It has nothing to do with me traveling all over the planet, it has to do with me living and working here for 15 years.
The problem is Chip, your stuck in the "barrio" and think all Dominicans are alike.
The most successful and long standing restaurants in this country do not cater to "your" demographic.
If you consider the "Peeeeking Pollo" two doors down from the colmado a successful restaurant, then you need you need to get out more. If you think they are serving good Chinese food, then that just confirms what I thought. Once again, I suggest you get out more and maybe visit a decent Chinese restaurant in Santo Domingo.
So lets leave the barrio and viralatas behind and get back to the OP's questions.
I suppose you really don't know me to well Robert. I have known enough Dominicans who eat well and travel abroad every year and either have their own business or are professionals.
I was making the point that I thought the guy could make it work if he followed the model I have seen. Maybe he won't get rich but from what I've seen from the local Pical Pollo next to Leon Jimenez on 27 is the owners do well enough to send their kids to a good private school, better than mine in fact.