Well, I’m sure you saw the email spouting the Tomahawk Ribeye entree at the Brassie Grille – for $145. That’s right folks – $145. As I have explained previously, the restaurant business is a tricky endeavor, and fine dining can have expensive consequences. Is the Board over its head and above its pay grade with this current direction for The Brassie Grille? But, when you’re subsidized, like the Residents subsidizing AGI (Aquarina Golf, Inc.), e.g. The Brassie Grille, I suppose untoward business consequences have less impact when its distributed among 450+ fee paying residences. Just saying.
The history of the Brassie Grille has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, e.g. employees, food inventory, etc. As I have suggested in this Blog many times, rent out the restaurant to skilled restaurant professionals, and collect the rent. Rather than losing money in attempting to be in the food business, maybe more effort and time could be better used on maintaining Aquarina’s infrastructure and having our fees build a reserve for our future needs, e.g. the repairing and upgrading our entrance roadway, which serves the whole community and not the just the golf folks’ restaurant embellishments and activities.
It’s understood that the restaurant is a necessity and good for the community, but keeping it simple, i.e. a limited yet changing menu, and creative use of the current kitchen, is the best approach if the Board insists in being restaurateurs. Less risk is attained with a business plan that depends on drink sales for most of the profit and not risky food sales, which may and can create profit, but only when it’s done both tastefully and economically, not in a manner to compete with Djon’s Steak and Lobster House on our dime.
Then there is The Brassie Grille expansion – yikes! It will be at least $700K and heading north with costs; I’m sure. Remodels are not done with a set price; I know. Unknown and unexpected issues surface all the time, which means even higher costs. Besides, is now the time to remodel and expand with the country being in a stagflation/inflation situation, with limited labor and supplies?
The Board meeting, which was opened to the Residents for The Brassie Grille expansion explanation ended with the floor open for questions. The first question was “How will this expansion be funded?” The AGI answer was basically “I am not going to address that matter, The Board can figure it out.” Hmm.
I wish the Board would be transparent with AGI finances, and show the Residents the specifics of The Brassie Grille P&L (Profit and Loss). If the restaurant shows a solid return of profit on its expenses, great. Maybe a paced and thought out expansion is justified. However, the only real crowds I see are for special events at minimal or no cost to the patrons. Other than some beverage sales, does the The Brassie Grille actually make a substantial profit on these indulgent parties for a segment of the Community. If so, then show us the receipts to justify this major expansion expense planned for the Residents.
The Board of Directors for Home Owners Associations have the latitude to deal with the Residents’ Reserves in a broad manner, i.e. not only for major repairs and needed infrastructure replacements, but also for “Betterments”, a legal term for capital improvements, e.g. The Brassie Grille expansion. The choices for how the Reserves are spent are at the Board’s “sole” discretion. Hmm. It’s like a Board having an open check book to the Residents’ Reserves.
Remember, Board Directors are voted by the Residents into their Director positions, unless no one runs for a Directorship, then the current Board finds a Resident volunteer to serve. Do you think the Board looks for like minded folks that support the Board’s politics and focus for the community?
Does this sound familiar to what we have here in Aquarina? Hmm.