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Name: |
Broke Point
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/17/2008 7:55:31 AM
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This is a copy of an email from the Yellow Hammer Restaurant:
YellowHammer Friends & Family, In October of '08 we began our fifth year in business. Each year, business improved and our reputation grew. I am very proud of what we have become and of the job the people at The YellowHammer have done. I'm thankful for all of your friendship and patronage.
However, this year the economy has been in a downward spiral to the point that, as of now, business has fallen off dramatically. The trend appears to indicate that the present volume may cause our business to be unsustainable unless we are able to secure enough reserve capital.
I am writing to you all for two reasons. To the first point then, I am soliciting investors. I believe I have an attractive offer that may be of interest to some of you. Please call or come by and we can discuss this. Secondly, I must recognize the possibility that our restaurant may come to an end. We traditionally close for two weeks in January of each new year. I have concerns that we may be unable to re-open. Therefore, I extend an invitation to any of you who would like to dine here at least one more time, to do so here in December.
A seaworthy fishing boat and an able crew do at time experience a storm that is bigger than their abilities. We are though, presently afloat and would be happy to see you all again. I thank you all for your patronage and wish you all a happy new year.
Best wishes,
Mike Hoff
Owner
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Name: |
Talullahhound
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/17/2008 8:31:30 AM
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This is really discouraging, as it is a wonderful restaurant. We were there last Saturday night and the menu was much smaller and the restaurant was not even half full. As much as I like the restaurant, I'm not sure any restaurant is a good investment in this economy.
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Name: |
wix
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/17/2008 8:44:18 AM
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Not sure who his business locator consultant was, but the fact that he has survived as long as he has in possibly the worst location on earth says volumes about the quality of his restaurant. This would be an excellent time for him to move closer to the lake to capture more of the full time retirees around the lake.
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Name: |
lamont
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Subject: |
Totally Agree Wix
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Date:
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12/17/2008 8:50:14 AM
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I love the restaurant however, I'm just not willing to travel the 25 miles of backroads to get there on a regular basis. That's why I left Atlanta and moved to the lake. I have even gotten to the point where, once I'm home, I don't even want to travel the 9 miles to Oskars.
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Name: |
green,ed
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/17/2008 9:16:30 AM
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Other than the U.S. Government, who would invest in a business that is going out of business.
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Name: |
Swimmer27
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/17/2008 2:59:38 PM
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I was thinking maybe they should apply for some of the TARP money. Seems to me they are a prime candidate. Start up a business that is doomed to failure from the start. Throw in some mismanagement, whine about how bad things are, then look for somebody else to bail you out.
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Name: |
dmp
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/17/2008 4:32:45 PM
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Some of you folks seem rather harsh considering you don't even know what Mike is considering and proposing.
Perhaps, he would like to relocate closer to the lake. I don't know, but, I think spouting off without any facts occurs much to often here.
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Name: |
Swimmer27
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Subject: |
What do I know?
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Date:
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12/17/2008 6:02:50 PM
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I know he came to a public forum and spoke of the financial troubles of his business. About the biggest NO NO a business owner can do. One should NEVER admit that his business is doing poorly. Its just bad business to do so. If you need me to explain why I will be happy too.
But what gets me is everyone thinks he should move 'closer to the lake'. It just never ceases to amaze me how inflated some of you guys ego is. What makes you think his focus is the lake? If it was, don't you think there enough empty buildings around that he could have located closer. After all, if he thought he could make a go of it in an out of the way place like Waverly, surely he would have considered one of the many empty buildongs that are/were available. He didn't. He chose Waverly because of it's proximty to Auburn. I am sure he was banking on the high dollar s/d's that were springing up like mushrooms on the other side of 280 at the same time. Places like "The Preserve", Tuscanny Hills" et al. that are being populated by AU facullty and staff
Get over yourselves. The lake can't/won't support the choices that are available now. Probably 80-90% of 'the lake' are weekenders who don't come around just so they can get all dressed up and go eat at a white linen tablecloth resteraunt.
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Name: |
Talullahhound
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Subject: |
What do I know?
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Date:
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12/17/2008 6:11:40 PM
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Don't really think that the Yellow Hammer qualifies as a "dress up" place. It's more like nice casual. I'm sure he chose Waverly because it was close to Auburn, although I do think it could do well closer to the lake. Everyone is always complaining about the food at the restaurants that are here. With Russell Crossroads, there must be some indication that it could support an upscale operation. We went to Cecil's a few weeks ago and it was truly mediocre. But, it appeared to us that business was way off there too. I hate to think of all the businesses that are going to be casuties of the downturned economy. One of the first things that people cut is eating out.
On the other hand, we were at Ware's Jewelers today in Auburn and they were so busy you would have thought they were giving stuff away.
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Name: |
dmp
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Subject: |
What do I know?
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Date:
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12/17/2008 7:15:49 PM
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Swimmer:
I'm not sure to whose ego you are referring.
If Mike wanted the AU crowd perhaps he should have located there, not Waverly. I can't see many folks driving all the way from Auburn to Waverly. It would be interesting to know how many of the Yellowhammer's customers come from the lake vs. other areas.
I do agree that this is a tough time for most any upscale dining establishment.
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Name: |
Swimmer27
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Subject: |
What do I know?
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Date:
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12/17/2008 9:00:08 PM
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I didn't criticize his choice of location. In fact I was defending it. You must not know much about the area because I can assure you that Auburn and a tremendous amount of the upscale housing in the area are just minutes away. There are several new developments on CO72 which goes through Farmville where there are several more there. And Donahue is developed all the way from 72 to the Stadium. The only folks on the lake that might be closer would be the Barron's Bridge area. But if you are advocating folks drive from the lake to patronize him, what makes you think folks wouldn't drive from Auburn/Opelika to do so? I have driven much further to eat somewhere. In fact I am driving from Dadeville to Childersburg to meet a freind at lunch and eat at one of my favorite spots.
I don't know them and have heard nothing but good things about them. I do think it is a mistake to make proclamations like he did here from a business standpoint. He has obviuosly been struggling for a while, like many of us. Maybe it was a desperation move. I truly hope he makes it. In fact I just realized I can have my freind drive here and we will go there Saturday if they serve lunch.
I hate to see anyone have to close their business becuase there is much more than a financial impact to owner and loss of enjoyment of the folks that patronized it. Most folks that take the risk to pursue a business venture do so because they have a passion for it. They aren't just loosing an income, but a dream as well. I wish him nothing but the best.
Now I am off to check the website for hours of operation,.
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it doesn't look to me like the owners came to a public forum as it was Broke Point that made the post. I do agree that most (possibly all) areas around the lake would not support this type of restaurant because of seasonal traffic. The only restaurants that seem to do well cater to BOTH lake traffic and the local work force; I don't know many local "working folk" that could afford the Yellow Hammer on a regular enough basis to keep them in business. That being said, I hope they are able to find a solution to their problems.
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Name: |
Swimmer27
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Subject: |
agree.....but...your right
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Date:
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12/18/2008 8:49:36 AM
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I didn't reread the original and was thinking the owner had posted it, but sending it out in an email is about as bad.
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Name: |
Freshwater Bay Girl
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Subject: |
Email from Yellow Hammer Rest.
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Date:
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12/18/2008 8:30:13 PM
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Has anyone ever considered subleasing from the elks lodge near River North? They wanted more business, and a restaurant is the way to getting membership up. The old elks lodges you remember as a child were thriving during all economic times. Kids were having a blast, parents were having a blast, the food was Always good because there were nothing but good memories. It would sound like a win/win if they would allow someone to sublease the restaurant part and bring the community in as a watering hole /gathering place by road, boat, sea etc....
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