Thread: 'My' restaurant may be closing

I've been the house dancer for 2 and a half years at the only sit-down Middle Eastern restaurant in town. I love this place! For some reason, despite a fairly high population, it's the only place for a regular gig that's local. The next closest involves an hour drive each way .w.:

Business has really slowed down the last few months which isn't really a surprise since eating out is one of the first things cut from everyone's budget when things get tight. I spoke with the owner about this, who has also become a good friend and he says that their lease is up at the end of December. If business hasn't picked up by then, they're closing. ..cr.:

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who's going through something like this With my restaurant gig likely going away (unless I want an hour commute) and the private gigs pretty much drying up I'm starting to feel like a lousy excuse for a dancer. ,f::

Oh I'm sorry to hear that Rio!

Perhaps it's an idea for the owner to do some research on turning the restaurant into a shisha lounge/café and if this will get customers and be profitable. I know restaurants are having a hard time during the crisis, but somehow shisha lounges over here do make great business these days, not sure about the US though..

Good luck!

B

Thanks for the suggestion. We do have a few houka bars in town already (one so small you can barely sqeeze in- really, it's like a closet). Don't know how business is for them but I will mention it to the owner. A law was recently passed against flavored tobacco sales and I haven't heard how the houka bars have been affected by that.

I'm sorry to hear that too.
But I really think everything will be better.

Oh the joys of recession! NOT! Well, I would support the idea of hookah lounge. I love hookah, I have to admit I smoked it on several occasions. My husband gets upset though, because it is still, well.... smoking LOL (but that's another issue).

I think hookah lounges are great to unwind and plus people would have an option to order or not a bigger meal, but at least they would come in to relax after work or something. That may make the business better.

I really hope it all works out.

Hugs,
Amani

By the way, this isn't supposed to be all about me I was thinking that any of us in a similar situation could share stories and possible solutions :) Thanks for the encouragement and feedback so far!

Sorry to hear that Rio. That's happening alot here in Chicago too. Illinois is now a smoke free state so that means hookah lounges can't serve alcohol or food, only tea, soda, water and some serve cheesecake or small snacks, nothing that needs cooking. The restaurants can't serve hookah. It stinks. I don't have a solution as we've been going through it here too. I dance at more haflas, parties and I teach. I've even started hosting my own haflas. Good luck to you.

Rio, that sucks I'm sorry. Hope things pick up for the holidays and they don't close. *fingers crossed*

Originally Posted by MahiraRaqs

Sorry to hear that Rio. That's happening alot here in Chicago too. Illinois is now a smoke free state so that means hookah lounges can't serve alcohol or food, only tea, soda, water and some serve cheesecake or small snacks, nothing that needs cooking. The restaurants can't serve hookah. It stinks. I don't have a solution as we've been going through it here too. I dance at more haflas, parties and I teach. I've even started hosting my own haflas. Good luck to you.

Sounds like here. Smoking + food = no go. The hookah lounge here can only sell prepackaged "snacks", like those Otis Spunkmeyer muffins, small bags of chips, etc. as well as bottled drinks & hot tea (nuked water with Lipton teabag on the side). Gas station food. No fault of the owner's, though, the law is the law.

Originally Posted by TexasRuya

Rio, that sucks I'm sorry. Hope things pick up for the holidays and they don't close. *fingers crossed*



Sounds like here. Smoking + food = no go. The hookah lounge here can only sell prepackaged "snacks", like those Otis Spunkmeyer muffins, small bags of chips, etc. as well as bottled drinks & hot tea (nuked water with Lipton teabag on the side). Gas station food. No fault of the owner's, though, the law is the law.

They are BYOB, though, which is working here in Dallas (and I know the one I dance at serves Arabic coffee as well as tea). The hookah lounge I dance at is quite popular - last weekend during my set I had trouble getting around the place due to all the traffic.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

The hookah lounge I dance at is quite popular - last weekend during my set I had trouble getting around the place due to all the traffic.

I dance this Saturday so I'll be sure to mention the hookah thing to him... It would be a waste of all his kitchen space though. He's had this restaurant for 10 years. Such a shame to lose a local, non-chain/franchise restaurant.

Originally Posted by RioDancerCO

I dance this Saturday so I'll be sure to mention the hookah thing to him... It would be a waste of all his kitchen space though. He's had this restaurant for 10 years. Such a shame to lose a local, non-chain/franchise restaurant.

I hope that his business picks up soon so that he won't have to change his business or close - it is so heartbreaking to see good local restaurants go under.

Just remember to not let this get you down as a dancer. I know it is hard when you lose your venue, just don't let this take away your motivation. Something else will always come along and you want to be ready for it when it does. Hopefully they can get the word out with some promotions and get back on their feet. Hugs to you.

Thank you samiramirage. I have some other opportunities that I'll be promoting but basically, if I want another restaurant gig I'll have to drive an hour one way to get it. Meanwhile, I'm going to ask the owner for a letter of recommendation for my restaurant and private gig dancing. I know he'd give me a verbal referral, so we'll see if he feels like writing :) At least I know I have dancing at his wedding to look forward to!

Originally Posted by MahiraRaqs

Sorry to hear that Rio. That's happening alot here in Chicago too. Illinois is now a smoke free state so that means hookah lounges can't serve alcohol or food, only tea, soda, water and some serve cheesecake or small snacks, nothing that needs cooking. The restaurants can't serve hookah. It stinks. I don't have a solution as we've been going through it here too. I dance at more haflas, parties and I teach. I've even started hosting my own haflas. Good luck to you.

Yes, start your own haflas or go to some. This will keep your self-esteem up as a dancer. Restaurants aren't the only way to measure yourself - there are other ways. People around here in Chicago do a lot of benefits, go to retirement homes, have haflas and showcases for all kinds of fundraisers as well. And maybe you could teach too.

Originally Posted by Fotia

Yes, start your own haflas or go to some. This will keep your self-esteem up as a dancer. Restaurants aren't the only way to measure yourself - there are other ways. People around here in Chicago do a lot of benefits, go to retirement homes, have haflas and showcases for all kinds of fundraisers as well. And maybe you could teach too.

Thanks Fotia :) I do organize my own haflas for my students and we participate with other groups as well. I just feel that the restaurant and private gigs keep my dancing sharp. It's not the money I'm worried about- though that is disappointing, but more the exposure to the non-dancer crowd and the more varied audience. I guess I don't know how to explain it really but I feel like part of being a good teacher is being part of the industry at large and sharing that with my students.