check boxes in order to remove any possibility of human error or legal action
It was one thing when businesses were racing into the District and the economy was hot, but now that we're dealing with an economic slow-down, it is even more unacceptable. What rational person who did even a bit of investigation into the unnecessary headaches you face would consider opening a new business here in DC?
Not sure this is a whole lot different than any other large city. And "what rational person would consider opening a new business here in DC?" Ask the guys who opened Taylor.
The owners of the biergartenhaus are going to have a license to print money for the next 20 years. So, yeah, I think waiting an extra week for a CoO is pretty rational.
Oboe,
DC is worse than other cities and states.
At a DC small business conference last weekend sponsored by Council Member At-Large Michael Brown, several speakers, including Council Members referred to studies showing that DC ranked 51st of 51 places (DC is considered a state in these studies) to do business as well as the worst for small businesses. The reason is regulations, bureaucracy, and taxes.
If you think that running any small business, especially a restaurant or bar, is a "license to print money," you should work in one, or try owning one. Profit margins are slim and even established businesses can crash easily. Long hours seven days a week. No paid benefits. Definitely no vacation.
Post a Comment