01/02/2024
Dear Patrons of Bob's,
We hope this message finds you well. First and foremost, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and loyalty to Bob's over the years.
We wanted to take a moment to update you on recent changes at our beloved establishment. As of November 22nd, we have temporarily closed our doors for full-time service. This decision was not made lightly, and it has been a challenging time for all of us. We understand that many of you have been curious about the reasoning behind this decision and our plans moving forward. In the spirit of transparency, we want to address these concerns and keep you informed every step of the way. As of January 1, Bob’s is permanently closed in our former business model.
From the outset, it appeared that the odds were stacked against us. In May 2021, we embarked on an ambitious project, investing in extensive upgrades and remodeling. Unfortunately, unforeseen challenges arose, such as the need to replace the entire fire system, which took considerably longer than anticipated. Furthermore, the cost of labor in the valley skyrocketed, making it incredibly difficult to find reliable help.
Our dedicated chef, Bob, worked tirelessly, often putting in 80-plus-hour weeks to ensure the quality of our cuisine and the training of our kitchen team. Regrettably, we experienced a high turnover rate among our staff, both in the kitchen and among our waitstaff. This constant churn further exacerbated our operational difficulties. Additionally, the rising cost of ingredients placed an ever-increasing strain on our operations. The aging infrastructure of the building led to frequent equipment issues and leaks, at times necessitating temporary closures and imposing significant financial burdens. We did our utmost to cover these costs, but we reached a point where it became unsustainable. It was at this critical juncture that our landlord graciously stepped in to assist, despite the lease initially being designed for us to be self-sufficient. Over the 2.5 years, we have been open, we consistently encountered monthly issues that compelled us to allocate substantial outside funds, often totaling five figures per month.
On a personal level, both Bob and I have faced unexpected health challenges. Bob underwent two emergency eye surgeries, and I had a long illness and a kidney removal. These events, coupled with other personal issues, added to the difficulties we faced during this period.
Despite our best efforts, we struggled to generate the desired volume of customers, even with significant investments in advertising. A year after our opening, we found ourselves operating at a loss of 35% above our projected revenue. As a result, we made the difficult decision to raise prices and eliminate certain costly promotions, which unfortunately led to a further decline in customer volume.
It has become evident that our current business model is not sustainable, and our family investors have reached the limit of their financial resources to continue in the same manner. However, we still have time remaining on our lease and are determined to bring something to the community to garner their support and satisfaction.
We sincerely appreciate your participation and feedback in this process. If you have any ideas, thoughts, or funding opportunities, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and continued loyalty. We value each and every one of you as cherished members of our restaurant family.
Warm regards,
Bob and MerriDee Copeland
