Looking for another space

My agent is still talking to me but his boss called and was questioning my decision, thinking I was worried about the lease. I told him it was a business decision. End of story.

My agent called a couple days later to tell me about a restaurant that was for lease. Good start... It was 3500 sq feet which is larger than I want but if the price were right, it would work. It had a hood and grease trap and all the kitchen works. Getting better all the time here. It has parking - Bingo! I asked where it was and when he told me I just plopped down on my butt. It was a place that I had looked at way back in September but at that time it was for sale. It is in an up and coming area of Sacramento and right in the middle of the 3 major highways. I called my caterer who wants to entertain the politicians expecting her to say it was too far, but she didn't. I was getting excited especially when I heard the magic words.. $1.05 a sq foot.

I called my caterer (her name is Betsy) and we took a tour yesterday. The place is exactly what we need. There is a bar and meeting area when you come through the door. The kitchen is large and in disrepair, but has a perfect place for the walk in frig. There is plenty of storage, the building has character and the landlord is being very generous. He is going to repaint and texture the whole space, clean up unsightly or broken, replace the front entry with marble tile, refinish the bar, redo the kitchen floor and make it ready to move in. On top of that he is a restaurant equipment person and will give me equipment at his cost + 10%. He has a new Imperial double stack gas convection oven that he'll sell me for $4,900. The thing runs for $7,000. This feels much more right.

We're on to the LOI and will see what he comes back with.. Hopefully the next entry will be that I've signed a lease and the cleanup has begun. Even better, hopefully a date that I can open!