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Old 09-17-2009, 10:56 AM
 
1 posts, read 1,338 times
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I live in midcoast maine and i am looking at opening a resturant in rockland maine. I am not familiar with some of the companies around here, so if any one has any ideas or suggestions i would love the help. I am looking for resuant equipment, tables, bar glasses and coolers. All the basic stuff. I have alot so far but i'm sure i'm not close to done. Maybe food distributers, and so on... Thanks!!
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Old 09-17-2009, 11:10 AM
 
8,767 posts, read 18,684,940 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcholdon25 View Post
I live in midcoast maine and i am looking at opening a resturant in rockland maine. I am not familiar with some of the companies around here, so if any one has any ideas or suggestions i would love the help. I am looking for resuant equipment, tables, bar glasses and coolers. All the basic stuff. I have alot so far but i'm sure i'm not close to done. Maybe food distributers, and so on... Thanks!!
There is a restaurant supply place in South Portland or Westbrook that sells good used restaurant equipment. We bought some fryolaters and stainless tables from them for our kitchen at our Amvets post. I'll see if I can find their name.
Sysco is a big distributor in Maine they carry just about everything.
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Old 09-17-2009, 01:15 PM
 
Location: mid-coast Maine
70 posts, read 157,345 times
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I want to know more about your potential restaurant.....where exactly in Rockland, what type of food, when are you thinking of opening?

I recently moved to Bremen and am in Rockland very frequently (yesterday and today for instance).

FYI, there was a great article in yesterday's New York Times about the food scene in Portland. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/di...r=1&ref=dining

Welcome.
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Old 09-17-2009, 04:59 PM
 
Location: God's Country, Maine
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Restaurants come and go. They have maybe, a 20% success rate.
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Old 09-17-2009, 05:04 PM
 
Location: Waldo County
1,220 posts, read 3,936,890 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcholdon25 View Post
I live in midcoast maine and i am looking at opening a resturant in rockland maine. I am not familiar with some of the companies around here, so if any one has any ideas or suggestions i would love the help. I am looking for resuant equipment, tables, bar glasses and coolers. All the basic stuff. I have alot so far but i'm sure i'm not close to done. Maybe food distributers, and so on... Thanks!!
Before you do anything else, contact the Maine REstaurant Association. They have all the information that you can use or need regarding owning and operating a restaurant in Maine.
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Old 09-17-2009, 05:59 PM
 
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check out maine craiglist, under business (equipment)
also you can use the "search"
there is a big used equipment warehouse in sanford,
you can also search online (uncle henrys)
also, there is flaggs out of bangor and caprara out of winthrop
hobart out of portland, is top of the line, they also service and warranty equipment

you can call "general carriage" out of windham, they are a foodservice/retail equipment wholesaler
(1-800-462-6676) ask for dottie

look around diligently, big difference in prices, be careful of buying junk


a new restaurant??

this subject has come up a few times, with many good ideas, however, this is one industry, id do my homework, research on
on one hand, many mainers just dont have the disposable income to go out to eat, or trading down, and cooking more themselves (at home)
on the other hand, olive garden seems to be always busy along with longhorns (augusta) and they are building a brand new "texas roadhouse" in augusta (like the one in bangor)

many chain restaurants are doing ok (which id rather patronize local independents)

if i were going to open a restaurant, id be totally different somehow, id hit a niche- probly along the lines of opening a casual food restaurant with wireless-target offsite workers/managers that needs to log on during the day (internet) while having something tasty to eat, id also scroll pictures of the entrees on monitors or picture frames, you could have a photo menu
id market for parties/catering/special occasions,/ business meetings.
you can also have food warmers for entrees "to go" if someone doesnt have time to sit down, or just driving by.

good luck...


another concept i like, is a combination gym/fitness center and healthy dining,,so not only can you work out, but grab a bite of some very healthy food, or even have a food prep area where the fitness folks can prep meals for many days and bring home.. (most folks have a tough time, eating well AND working out
this would be a lifestyle restaurant....
have books and videos....nutritious eating/cooking and fitness books/videos going on monitors,,
have a smoothie/tea bar
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