Thursday, July 2, 2009

competitive analysis and other fun things

Well, so much for getting my garden back.  RDL -aka my brother Roger - has been way to busy to even look at my garden since his arrival from Ecuador.  I guess I'll just give it a rest this season.  I know the asparagus has liked that.

Our first attempt at a billboard has arrived with very good reviews.  Thanks to Tammy Funk for such a great logo and design on the board. 

We have also tried a new marketing approach with the Carroll County Times which proved to be very effective.  Back in May I called the County offices about our taxes for 2008 and was told there was no benefit in payng at that time as opposed to the end of June as I had already incurred all of the penalties and interest that was possible.  So no bigdeal just wait until the end of June and pay it up.

Well unbeknown to me the County doesn't wait until the 30th of June to post the "tax sales" but posts them early in the paper.  What a great response we had.  And here I thought no one read the newspaper anymore.  It reaffirms my thought that the Carroll County Times is actually read, even in the summer.  But the bad news is for those of you getting ready to "start the bidding" we paid in full with plenty of time to go, easy compared to the liquor license saga!

We have just changed out our paintings - COOL! We welcome Ray Hartland back for a return exhibition and are really happy to have Anna Stewart's work hanging for the first time.  What vibrant work.  Of course we still have Charlie's poured painting and Virginia Sperry's metal work.  So come on down and fulfill all of your senses.

As we move into our second year we keep our fingers crossed that we will get through this summer and with that and Nira's prayers it seems as though we will.  Alot of my experience in Maryland was in Ellicott City.  I find I am able to draw some parallels to E.C. and Carroll County throughout the year.  May to the first 2 weeks of June very busy, November and December great.  January first week of Feb weather dependent.  Valentine's week slammed.  March steady but still weather dependent.  First 2-3 weeks of April slow and then a start upwards into May.  I also thought that the same trends would hold true for the Summer. 

Not knowing the area that well when we first started I firgured we would be lucky to get much from the tourists of Gettysburg and that we would follow E.C. in getting slow' slow' slow for the summer.  Well fortunately this was the exception to the rule.  So far the first three weeks of summer have been excellent. 

I also watch such things as AAA's travel forecast and note that for this holiday they are predicting a 2% decline in travel over last year.  To me this means more people staying local and a big Yahoo from me.

Anyway, this is the first time I have had time to blog for a while, hope I can get more time yet. 

8:10 am est 

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

A year and more, who wooda thunked it?

This has been one heck of a year.  My brother is back in town from South America for a brief visit  I think that he was a bit concerned about getting bored but do I have plenty of work for him.  He still hasn't even looked at my garden and he has been here 4 days already!  Oh well I may just have to give up on the garden this year - again. Either way, garden or not, it is great to see him again. 

As we get into the summer our business thoughts turn towards Gettysburg.  With over 1.8 million visitors a year Gettysburg is really a plus for us.  In Ellicott City we always took a beating in the summer.  All of our guests going on vacation but really- who vacations in Howard County, MD?  Well here I am hoping that we are close enough to Gettysburg to bring some of the transient summer travellers in.  Last year we had very few visitors from Gettysburg but we hope this year will change that trend.

oops, gotta go more later

2:08 pm est 

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Brave, Stupid or Humble?

It has been a while since I last blogged.  We had changed the password to access our account and of course I forgot what it was and did not write it down! So in the interim I have done 2 blogs in a word format but just could not figure out how to get them onto this format.  Oh well I guess I can let the computer age pass me by.  Maybe at some point I will figure out how to move one from the other and then post the past dated blogs.
One thing I always thought a blog should do is actually reflect the reality of the subject being blogged about. In this case the running of a restaurant.  While that is a nice thought  it isn't necessarily realistic to put out in a public format all of the personal and emotional issues that occur. But with that disclaimer I do attempt to get as close to the reality as I can with out too much sugar coating.

Over the last two months our business has really taken off. But my question has been "too little too late?"  On a regular basis I have people I have never seen just stopping by to take a look because as they say - "what are you guys doing down here, we've never seen so many cars in the lot! Great job keep it up and we'll be down here one day for dinner".

Even with that in the almost year that we have been here through all of the ups and downs, trials and tribulations we were closer to locking our doors than we have ever been this week. Our latest hurdle would not have been cleared if not for the "Silver Run Stimulus Package". 

The old saying that death and taxes are inevitable holds as true as ever.  Since I am here today you can figure out that it wasn't the death part.  Going back to the title of todays blog "Brave, Stupid or Humble?".  That goes back to a guest who a few months ago who commented that we were very brave to open a new business, especially a restaurant in these economic times.  As a friend of mine once said it is a very fine line between brave and stupid.  After the events of the last few days neither brave nor stupid holds true.  Humble is the word. Humbled by the generosity and support of our friends and neighbors.

Having been in the food service industry for my entire working life from opening restaurants to running food & beverage programs at Island resorts I felt that there was not a restaurant that I could not make work. But have I been challenged here.  Even with Brooke as my General Manager and the support of a great staff this restaurant has been my biggest challenge.  From the attitude of there can't be a good restaurant in Silver Run to oh no one ever makes it there, I was unaware of the challenges and the deeply rooted negative reputation of this location in this tightly knit community.  (That is where the stupid may come into play.)

Thanks to the support, both financially and emotionally of many who started out as customers and guests and have become great friends we were able to close the gap and with a lot of running on Thursday and the help of a bunch of great people we were able to "git-r-done". So here we are doors opened and a great outlook as we approach our first anniversary.  Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the past 11+ months.

And of course I would be remiss to not end this with a special thank you to those who helped us through what we hope will be our last big hurdle and have humbled us with the knowledge that we will succeed with the support and friendship of this great community.

Sincerely,
Ken Lurie 

9:21 am est 

Sunday, February 22, 2009

nine months

After a few weeks of nervousness it finally seems as though spring will finally arrive.  While a snowstorm is still possible we made it through Valentine's weekend with out any major weather events. The article in Carroll Magazine, which by the way is the best magazine in the country if not the world!!, has really been good for us.  We have had a lot of response from the article.  What has been the best for us is that the article introduced us to many people who are in our "backyard". 
Over the 9 months that we have been here I have realized that the negative perception of this location was much more ingrained than I could ever have known.  Friday night we had 2 tables come in who both said that they had had so many negative experiences here over the last years that they would never come back, NO MATTER WHAT!  But the article in Carroll Magazine gave them the reason to once again try their local place.
 
I had my first experience with the ghost on Wednesday night.  Francis Baker and her husband (former owners of the Spotted Horse, one of the rare great restaurants
at this location) were in for dinner.  After dinner I sat with them at the end of the bar and had an after dinner drink.  After they left one of our guests says that he hears water running.  So off I go to investigate, me Mister Fix it.  And sure enough the bleeder valve on the radiator is opened and water is dripping out in a steady stream.
In search of a tool I go, what tool I am not quite sure but a tool none the less.  So with hammer and wrench in hand I go over and start to "fix" the leak.  On the way to the radiator Dave asks if I need any help.  How would I know I think but I ask him to keep an ear out and if I start hollering to come running.  So after about two minutes and I have turned the steady drip into a steady stream I holler.  So out Dave goes to get his tools, he actually has a lot of tools and the right ones too.  So as I stand at the end of the bar shuttling water pitchers I notice Dave is still not back from his truck, I mean it is right out in the parking lot after all.  Finally in what seems like an hour Dave finally returns. Inquiring about what took so long he had slipped and was covered in mud!  Any how he of course has the right tool, a very little bleeder key
that I now keep with me at all times.

Now some of you might be thinking Uh, wasn't this supposed to be a ghost story, where is the ghost stuff?  Think about it, we have 8 radiators.  We have been opened 9 months.  So out of 72 radiator months - so to speak - we have had no issues with them until the night that Francis comes in.  And of the 8 why would the one next to Francis act up?  And Dave slipping, I think the ghost tripped him just for fun! So there we have it My first, maybe second, ghost story.

Now back to the real world.  As we move closer into March I am excited about the upcoming garden season.  I will get out this week, a little late, and trim down my rose bushes and asparagus.  I will also try planting one of my raised beds with radishes, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and lettuces.  I turn my raised beds into little green houses by putting a wooden framed plastic sheet over them.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  But either way I should start getting something out of the garden within the first weeks of April.  I also have planted for the first time strawberry plants.  I can't wait to see how they do this year!  Plus I will trim back my black raspberry bushes.  I can't wait for the first of those.  I have some wild vines that I leave for the birds and I share my cultivated vines with them.

As winter turns to spring I am struck by the thought that God willing and the creek don't rise we just might make a full year.  The reason that is so vital is that as the
folks Brooke met at Safeway said -"Oh that place, no one ever lasts there. If you guys make a year then we will come down".  So as we make our first year we look forward to meeting all of you who will be here as we pass the one year mark.

Thanks to all of you, Ken

10:43 am est 

Monday, February 2, 2009

More than a month since I blogged YOW!!!!

What a month it has been!! After coming off of a great holiday season we had a very strong January.  It has been an interesting season here.  One of the things that has happened over the last few months is a transformation of the reputation of this location!!

During the holiday season a few guests refered to us as "being in Westminster".  What a breakthrough - for so long we heard - oh, you will never make it, you're too far from Westminster.  So now we are finally seen as not being too far away but I will always refer to our location as "Silver Run".

Our first wine tasting was held in December and received very good reviews and a great turnout.  Our second wine dinner was not so well received much to my dismay.  But I come to find out it really is a question of respecting and knowing our community.

Our second dinner was to be a Chocroutte dinner. Choucroutte is an Alsatian "peasant" dish.  The region of Alsace borders Germany and is influenced by many of the same foods and wines. So basically Choucroutte is saurkraut and sausage and pork.  Of course we were going to be doing much more than just throwing hotdogs into saurkraut but so does everyone in the area who makes saurkraut and sausage.  And when I mention everyone in the area I mean EVERYONE in the area makes saurkraut and sausage. So every day I live and learn and my respect for my new community grows.

Coming into January we were a bit nervous.  January is notorious for slow in the restaurant industry.  But as we end January and start our first February we held our own and somehow have kept the lights on and food coming in.  The great thing about that is that if we can do well in January than the rest of the year will hopefully treat us kindly.

Our excitement grows due to the fact that we received a wonderful write-up in the Carroll Magazine that came out today.  The photos are great and the article is incredible.  I am happy that Michael realized the value of our General Manager Brooke and gave her the kudos she so strongly deserves. I will second his enthusiasm for Brooke and thank her for a great job.  Always there for us Brooke has proven herself to be an asset to us.  I am glad I promoted her from intern to General manager - even though the pay has remained the same.

So if you do not receive Carroll Magazine, which of course is the best magazine in the country, than go out and find a copy today! 

We are starting to grow our menu.  You will see the addition in the next few weeks of Monchong and hebi, both fresh from Hawaii.  We are working with "Honolulu Fish Company" which has overnight delivery right to us here in Siver Run!! I'm not sure if they offer that service to anyone else - just joking. Also we will be offering Pheasant, lamb and veal. Boy is the pheasant good!!

Last but not least I am very excited about spring being right around the corner.  I have to cut back my asparagus this week and check on my strawberries.  i will put spinach and other early greens in the raised beds with a piece of plexiglass over the top.  Last year I lost my first planting but I will keep my fingers crossed for this year!

So all in all a good start to the new year and we look forward to seeing you soon.  Ken

Breakfast with Santa It was our first Breakfast with Santa and what a great turnout we had!!  We raised $870 for Charles Carroll Elementary.  Thanks to everyone up at CCES and the surrounding community for al of there help and support. Really though at the top pf my list of people to thank is Doug Brewer of Brewer's Market.  In our short tenure here in Silver Run we have become very active in the community.  With gift certificates to the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department to dinners to be auctioned off for the college and the Art Council the word has gotten out that here at Bud's we support the local community.  But honestly our 2 fund-raisers here in the restaurant - one for Voices for Children, the other for CCES - would not have been possible without the help and support of Doug Brewer. Doug was instrumental in helping with the logistics of pulling these two functions together!  From advice to tangible assets Doug was there for all we needed.  Please make sure that we support those who support and give back to our community and when you see Doug or his folks thank them for all they do.  Again my heartfelt thanks to the Brewer family! Uh oh, once again I digress - imagine that!!  Breakfast with Santa was a smashing success.  Santa, a very good friend of Dr. Charles Ecker was as Jolly as always if not a bit cold from flying in to the area.  Our parking lot was too full for his sleigh to land here so he landed at CCES and was chauffeured down here by the Pleasant Valley fire department!!  The kids had a great time with him and he a great time with the kids.For all of you who were here thanks for your support and generosity. Posted on: December 22, 2008 8:34 AM	Delete
Edit	Thanksgiving, Holidays and our first snow storm!! What a great few weeks it has been.  I have to thank the Voght family for stopping by one day in the fall and asking if we were going to be open for Thanksgiving.  "Sure" says I.  "What are you going to be serving?"  "Oh I don't know, I didn't know that I was going to be open until you pulled up but I am sure it will be good!"  And sure enough it was good, even got many greats along with the goods. Turkey, ham, Prime Rib and all of the fixins' - a lot of food.  Of course no one went away hungry, most even had leftovers which is the most important part of the Thanksgiving Dinner. With the Thanksgiving holiday we get into the full swing of the holiday season.  We have donated dinners for the Carroll County Arts Council which Board President Susan Thornton turned into a wreath for their annual auction and it was the best looking wreath of the 100 + that are there!!  Actually all of the wreaths were great and the facility itself was beautiful. Last night was the first of what I hope are very few snow days this winter.  While I love snow and all sorts of winter sports I think of Fernand every time it snows - "don't be so x&(*O%$@X excited, do you not want a X@$#$%$#*(&OXpaycheck this week!!"  Any way around five p.m. as the snow starts falling a scowl comes over my face.  We have more than 40 reservations on the book, it's looking like our best night ever and IT HAS TO SNOW!! AAUUUGGGHHHH I HATE SNOW!!  Well look at the bright side, while no one is calling to make more reservations at least no one has cancelled yet.  Maybe we will pull a decent night out of the hat after all. So as my mood starts to brighten the lights flicker, flicker again and then ... DARKNESS befalls us.  Fortunately only for a few minutes it was dark and then the lights are back on.  Keep our fingers crossed that they stay on and they do!!  Hallelujah, Hallelujah!!  And still no cancellations.  Oops, wait a minute, there's the first one, uh oh the next one - stop, don't answer the phone, if we do not answer they cannot cancel, right?? There I go on the rollercoaster again, people cancelling, but no ones coming in.  AAUUUGGGHHHH!!!  But by now we are starting to get some folks coming in. Okay, maybe just maybe we will get something tonight. Hey, a few more cars.  Well maybe not as bad as I thought.  But there is still no way we are going to have a great night, no way to make up for all the lost reservations.  Such is life in the restaurant industry.  Hold on, another car or two, hmmmm. Well by now you're getting the drift, we are actually starting to get busy!! Lights are still on, snow has stopped falling - could it be that we are actually going to get some business, WOW!!  (you know how much I like too use that word!)  Still no plow or salt truck, when are they going to come by?  Now I'm thinking no time soon, the traffic is at a stand still, what should we do, what should we do??  Of course the only thing you can do, COME ON IN TO BUD"S AT SILVER RUN!!  So finally we did pull a great night out of the hat and made a lot of new friends in so doing.  Fortunately everyone arrived home safely and the real culprit of the road was a downed utility pole!! Posted on: December 7, 2008 4:09 PM
Edit	grandparent again Congratulations to Wayne and Sharon Breslin on their newest grandchild!! Posted on: November 24, 2008 9:50 PM
Edit	Posted on: November 4, 2008 1:17 PM
Edit	The most asked question here at Bud's As I was looking back through some e-mails from the past few months I realized that the most often asked question is "why Bud's?"  Many people have commented on the name and the association of the name to a shot and beer place.  And you know what, I cannot in all honesty disagree with that perception. The reality is that I named the place after my father - Marvin "Bud" Lurie.  My Dad worked hard until his retirement as a salesman selling yard goods behind a counter at Blank's Fabrics.  Often on Saturdays I would go in with him and help around the store.  Carrying bolts of fabric, straightening up unrolled rolls, helping women out to their cars.  Whatever it took to make sure the customers were happy.  My Dad would have 3 or 4 customers waiting for him, customers no one else could help even though everyone there was quite knowledgable.  But no only "Bud" could help them. Before we opened I had the oppurtunity to take a cross country motorcycle trip.  While out west I visited a good friend of mine who lives in Napa Valley.  After Napa I went up to visit my cousin Rosanne just south of Portland and got to visit alot of the wineries in Oregon.  While driving around those areas I was thinking that we had made a mistake in the name.  North Carroll County just does not have the population (thank goodness) that those areas have.  Bud's works in Napa, Canton, Ocean City but can it work in Carroll County?  So when I returned to the east coast I got together with my partner Buddy and expressed concern about the name.  Surprise, surprise - of course he thought it was just a fine name and besides the paperwork had already been filed!! Oh well.  So self imposed one of the other challenges that we need to overcome at this location.  Yet as we so often come to find out keeping the name as Bud's ended up being the right thing to do.  As people realize the story behind the name they seem to appreciate the simplicity and the connection. Posted on: November 4, 2008 1:16 PM