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Kris Billiter

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I guess this explains La Coop closing

by Kris Billiter » Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:48 am

Doc Crows group taking over Tumbleweed space:
http://www.wdrb.com/story/27528110/anot ... tumbleweed
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Robin Garr

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Re: I guess this explains La Coop closing

by Robin Garr » Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:08 am

Yeah, I think the Tons and Brett were pretty open about La Coop being too small to fit into their overall business plan. They've also got a big place coming in Waterfront Plaza and another project in Nashville, I believe.

Their products are outstanding to this point, but I wonder if this intense profit focus is showing us a preview of another great local operation going corporate in the pursuit of riches. That would be something to watch for; not predicting it, just saying that the pattern looks sadly familiar.
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Mark R.

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Re: I guess this explains La Coop closing

by Mark R. » Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:51 pm

It certainly sounds like there's a large possibility of them overextending themselves, especially the Louisville market. I wonder if maybe the new restaurant they are planning in Waterfront Place may be the victim here. It seems like the Tumbleweed location is much more desirable and visible than that location. The two locations are also quite close to each other and in many cases would be direct competition. Maybe they'll drop the Waterfront Place location instead? I know they've already announced that but we've heard many restaurants make announcements and then not follow through.
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Andrew Mellman

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Re: I guess this explains La Coop closing

by Andrew Mellman » Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:18 pm

Robin Garr wrote:Yeah, I think the Tons and Brett were pretty open about La Coop being too small to fit into their overall business plan. They've also got a big place coming in Waterfront Plaza and another project in Nashville . . . another great local operation going corporate in the pursuit of riches.


I tend to be more of a "glass half full" type of guy.

As a long-time LaCoop customer, you could see them trying their hardest to maintain all prices, but there is only so long you can switch from a half chicken to only drumsticks, drop the marrow bone from onion soup and then put it back with a price increase, drop lunch because the labor is too intensive to make out given pricing and turn-around, et al.

With a Mexican restaurant where Tumbleweed was (VERY different from what they are talking about for the Waterfront Place), they finally can make some money and provide the cash flow necessary to open Waterfront Place, while LaCoop likely would have been more of a burden than a help.

Yes, Robin, there is a profit motive there, but nobody can afford to subsidize something like a restaurant forever!
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Adriel Gray

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Re: I guess this explains La Coop closing

by Adriel Gray » Wed Dec 03, 2014 1:40 pm

Profit motive isn't what makes places fail. It's not caring about quality that is the problem.

Not that La Coop didn't care about quality... I think they do, and that is why they closed...

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