Your count is probably correct, but it is like a basketball score, changes a lot from quarter to quarter. Many transition in, and fall out of business. One of the problems is most resto-bar owners do not work the full 14 hours at the establishment. They make work diligently in the off hours, but if there is no management on site, then your most experienced waitress or cook, or bartender is most likely the decision maker on site, with nothing more than a low paying job at risk, and little management training in their background, mistakes will happen. That is why you will see complaints about almost all aspects of the resto-bars here. Good management is important to survival, hands on survival in most cases is necessary here, even family extension manage does not work here many times, as has been witnessed around town. Some times the ownership of a resto-bar if not thoroughly thought out and is just an extension of a hobby of drinking, just with more friends present. Sometimes profits, and longevity are second thoughts but not in all cases. I am not sure many have a business plan or a market niche goal, other that to try to duplicate one of the others with their friends present. There have also been glowing reports about some of the rest0bars here. Defining your market niche and what you goal is can help longevity of any business. Luckily business is a very competitive, so the weak die out, and new will come along. It is survival of the best managed that we see for more than a couple of quarters here. Just enjoy the opportunities that present themselves here in resto-bars, and do not get to attached to any one as you never know how long it will last. I though one of ones in San Miguel was great... but something caused it closing. Not my problem... Next !!!
I agree 110% with what Dustin says about the "next" tenant of the Pearl. Their previous staff ran their former business like a "Date in Asia" internet wh*re house, scammed customers on their bills and had about as much interest in servicing the customers as an employee of COCO Amigo's. That being said I leased a property next to the Pearl from Natasha for 2 years and never had a problem with her. Pay your rent and utilities and for the most part you are left alone. There were failures at the Pearl before as Dave said.... but the Frenchies survived close to 4 years there and never starved. Lets hope the new tenants learned from their previous venue and don't repeat the mistakes that caused that failure. I wish them all the luck in the world as the rent is high, the place has a bit of bad karma surrounding it and the business is a struggle even if you provide the best of the best... It will be interesting to see N and T lock horns lol.
I saw a for rent sign on the old Garcia's building. Is that included in this discussion or only the Black Pearl Bar?
Just a thought: I bet nobody was saying "there are too many restobars in Dumaguete" during that 25+ hour brownout. With as many customers as they get during a brownout it might not be a bad idea for restobar owners to band together and start running around town cutting the main power lines.
No gossip ********.. Chris and Theresa formally of Pirate bay, formally, The Awesome Happy Fred's. I wish them success and the best of luck! Patronize all who makes you happy!
I'll be a customer so long as the previous staff isn't there......because that wouldn't make me happy.
