Cheese Mo'z in trouble?

[CatMan72]

Went into Dan Morgan's Cheese Mo'z restaurant last night and noticed all the sports memorabilia (signed Panthers jerseys, Dan's helmet, etc) had been removed. When I asked the waitress why it was gone she said "Dan came in and took it, that's all I can tell you"...

Maybe it's not a big deal, but I'm concerned that this may be a sign that Cheese Mo'z is in some kind of financial trouble? Don't know if Dan still visits this board (he used to) but I hope he does and he can respond to this to let us know what's going on (if anything) and if there is any way the Panthers fan community can help?

If you haven't been to Cheese Mo'z yet, your missing out... it's the best pizza I've had in Charlotte or just about anywhere else.

[Cyclonus]

Hmm...maybe Dan realized that starting a restaurant can be a financial drain, and decided to sell or close up?

[dimbee]

Doesn't he have 2 restaurants? That'll burn through cash like nobodies business!

[ckad79]

I never been there. Next time I'm in town, I'll try and stop by --- hopefully it's around.

Restaurants are a tough business. I've debated about opening one myself.

You have food cost issues, marketing the place, etc. BUT the majority of problems, have to do with hiring good people --- you get good people working for you, employees who want to see you and your business succeed, it makes it a lost easier. If you don't get that, you get some kid making $7/hr washing dishes and stealing food from the freezer! UHH

Customer service is also huge! I use to work with this restaurant whose owner would remember everybody by their first name! People loved that!!! The food was "good" - nothing "great" but the customer service was superior.

As far as cheap marketing, I recommend Facebook, especially if you're near college towns. It's great to promote drink specials, etc. I actually run a website design business, among a few other ventures, in Richmond and deal with a number of restaurants in the city trying to gather VCU students and encourage a lot of use of social media like Facebook, MySpace, etc.

[Phil Dees]

Doesn't he have 2 restaurants? That'll burn through cash like nobodies business!

Sweet Tea's only lasted couple months.

[Hairless Cat]

when you owe creditors they basically can put a lien on anything in or on your business. maybe Dan is protecting his assetts.

[Guest silver82blade]

dan morgan has two restaurants? dan morgan used to come here? wtf is a cheese mo'z? my head is swimming with all this new information. cannot process. shutting down.

[Doc Holiday]

I was in there just recently and it was pretty packed, my only complaint was that the service was a little slow waiting almost 10 minutes for someone just to show up after getting a seat is a bit long anywhere.

[Jangler]

You have food cost issues, marketing the place, etc. BUT the majority of problems, have to do with hiring good people --- you get good people working for you, employees who want to see you and your business succeed, it makes it a lost easier. If you don't get that, you get some kid making $7/hr washing dishes and stealing food from the freezer! UHH

Letting them smoke weed around the dumpster goes along way.

[WilkinsonDonnie]

I cant agree more with the last statement but yeah restaurant business is a tough game.

[CatMan72]

when you owe creditors they basically can put a lien on anything in or on your business. maybe Dan is protecting his assetts.

That's what I was thinking... getting the memorabilia off the premisis means it can't be taken

[Mr. Scot]

I'd hate that. I've eaten there a few times. They make some of the most delicious pizza I've ever tried.

[SCP]

Tough time to open anything. Maybe Obama will rescue him.

[ncbobcat]

I can tell you first hand that restaurants are not the 'cash cows' they are precieved to be. I help manage a regional chain and though we've seemed to weather this recession, it has taken an enourmous toll on the independents or "mom & pops" stores. Only the really large umbrella groups have been fortunate enough to prosper (though at tighter margins) through these past two years.

Restauranting should be a last resort for someone wanting to invest into a new business, at least until the gloomy economy is gone for good. Even in good times, new restaurants have a 96% failure rate. You have to have a solid, LASTING plan with plenty of capital in reserve for the lean times. Most folks have neither of the last two. They have an idea that will sell, and initially it does, but when that newness wears off to their customers, they are adrift without any resolution of how to continue.

At any rate, I wish Dan well and hope he can right the ship. I met him at the lone Huddle tailgate I went to last year. Very cool dude.