09/29/2016
Chef Johnny and I regret to announce we are closing The Addiction Bistro. Friday, September 30th will be our last day of operation. The restaurant first opened the evening of February 10th, 2010. At that time we had ZERO restaurant experience and had no idea what to expect or how things would proceed. March of 2010 was our first full month of operation, and, as with our last month of operation (Sept 2016), we operated at a profit. We aren't closing due to lack of profitability. The main reason we have decided to close is GOVERNMENT INTRUSION.
More and more each day the government involves itself in the running and slow ruining of small business. It is now to a level to which we no longer feel we're allowed to make the best decisions for our business, our employees, or our clients. I could write reams on this topic but suffice to say the single greatest egregious over play by the government is the artificial assessment of employee value, aka, the minimum wage. And, while it has a terrible impact on businesses and their clients, the single most deleterious impact is to those it purports to help: employees. The minimum wage will be the reason many other small businesses go away in the next year or two taking jobs and opportunities with them.
We could have continued on with the business for many more years to come, but with the already announced regulation changes soon to come, now is the right time to exit this business. The minimum wage is scheduled to rise 50% in the next four years and recently the government has expanded it's grip in the areas of tip pooling, overtime, and how a restaurant must schedule and hire employees. This of course means more headaches, penalties, and expenses for the business owner, MUCH higher prices for our guests, and a more difficult life with fewer opportunities for employees. We no longer wished to participate in a game that is increasingly stacked against us, our employees, and our clients!
It has been a fantastic learning experience and we leave greatly uplifted by the fact that we operate a successful restaurant and are closing the business on our terms. With a failure rate of over 80% we are extremely proud of what we've built and our many successes. We have met many wonderful people and developed many fun relationships over the years. We wish to thank all of our regulars; we greatly appreciate you're support through the years and we will miss all of you. While 7 years in the restaurant business have provided us with an endless supply of amusing and unforgettable stories, the relationships we have developed are what we will cherish most for years to come.
Sincerely,
Rick & Chef Johnny
