In these parts, this is the big thing for resturants. Even Ramsey teaches that local food is crucial for the small eatery. That’s what the chains can’t do. All their shit comes out of a can. Work with local farmers to use their food and advertise their farms on your menu. If you can, grow your own greens and herbs in the summer. Have a booth at the local farmers market selling your food or hand out samples there. Find local beers, meat, honey, chicken, eggs, cheese, art…start a book club lunch with a local bookstore…identify a local food (meat pie, soup, fish dish) and spcialize in it…hold a contest and use put the best recipe on your menu as a special or a standard (with some compensation to the winner – a cash prize, credit on the menu, or a cut on the action as a royalty per serving sold…) Use crockery and materials from the local kitchen store. Work local history into your theme. Sponser a meal to a local charity auction. Have a local beer tasting.

The “Mom & Pops” can work together to compete with the generic chains. Promote yourself as local and those that value real food and community will be your regulars.

People are hungry for this.

Watching him raises my blood pressure.

-edit- fixed spelling.

Here

Alcaray’s post below reminded me of a show on the Food Channel where Chef Irvin saves failing, privately owned restaurants.

It would be a long shot to get your place on the show, but you might pick up some ideas by just watching some of the episodes

Where I live, small-run businesses are few and far, and what little I find goes missing the next day.

I’m not gonna lie and say I have an idea on what to do here. Maybe with time I might have an idea.

Now don’t take me the wrong way! What I am getting at is there are many clever ideas to advertise your business that cost little or no money. About half the shows have Ramsey setting up some kind of promotion to bring in a lot of new business to an old establised place that (usually) the customers have already decided is no good. So if the part of the “common business strategy” that you worry about is advertising budget, then give it a look.

Adds a grounded continuity in my life.

The business is indeed tough, but if you have a good niche you can work with, you can develop a loyal clientele. Many of the restaurants are ethnic or specialty here, but even the burger joints seem to have a “hook.” The one downtown (where the Weinerschnitzel used to be) serves good burgers and fries, but also has a huge stock of specialty beers.

Sorry to hear it is not going well for you. I wish I had advice for you but I don’t have a clue.

Here’s hoping it turns around.