If you are on Tennyson Street in Denver, you may be drawn to the award-winning Texas style BBQ restaurant Post Oak. Owned and operated by Nick Prince, the food there is delicious and as authentically Texas as the owner. Like most restaurant locations, this one has a history going back to 2009 when I met two brothers that had recently relocated to Denver. In 2010 I had the opportunity to help Jason Forgy and Lucas Forgy find a location for Freshcraft, which quickly became one of the best tap rooms... Read More
Author Archives: Shawn Sanborn
About Shawn Sanborn
Colorado Restaurant Broker and Restaurant OwnerColorado Restaurant Broker: Colorado’s Unclaimed Property Act – What Restaurant and Bar Owners Need to Know.
In February 2014, one of my businesses received a certified letter from the Colorado State Treasury’s office stating “Our records indicate that your company has never reported unclaimed property.” It also stated “You may think that your organization is not large enough to have unclaimed property, but we have found that even small organizations may accumulate unclaimed property.” I had heard of the Colorado Unclaimed Property Act but was not aware of the reporting requirement, and frankly, I thought it was for larger companies. The state claims the purpose of... Read More
What is a Failing Restaurant Worth?
When a restaurant business is failing, it is common to evaluate the assets when estimating the selling price. The most common way this is achieved is by engaging an auction company that is experienced in liquidating restaurant furniture and equipment or possibly an experienced equipment dealer. Although this method is common, I believe it is only accurate when a restaurant business has lost its lease. Generally, this achieves the lowest possible selling price. During the early 1990s I noticed a trend in the Denver restaurant resale market that caught my... Read More
Historians Ale House Opens at 24 Broadway in Denver
If you live in or around Denver and are a fan of craft beer, you need to put Historians Ale House on your list. This new restaurant and bar in the hot Baker community on South Broadway in Denver is a celebration of all things Colorado – especially our beer culture. Historians Ale house is a newly renovated 3,000 square foot facility with high ceilings, a huge granite bar and one of the best rooftop bars and patios in Denver. Denver restaurant broker Shawn Sanborn represented the tenant in lease negotiations for this highly sought... Read More
Shawn Sanborn: Business Broker/Restaurant Owner – Why that matters
Most business brokers enter the profession later in their life after a long business career. Many recently sold their own business and see business brokerage as a natural progression. I made the decision for many different reasons. True, when I founded Sanborn and Company I had sold three successful businesses that I founded. However, I had just turned thirty and it was still early in my business career. The previous year I sold my neighborhood sports bar and restaurant and for the first time I paid a commission. I learned... Read More
Kitchen Accidents: Denver Restaurant Broker’s Tips on Restaurant Safety
Sitting at a nice restaurant is usually a calm, comfortable experience: the talk is friendly, the lighting is ambient, the bread is warm, and the servers are charming and composed. But through that swinging kitchen door is a hectic and dangerous environment. With the number of workers dashing around a cluttered room full of hot stoves, sharp utensils, and slippery fluids, very few restaurant kitchens can claim to be accident-free. These accidents range from slightly irritating to hilariously clumsy to seriously crippling, and some can affect restaurant customers as well... Read More
Restaurant Business Success: Maximizing Employee Productivity
Food service is a tough industry, and in such a quick and competitive marketplace, maximizing a bar or restaurant’s efficiency and productivity is essential for survival. While a big part of business efficiency is about planning—budgeting, accounting, saving—much of your business productivity rests with your employees. More notorious than the restaurant industry’s business turnover rate is its employee turnover rate: restaurants’ low wages and difficult hours attract young workers who often leave to find better-paid work, take a job opportunity from a competing business, or continue their studies. Many of... Read More
Colorado Restaurant Broker: New CO Food Code – What You Need To Know
In March of 2013 the new Colorado food code went into effect. As responsible operators, we all understand the importance of proper food handling and the need for uniform rules and fair enforcement. If you own or operate a restaurant, below I have outlined some basic things you need to know about the operational changes required by the revised food code. What is the new code? Throughout the last several years, the State Board of Health has adopted six CCR 1010-2 Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations. And In November... Read More
Denver Restaurant Brokers: Selecting a Winning Restaurant Name
Many decisions go into forming a bar or restaurant, but few are as essential and as binding as the business’s name. Choosing a name can be tough, especially since it must be done before the establishment even opens, and changing the name later on can be a big headache, since it also involves changing the menus, merchandise, advertisements, signage and web content. While altering menu items or restaurant hours can easily be done at any time, naming your restaurant is a major, usually long-term commitment. Consider these guidelines when brainstorming restaurant... Read More
Colorado Restaurant Broker: Daily Sales Tracking Tips
Keeping clear and comprehensive accounts can determine the success of any business. Bars and restaurants have especially volatile incomes, as food and drink sales fluctuate so much throughout the day, week and year, so recording and analyzing daily sales and expenditures is particularly important. In order to maximize revenue and minimize waste, restaurant owners must be able to analyze business patterns to predict future needs. Without detailed daily sales tracking, and budget balancing, successful forecasting becomes an impossible task. Detailed daily reports—or Daily Business Reviews, as they are called—should track sales... Read More
SOLD – Denver Restaurant and Event Center Real Estate for Sale
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Restaurant and Bar for Sale or Redevelopment Opportunity
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Profitable Denver Metro Restaurant for Sale with Cheap Rent
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Denver Colorado Restaurant for Sale Two Blocks from Coors Field
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Profitable Restaurant and Bar for Sale in Growing Northern Colorado
Northern ColoradoSOLD – Brewpub with Real Estate for Sale on Western Slope of Colorado
Mountains / ResortsSOLD – Take out and Delivery Restaurant for Sale in South Metro Denver
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Denver Restaurant & Bar for Sale on South Broadway
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Wine and Craft Cocktail Bar for Sale in Denver, Colorado
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD! Denver Restaurant and Bar for Sale, Great Trade Area, Right Size and Right Price!
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Completely Remodeled Italian Restaurant for Sale in Southwest Metro Denver
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Bar and Restaurant for Sale in Capitol Hill, Denver, Colorado with CHEAP Rent!
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Bistro Style Restaurant for Sale in SW Metro Denver
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Denver Tavern for Sale in Hot River North (RiNo) Art District
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – Profitable Pizza Restaurant for Sale in Southwest Denver Metro
Denver / Boulder MetroSOLD – South Metro Denver Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) for Sale
Denver / Boulder Metro
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