The new Fire and Frost on Wintergreen mountain posted on its Facebook page last week, "For us to stay open year-round we are going to need to see some business during the week." Here’s a sampling of the comments and suggestions they received on their Facebook page:
Stay open Mondays for those on the semi-retired hours or layover rentals (take off Tuesday, Wednesday, or both), adjust your hours for holiday weeks & take advantage of the higher number of people then, offer dinner Saturday (Friday if you are willing to stay open later for the late arrivals), pitch to construction/maintenance workers with specials (they all go to The Market for lunch), offer gluten-free options (you need to compete with the Resort which does offer great gluten-free pizzas), see if take & bake or to-go options would help for days you're not open at night. (Devine used to have freezers filled with entrees & we went often for that.) Lastly, get your liquor license & offer beer & wine by the glass (maybe even some tastings like Devine used to have). Good luck & hope that helps!
Not having dinner on weekends is going to make it difficult for you. We’ve been in and love your food and want to see you stay open! Perhaps change the hours to take advantage of the weekenders. Open starting on Friday with lunch and dinner, three meals on Saturday and Sunday, and breakfast on Monday for people on their way out. I know it makes for a long weekend but I think you would make more money and get your weekdays off to recuperate!
Have you got the magnets with the QR code yet? I will definitely put a couple on the side of the fridge.
Don’t know how manageable it would be for 2 people but even being open until 8 pm on Friday and Saturday would likely result in lots of Friday and Saturday business; then consider being closed on Tuesday. We and our guests usually arrive Friday evening and would almost always be thrilled for a wonderful Saturday evening take-out option.
The biggest goldmine you guys need to tap into here is the workmen. How bout a special sandwich deal-wood fired meatball sub, etc for those guys and competitive pricing? Those guys are looking for a filling and affordable lunch. Win them over and they’ll tell all their buddies and you won’t be able to keep up with orders!
Skip the breakfast service & be open from 10-6. Offer something other than what The Market does - like wood-baked Argentine empanadas or calzones or some killer paninis.
Keep your pastries, but have them available on display all day. Work with another vendor… like a pop-up style to offer desserts to go with the specialty coffees.
Without a wine/beer license, you will lose out on a lot of biz & $$$. Partner with one of the breweries, too.
Get your marketing right - if you are not on other social media platforms like Instagram, you need to be. Nothing on the FB page really stands out that you are on WTG Mountain - you have the address as Roseland. Also, pinning your menu to the top of the FB page would be smart - people won't come in if they don't know what they can order. Google isn't very helpful either & that is where most people turn to when looking for restaurants on vacation.
Visitors to the mountain won't know you exist. But they will know The Market because the resort has advertising dollars. Make friends with the resort staff and talk up the positives of your business…
I’ve never owned a restaurant (so I cannot speak from owner experience), but… perhaps to lower staffing and food costs, consider being closed Tuesday & Wednesday? Our renters tend to check in Friday and check out Monday year-round. Same for us, as owners! We are so excited you are here and have been telling our renters about you too, so we really hope that you stick!
