Fusion Cafe in Lexington

The Fusion Cafe' on 919 Winchester Road in Lexinton , KY offers a great selection of Vietnamese Cuisine and I recommend it highly for that alone . However , what many don't realize is that they also serve great Po' Boy Sandwiches ( Shrimp, Oyster and Roast Beef ) along with Shrimp and Oyster Seafood Platters . Just a few more reasons to visit this establishement .

Five Guys Burgers and Fries opens in Lexington

Yesterday I had the pleasure of my first visit to a Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant http://www.fiveguys.com/ . These are great burgers with in house made fries . This new Lexington store is located on Nicholasville Road . The also a veggie burger which my son really enjoyed .

Things are happening in Garrard County

Lancaster and Garrard County are on the move ! As US 27 continues to gradually become a four lane highway between Somerset and Lexington this area is becoming a nexis of economic development activity . This is the 8th fastest growing county in Kentucky . Some examples :

1. Recently Lancaster went "full wet" to help attract new restaurants making them the southern most town in that region to sell alcohol .

2. One restaurant , Mariachi's , upgraded their restaurant with a new bar area and may have to further expand to meet demand .

3. A 140 seat Godfather's Pizza is coming to town this summer .

4. One of several major projects in the area is the $2,200,000 renovation of the Grand Theater . There is a building adjacent to the theater that would make a great place for a restaurant or cafe . There is a very attractive bargain rent incentive for a restaurateur to put a business in there . For information contact the Garrard County Economic Development Dirctor Nathan Mick at 859 792 6624 .

Two Restaurants with real estate for sale in the "twin lakes" area

Two restaurants with real estate are for sale in the "twin lakes" area ( Nolin and Rough River ) . Both are located near the Western KY Parkway . This is a confidential sale process and serious inquires should be directed to me .

Kentucky Wine and Vine in Nicholasville

Don't forget that this Friday and Saturday is the annual Kentucky Wine and Vine event in Nicholasville , KY.


http://www.kywineandvine.com/

2009 might be a good time to sell a restaurant or food business

Due to a combination of circumstances , 2009 might be a good time to sell a business . The following are some good points from a recent newsletter published by the Association of Professional Merger and Acquisition Advisors :

Low Interest Rates

Interest rates are at historic lows. Low interest rates mean that buyers can afford to pay more for a business. Whether it is a "sophisticated” buyer using discounted cash flow analysis, or someone calculating "how much can I afford a month” the same math holds true; lower interest rates mean lower debt service payments and higher cash flows from the business. Debt payment levels and cash flow drive value.

SBA

The Small Business Administration guarantees a portion of the loans that banks make. As part of the current stimulus package, the SBA has raised its loan guarantee level up to 90% for certain loans. At the same time, the SBA has eliminated the processing fees that borrowers normally have to pay. When buyers pay less for loans, they can pay more for the business. Low

Capital Tax Gains Rate

It is what you keep from a sale that really matters. At only 15%, capital gains tax rates are at the lowest levels in 30 years. Many people forget that in the late 70's the highest effective capital gains tax rate reached 49.875% and as recently as the early 1990's the highest capital gains tax rate was still at 29.2% . The current administration has already stated its desire to raise the capital gains tax rate so it is not a question of if but rather how much.

No one has a crystal ball, but what could happen if an owner waited until the economy starts to recover and things "improve” to pursue a sale... As the economy begins to grow, corporations start hiring again, pulling potential buyers off the market and hence reducing demand. With the economy growing, the Federal Reserve starts to worry about inflation and raises interest rates to curb growth (yes, this is what they do). The SBA incentives will have expired, increasing loan fees and reducing bank guarantee rates.

Lots of current opportunities for restaurant growth

The current economy is creating a lof of opportunities for restaurant growth for operators that can take advantage of the market . Rather than grow by spending the capital to build a new facility or convert a non foodservice facility into a restaurant, there are many " second generation space " opportunities which are spaces that have already been built out for a restaurant and can be acquired at a much lower investment than a new build out . Restaurant infrastructure is expensive with costs for HVAC , fire protections systems , cooler/freezer systems, etc.. Opportunities exist out there throughout Kentucky and beyond to grow your business at reduced capital investment costs .

Benedictine - Another Kentucky Original Food Creation

Benedictine is a condiment made with cucumbers and cream cheese . It is used to make cumcumber sandwiches and was invented by Jennie Carter Benedict around the turn of the 20th century . Benedict was a restauratuer and caterer in Louisville, KY who opened her restaurant in 1893 .

Ingredients
1 medium cucumber (the English variety works well) .
1/4 c mayonnaise (Miracle Whip does not work!) .
1-3 drop green food coloring .
2 tbsps grated onions .
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese Directions
Step #1 Peel & seed the cucumber: put in a food chopper & chop until very VERY VERY fine.
Step #2 In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients.
Step #3 Add food coloring to desired shade.
Step #4 Cover up & put in the fridge at least one hr before serving.
Enjoy the Ms. Jenny Benedict's Famous Cucumber Spread recipe

Kentucky's Fort Harrod Beef Festival

Mark your calendars for June 5-7th and the Fort Harrod Beef Festival in historic Harrodsburg , KY . This year's festivities will include the 1st "itty bitty" BURGER BATTLE on June 5 ................... Mini Burgers with a BIG TASTE !



Here is the link to the event : http://www.fortharrodbeeffestival.org/new/

Baxter's Coffee in Somerset , KY

If you are in Somerset , Ky and are looking for a great coffee shop I highly recommend Baxter's Coffee with three convenient locations :

http://baxterscoffee.com/

Fazoli's Social Media Strategy

Lexington , KY based Fazoli's has been one of several national chains using social media as part of its marketing and advertising strategy . Check out the following website and article from Nations Restaurant News :

http://www.freespaghetti.com/


http://www.nrn.com/landingPage.aspx?coll_id=568&keyword=%20internet&id=364592

May's Lick Asparagus Festival

May's Lick Asparagus Festival
Written by editor
Sunday, 22 March 2009 17:55 - Last Updated Saturday, 25 April 2009 07:25
- Craft & Garden Vendors
- Live Entertainment All Day
- Antique Tractor Rally
- The Taste of Asparagus
- Festival Foods of all Kinds
- Asparagus Art Contest & Exhibition
- Children's Games & Activities
- A Special Address from our 16th President
- The May's Lick Asparagus Parade
1 / 2
May's Lick Asparagus Festival
Written by editor
Sunday, 22 March 2009 17:55 - Last Updated Saturday, 25 April 2009 07:25
Join us on Saturday, May 16 for the 2009 May's Lick Asparagus
Festival!
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.!
Find out about this year's Festival HERE!
2 / 2