Starting a ice-cream company and factory; Design District? (Miami, Miami Beach: sale, high crime)

[1772]

So, me and a friend of mine are thinking of starting a ice cream company. It's aimed at being big and selling mainly to big chains.

But since we both live on Miami Beach we don't want the company and factory to be to far off, so I was thinking Design District/Wynwood/Midtown.
Are there any industrial property left there?
We could have a "concept store" towards the street to sell ice cream to pedestrians, but having the factory in the back.

I never go there; anyone know if it could be pulled off?

[tallrick]

Overpriced and way too close to high crime areas. The food service industry here is quite crowded so your chances of success are maybe 10%. Miami Beach is a horrible place to live unless you have plenty of cash to burn. You would have to be one of a kind to make a hit there.

[FlyMIA]

If you are really thinking of starting this company you are going to take free advice on a public forum?

I like the idea for the shop though. I love ice cream. I will be a customer if its good.

You never go there? Get in the car tomorrow and take the 10 min drive. For some reason I never like giving out information for free if it is so someone can make money.

[1772]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Overpriced and way too close to high crime areas. The food service industry here is quite crowded so your chances of success are maybe 10%. Miami Beach is a horrible place to live unless you have plenty of cash to burn. You would have to be one of a kind to make a hit there.

It's a company that's going first regional then national. To get it out and make it successfull isn't the problem.
What I'm about is were to have the factory.
Could I have it in Wynwood/Design District and combine it with a shop or have it somewhere out in western Dade in a non-descript area.

Is there any manufacturing industry left in the Design District/Midtown?

[tallrick]

They used to make windows and water heaters in that area, now I think it is just warehouses and odd artist shops. There used to be an ice cream shop on 8th street near velvet creme donuts. Both places manufactured and sold at the same location. Then again, we already have dairy queen and carvel.

[1772]

Originally Posted by tallrick

They used to make windows and water heaters in that area, now I think it is just warehouses and odd artist shops. There used to be an ice cream shop on 8th street near velvet creme donuts. Both places manufactured and sold at the same location. Then again, we already have dairy queen and carvel.

Again; the objective is not to sell ice cream at the street level, but to manifacture it and ship it of to shops around the country.
Main reason to have it there would be easy comuting from Miami Beach.

And if it would be located there an extra perk would be to have on-site sale to pedestraians. But that's not the focus.

[FlyMIA]

Originally Posted by 1772

Again; the objective is not to sell ice cream at the street level, but to manifacture it and ship it of to shops around the country.
Main reason to have it there would be easy comuting from Miami Beach.

And if it would be located there an extra perk would be to have on-site sale to pedestraians. But that's not the focus.

Here is some free advice because it is too easy not to think of.

If the focus is to sell bulk ice cream and its not going to be a speciality shop the LAST thing you should worry about is how easy your commute is and the FIRST thing you should worry about is price of land, workers, taxes and ease of getting materials in and out of the area. Not only is that area a terrible idea for it, Miami overall is probably a really poor choice for an ice cream distribution plant.

If you want some other advice, PM me. I have a small consulting type group.
I love ice cream so maybe I might be interested in this idea.

[annerk]

The best advice I can give you is to not do a thing until you have a meeting with a mentor from SCORE.

[miami_zed]

Originally Posted by FlyMIA

Here is some free advice because it is too easy not to think of.

If the focus is to sell bulk ice cream and its not going to be a speciality shop the LAST thing you should worry about is how easy your commute is and the FIRST thing you should worry about is price of land, workers, taxes and ease of getting materials in and out of the area. Not only is that area a terrible idea for it, Miami overall is probably a really poor choice for an ice cream distribution plant.

If you want some other advice, PM me. I have a small consulting type group.
I love ice cream so maybe I might be interested in this idea.

this

[ruski]

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