What Comes After Tirzo’s?

April 9, 2010 by bobfrank.

Now that Tiro’s Bistro appears to be on the way out of SCA’s restaurant space, what is next?

I have been challenged to outline how I would approach the task of filling the restaurant space.  The following is what I have previously reported on other blogs, and it is posted here for AV blog readers.

Suggested SCA Restaurant Strategy Approach for 2010-2011:

1. Catering services to be offered in all SCA Centers to support SCA club events, board-sponsored special entertainment functions, and member-hosted private occasions like weddings, memorial services, etc. Non-member/public-sponsored services would not be allowed.

Catered events would be on a planned, reservation basis with menus set for the occasion by the sponsor. Catering would be allowed anywhere on or in SCA premises–including all three SCA Centers, outside pool and lawn areas, and in the SCA village areas (for block parties, etc). An approved list of catering vendors would be provided by SCA.

2. Full bar in Trumpets with coffee and tea services and bar-style food items (nachos, packaged snacks, desserts, etc.) available from about 10 AM to evening closing time. Additional beverage and snack services via mobile carts could be considered for Independence and Liberty Centers. SCA would obtain the beverage/alcohol license for serving members and their guests only, and contract for a bar service provider. Revenue from beverage sales could be used to offset overall facility operating costs. Gaming would not be installed in Anthem Center unless approved by the majority of SCA’s membership.

3. Buffets or table service could be offered to all members using a rotation of catering companies on Friday evenings, week-ends, holidays and/or special events. Profit/loss risks would be the responsibility of the catering companies, but SCA Spirit advertising for scheduled events open to all members could prove cost-effective for SCA. Caterers would pay fees for use of SCA property used in all 3 Centers.

4. Meals-on-wheels for home delivery and/or resident party catering by one or two vendors could be offered in the entire SCA area during announced days and hours. Revenue-sharing or sliding fees would help cover the costs of shared utilities and kitchen facilities. SCA would be indemnified from all risks offered by these mobile services.

5. Breakfast and lunch services would only be offered via the catering services.

6. As part of a member lifestyle program to encourage use of SCA food services and stimulate broader socialization among our thousands of homeowners, the Board could sponsor quarterly ‘member appreciation nights’ in the Centers (in conjunction with Town Hall meetings) where bar services and catered buffets would offer low-cost food and beverages. Beverages and food would be allowed to be served and consumed throughout the participating SCA facilities. Musical entertainment could be provided in Anthem Center and the sound piped into all participating facility areas.

After this sort of approach was tried for up to a year or so, one or more regular lease operators might become interested in offering regular restaurant table services in Trumpets, and they might possibly be interested in operating a sports bar arrangement in one or more of the multi-purpose rooms in Liberty Center. If approved by the members, a small, Liberty Center sports bar and gaming service might be installed/sub-contracted so that one or more of the multi-purpose rooms could be used for special events and parties. The outside entrances in that area of the Liberty Center could allow such an offering with extended hours.

The above flexible approach should be possible on a break-even basis, and it could give multiple vendors the chance to try out their services while building SCA customer loyalty. Once SCA members learn they can expect certain kinds of quality food and services from participating companies, members may develop eating habits that lay the foundation for longer-term/expanded food services. Or, it might turn out that the above approach is best for SCA for the long-run.

Meanwhile, our history has shown it would probably be a mistake to try and locate yet another regular restaurant lessee without finding out what SCA residents will actually patronize in our facilities.

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