RE:Gamehost 2.0 - The Gamehost of Tomorrow!Man o man, I so appreciate this board. TLV what an awesome in depth look and great recommendation. I have a holding in Smart Centres and this is what they are embarking on, intensifying land use around their various big box retail centres, adding residential to the mix.
One of the things I did long ago was to look at our properties and I get it....there is definitely space there
Your recommendation also fits their model of simplicity in management, and food and restaurants is definitely in their wheelhouse.
WRT franchises, I definitely get the financial argument that they should fill the space because of financial and operational reasons. But many years ago I met a real smart operator of restaurants around Dunedin FLA....spring training home of the Blue Jays. His business was to buy the leases of failing restaurants, turn them around with his "operating model" , the sell a successful operation....rinse repeat.
The point only is that GH could\should?? include a higher end owner operated restaurant in the mix ...someone with local panache who can build a destination business on their own. IMO a Boston Pizza (sorry Jim) does not do that.
But it also leads to other types of businesses that could fit in.....cooking school for couples???.....that might be strategic fits and bring the couple in for a quick spin....which is I think at the heart of your argument. Create a synergistic destination location of food, entertainment and leisure activities.
Thanks for that analysis TLV. Definitely errrr food for thought (bad dad pun)