P.O. Box 267814, Chicago, IL 60626 U.S.A. Tel: 1-773-465-7285 | Fax: 1-773-465-7387 E-Mail: abt@abtonline.com

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT COMPETITION ANALYSIS

Major Competition

A comfortable "neighborhood tavern" establishment seating 150 that caters to the business lunch crowd, graduate students and locals during the week. On weekends younger students predominate. Shuffleboard, darts, big screen television and occasional live music serve as steady draws. The menu is limited to sandwiches and salads, but there is a large beer selection including a number of imports and several microbrewery brands on tap. Weedman's is open on all major holidays. It will be one of our main competitors.

BOOMER TAVERN

A 250 seat ten year old restaurant with the largest patio in the market area, Boone Tavern has carved out a successful niche in the marketplace with a large and varied menu that places a particular emphasis on steaks, seafood and barbecue. Its location next to the Courthouse and casual, comfortable brass, beveled glass and hardwood decor has attracted a large and varied clientele including a large business lunch crowd, alumni and students. Boomer Tavern has a large beer selection and will be a major competitor.

GYNN'S CAFE

A 300 seat Cajun/Southwestern restaurant with an extensive bar and beer selection and the only oyster bar in Collegeville. It draws a good cross-section of customers but has relatively limited hours (closing at 10 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). Additionally it is not open on Sunday and Monday.

HAMLET'S PIZZA

A successful 200 seat vaguely English pub-theme pizza restaurant that is none the less the largest on-premise retailer of imported beers in Collegeville according to Mauser Distribution Co. They currently sell over three kegs of Double Diamond Pale Ale from England per week alone. The clientele consists primarily of graduate and older undergraduate students, including a substantial number of what passes for the counter-culture crowd in Collegeville.

KATT STATION

This successful 200 seat restaurant has operated in the former Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad station since a major renovation in 1976. The decor is "old fashioned railroad theme" with a heavy emphasis on antique railroad memorabilia. Three Pullman dining cars serve as the dining area. A patio attached to the bar draws a good amount of business during warm weather months. The clientele is primarily middle aged locals and USM alumni with a relatively small percentage of customers in their 20s. The menu consists primarily of sandwiches and burgers. The beer selection consists of most major domestic brands, a sprinkling of imports and two microbrewery brands: Boulevard Pale Ale and Pete's Wicked Ale. Located at Fourth and Broadway it is the closest competitor to our location.

THE OLD HAMBURG

Located on Ninth Street immediately adjacent to the campus this 225 seat establishment has been around so long that it qualifies as an "institution" in its own right. The burger, sandwich and pasta menu is unspectacular but moderately priced while its after class "happy hour" has been a traditional draw for generations of students and faculty members. The beer selection is likewise unspectacular.

Other Bar Establishments

A sports-theme (mainly baseball) pool hall on Ninth Street with a bar that serves mainly domestic brands and a grill that turns out well-regarded burgers and sandwiches. It draws a loyal pool & snooker-playing clientele of locals and students.

BY JIMMINY

By Jimminy is a ten year old disco-style (complete with flashing lights, fog machine and disc jockey) dance club with a seating capacity of 350. It caters primarily to students and customers in their early to mid 20s. The decor has an "all black" theme. Domestic light beers, particularly Bud Light, predominate beer sales, with no specialty beers and Heineken being the only imported brand available. Food service is minimal. Although it was once a very popular establishment By Jimminy appears to be approaching the end of its life cycle and has done only marginal business for the last two years.

MAXXER'S

A one year old 75 seat working class bar on Walnut Street with quarter draws and live music from local bands on the weekends.

SHILL'S

Located at the site of the former T. Barker's Bar, Shill's is a very basic 75 seat blue collar bar that attracts only a smattering of students. Because it is close to the campus at Sixth and Elm it does good business during University sporting events. The beer selection reflects its clientele and only a limited burger and sandwich menu is offered.

DEJA VU

A combination disco dance hall, bar, comedy club and pizza parlor with seating for 300, Deja Vu is located at the corner of Seventh and Cherry Streets. The variety of attractions tends to keep customers on the premises as people cruise between the various sections of the establishments. Three bars on two levels offer the standard selection of domestic brands and a few imports.

J.J.'S

A diner-style bar that seats 200, J.J.'s has operated for five years at 704 Broadway. Their chief attractions consist of pool tables and big screen television for sporting events. The burger, sandwich and chili menu is best known for its very spicy Buffalo Wings. Beer sales primarily consist of draft Bud Light and Michelob.

THE BLOND NOTE

A 12 year old 900 seat concert theater and bar on Ninth Street with a musical bill that varies between rock and roll, jazz, blues and even reggae. Beer sales (consisting mostly of domestic Anheuser- Busch brands) average 15 - 20 kegs of draft beer and 25 - 40 cases of bottled product per week.

TENTH STREET DELI

A small three year old 45 seat delicatessen and bar across the street from The Blond Note. It draws heavily on concert attendees and sells approximately 10 kegs of domestic beer per week, primarily as 25¢ "draws" during the weekdays.

High Volume "Greek" Establishments

A large 1,750 seat warehouse-like bar, dance hall and pizza parlor with an emphasis on low-priced drink specials (quarter draws and "bottomless cup" mixed drinks on the weekends) that caters to fraternity/sorority "Greek" student customers. This high-volume/ low margin operation has had several ownership changes during the last ten years and is currently in the doldrums.

TRES HOMBRES

A two year old 200 seat Mexican-theme restaurant with a large bar that draws the same "Greek" crowd as the nearby Field Haus by offering "quarter draws" on Sundays and an extensive shot list. The location has been used by a number of short-term "theme" establishments over the years.

ZEPPO'S

Yet another "Greek" bar at Tenth & Cherry with quarter draws and a limited burger menu. It is distinguished from its frat-pack peers by having a marginally more appealing decor of brass, hardwood and booths. Entertainment is limited to video games.

Primarily Food-Oriented Establishments

A "Chicago-style" jazz bar with seating for 75 on Eighth Street across from the County Courthouse. The pricey menu is a melange of Mexican, Southwestern and Italian dishes with the odd pastrami sandwich thrown in just to confuse things further. Wine is emphasized over beer. The confused theme of the Corner Cafe has probably contributed to its inconsistent flow of business.

DOS BANDITOS

A mediocre 15 year old Mexican restaurant with a separate bar and patio. Its close proximity to the campus on Ninth Street helps to attract steady clientele from the University along with a goodly number of locals who have grown used to it over the years.

TRATTORIA NOVA

This 100 seat Italian-California theme restaurant with an open kitchen is generally considered by the local hospitality establishment community to be the most successful new restaurant in Collegeville. Its moderately-priced menu, expertly prepared by the chef-owner, draws a wide cross-section of customers. Wine sales (mostly Italian and Californian) are reputed to be the largest of any restaurant in mid Missouri. Three microbrewery beers are on tap, although sales average only three kegs per week.

THE SEMOLLINA FACTORY

A six year old "family" restaurant at Tenth Street and Broadway with seating for 140. The menu emphasizes pasta dishes, which makes it unique in the central business district.

THAI GARDENS

A small 50 seat Thai restaurant on Ninth Street with a good reputation but minimal bar business.

(INSERT STREET MAP SHOWING CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH COMPETITION LOCATIONS NOTATED)

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