Mrs. Yoss & I were strolling by the boat house this weekend and commenting on how under utlized this asset is. Bitterboy and I have had similiar conversations and were thinking it's time to act.
I'd like to get suggestions on what would you think would be VIABLE uses for the BH. For example, I think a cafe there would be a nice addition, from the looks of it one existed once upon a time. I would like to hear about your vision of this facility.
Parking will always be a problem for anything there. Adding angled parking inside the park would go over like a lead zeppelin.
I think the place should be rehabbed nicely and rented out for weddings and other events where people can hire their own valet services. I know you can do that now, but the place isn't very pretty, IMO.
And I'd also suggest that they find a less stinky alternative to roofing felt to protect the floor during the skating season.
The whole idea here is to not turn a profit, I assume. Rather...just to utilize that thing more. Correct?
You can ask those that have competed against SBUX...or are currently trying to do so...how well it has worked out for them.
If that thing was fixed up it would be rented out more, IMO. You can have booze there now...which is a plus. The inside is just God awful. Maybe HGTV could have that really hunky guy come and and do a makeover. At the very least...we could all look at that really hunky guy.
I think the cafe idea is a great one! Has anybody been to the Chgo Botanical Gardens in summer when they have a restuarant/caterer serve meals on the patio area of the restuarant? It's quite nice.
Originally posted by middlein87: Parking will always be a problem for anything there. Adding angled parking inside the park would go over like a lead zeppelin.
I think the place should be rehabbed nicely and rented out for weddings and other events where people can hire their own valet services. I know you can do that now, but the place isn't very pretty, IMO.
And I'd also suggest that they find a less stinky alternative to roofing felt to protect the floor during the skating season.
What he said....
I thought I was the only who couldn't figure out that elk-urine stench during the winter. Glad to see that I am not alone.
Originally posted by Clamato: The whole idea here is to not turn a profit, I assume. Rather...just to utilize that thing more. Correct?
You can ask those that have competed against SBUX...or are currently trying to do so...how well it has worked out for them.
If that thing was fixed up it would be rented out more, IMO. You can have booze there now...which is a plus. The inside is just God awful. Maybe HGTV could have that really hunky guy come and and do a makeover. At the very least...we could all look at that really hunky guy.
I'd like to see the facility generate enough revenue that any money made over the operating expenses could be re-invested into upgrading the facility.
I am always concerned when any civic entity...this one in particular...gets into the business of retail anything. Be it coffee or miniature golf...I just don't think there is a need or a place for it.
A. The quality would most likely suck huge
B. The hours would be very limited
C. The service would most likely be akin to getting a hot chocolate while in the warming house
D. You'd have to sell a lot of coffee and cookies and cones to turn a profit. I'd rather see our money go into patching the God awful roads and cleaning the CBD where these services already exist
Even if it only ran Memorial Day to Veteran's Day, you could have a little sandwich shop/cafe. Of course, it would need to get publicized as one of the features of visiting GE (which doesn't happen anywhere outside of GE from what I can tell) AND families might enjoy it in the summer. Sort of a picnic at the park only you didn't have to pack a picnic lunch!
"The most valuable things in life are not measured in monetary terms. The really important things are not houses and lands, stocks and bonds, automobiles and real state, but friendships, trust, confidence, empathy, mercy, love and faith. " -Bertrand Russell V. Delong
Posts: 3305 | Location: Glen Ellyn, IL | Registered: April 04, 2003
Over the weekend, it was nice to see a number of town's dedicating memorials to our sevice persons who gave their lives to defend our country. Perhaps the area around the boathouse could have such a memorial, it would be nice to see money spent on a memorial rather than a fountain in front of the village hall.
Originally posted by Clamato: I am always concerned when any civic entity...this one in particular...gets into the business of retail anything. Be it coffee or miniature golf...I just don't think there is a need or a place for it.
A. The quality would most likely suck huge
B. The hours would be very limited
C. The service would most likely be akin to getting a hot chocolate while in the warming house
D. You'd have to sell a lot of coffee and cookies and cones to turn a profit. I'd rather see our money go into patching the God awful roads and cleaning the CBD where these services already exist
E. I am, and always have been, a buzzkill
Are you nuts Clam? We need this sooooo bad! God forbid we get a vendor with a cart. The kids need somewhere to stay warm while waiting for the lake to freeze!
I am neither foe nor friend to my brothers, but such as each of them shall deserve of me.
Originally posted by Yossarian: Perhaps the area around the boathouse could have such a memorial, it would be nice to see money spent on a memorial rather than a fountain in front of the village hall.
I am not sure if you are joking, but there already is a war memorial at Lake Ellyn.
Wasn't there a little hotel on the other side of the lake some 120 years ago? Didn't they have "concessions" ? I think we need another place just like that!
I am neither foe nor friend to my brothers, but such as each of them shall deserve of me.
I think we need another place just like that!
