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Restaurants Need Lucky Charm

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: March 11, 2009

With St. Patrick's Day on the horizon and a tough economy looming, many restaurants in the Sun City Center area could use lucky charms.

Dave Mimbs, the owner of The Stop Bar & Grill, 3858 Sun City Center Blvd., is no exception. First, he had to change the original name of his restaurant because a video game retail chain had the same name.

Mimbs is also struggling since The Villages At Cypress Creek homeowner's association turned down his request to add 800-square-feet to accommodate a bar. He also had hoped to add a brick patio.

Mimbs said he hoped to obtain a full liquor license, but can only sell beer and wine.

"If you don't have liquor in Sun City Center you don't have customers after 8 p.m.," said Mimbs said. "It's going to be tough to stay open without the liquor license. The way our business plan was set up and for the demographics, it was set up for liquor. That was really going to pay the bills."

Don Schings, a member of the Sun City Center Community Association board of directors, said the Stop Bar & Grille is not within the board's territory but added that he can sympathize with the plight of struggling area restaurant owners.

"We try to support the businesses here," Schings said. "I think all businesses are having challenges," he said. "We had one restaurant go out of the plaza here, which was C.J.'s Deli. I know the Java Cow is for sale."

Dan Richie, the owners of Beef O' Brady's in The Villages At Cypress Creek, said he is trying to stay positive in the face of a dire economy.

"We have seen our numbers drop compared to the past," Richie said. "We are taking a step back probably to 2004 or 2005. You plan for these types of events and set yourself for success instead of failure."

He does not view neighboring restaurants as a negative because it draws more people out to eat.

"Business generates new business," he said. "Sometimes restaurants bring more business because it's a destination. If you can't get into one because it's crowded, you go to the other."

When it comes to dealing with the homeowner's association, Richie said he tries to be cooperative and follow their guidelines.

"We have had to take down a sign and that kind of thing," he said. "Whether you agree with it or not that's part of being part of the community."

Although some Beef O'Brady's restaurants include a full bar, Richie said he does not feel as though they have the square footage to accommodate a bar. Furthermore, he does not want to deal with the possible headaches that might accompany full liquor.

"Sometimes having full liquor can bring other problems to the business," Richie said. "We are not going to stay open until 2 in the morning. We want to stay where it's a family atmosphere."

As an example, Richie says that plans for St Patrick's Day, include the traditional corned beef and cabbage. And of course, he said, there will be plenty of green beer.

"Green beer is a staple you have to have," he said.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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