1st, some background:

There is a lot of bike traffice passing thru the State to get to the southern Delaware and Maryland Beaches... they obviously have their own attractions, besides 4 different HD dealerships, and a few custom bike builder places, Hooters, biker bars, events, a few scenic drives, etc...

SO, HERE'S THE IDEA:

I'm thinking about putting up a pavillion style building on the main highway and serving breakfast sandwhiches, grilled burgers, shrimp, etc., along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages... and of course some t-shirts, sweatshirts, eye protection, helmets, fork-bags, stickers, rain gear, sunblock, first aid stuff, bike cleaning supplies, tire plugs, fix-a-flat, oil, brake fluid, gas, etc...

the cool part is the bikes will be able to pull up and park under the pavillion, and get out of the sun or rain, whatever the case may be... the entrances, drives, parking and pavilion area will all be paved... waitresses dressed in cut up t-shirts will serve items off the limited menu to patrons sitting at pic-nic tables... and there may be a bike wash too... mens and womens porta-potties under the roof... classic rock music will be playing at all times from some nice speakers... there will be tools available for free use to make minor repairs... and the place will be open 7 days a week from 9a.m. to 9p.m. April thru October.

again the concept here isn't to be a merchandies store, a restaurant, a bar, or a playground... it's just going to be a nice place to stop and relax half-way between the beaches and the cities.
With that being said, yes, the main source of income would be the food and drinks... the rest of the stuff previously mentioned would be sold just as extra security and support for the bikers...

so, does this sound like someplace you would just have to stop by if you were passing thru? please, any and all feedback about this idea is welcome, negative, positve, suggestions, anything will be apreciated, thanks

by-the-way, I'm thinking of naming the place "HELTER SHELTER"

 

i think i'd swing by if i ever got out your way

 

I would stop in anywhere I found soomething like you describe. Good idea, although unless you have someone running it for you, it might be confining.

 

confining?

what exactly do you mean?[:-]

 

I think he meant 12 hours a day times 7 days a week = 84-hour work weeks, unless you got help running it.

Sounds great to me.

I actually had a similar idea for a shop here in NH, but I was thinking about a heavier focus on no-appointment maintenence items, like oil changes, minor repairs, and tire changes while you wait. I like the idea of a place that really caters to RIDERS and providing things to keep people riding, as opposed to chromed-out posers making their bikes shinier.

Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Jeff

 

Route 9 or 13? What will you do the 6-7 months of the "off" season? Let me know where it is when you do it so I can stop by and say "hello".

 

I don't live in your area, but if I did and was out with my wife for a ride, yeah, I'd swing by something like that.

 

Hey Delaware....

I was also wondering which highway you had in mind and where? I'm from the DelMar area and we head over that way fairly frequently. It sounds like a great idea. Being a business owner I can say you will definitely have to work out a suitable schedule. Wouldn't make sense to do all this and never have anytime for yourself. Been there - done that.


Brian

 

oh yeah... I wouldn't be there MYSELF 12 hours a day, 7days a week... I'd have different people working different parts of the day and different days
shifts... waitresses, cooks, cashier, etc.

I'm thinking about putting it on RT.1 somewhere between Dover and Rehoboth Beach... on the southbound lane of-course

 

Are you in the restaurant biz now? I part own/manage a 150 seat place and wish I wasnt in the biz. Long hours and good help is hard to find. A local bike shop is going to expand and have a bar in it here. Best of luck.