Rocky's Aqua End of the Line

[drstock]

I applaud O'Shay's/Rocky's for employing loyal people long-term and paying all legal taxes etc.

But I go to Cabarete beach almost every afternoon. Yesterday, I went to Mojito for a couple of beers and then Lax to eat. I would say that both of these bars have at least as many employees as Rocky's had and have proper fiscal tax systems. At Mojito all the beach tables were occupied and I sat at the bar. At Lax I took the last available table. Yes, it was Sunday but both these establishments are always busy and have prices considerably cheaper than Rocky's had. I had an excellent burger with cheese and bacon, plus a Bohemia at Lax and the total bill was RD$295 including all legal tax and service charge, and I gave a further tip. It would have cost much more at Rocky's.

I don't have any access to management figures, but I would say these beach bar/restaurants have the right recipe for success.

You can call me tacano, but while the prices may not make any difference to two-week tourists, to people like me who live here and to multiple month snowbirds, good value is important.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

Of course value is important to consumers. We are conditioned from birth to be conscious of concepts such as quality, value and economy. We all want to the most for the least. If a place offers that cold beer you desire for $125 and you are not interested in eating let's say, and a place with loss-leader food is offering that same beer for $165, most people will patronize the first place unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise.

This is the sticky wicket in the service industry where establishments confuse product selection over quality value-in products that are on par with the costs available from competitors. It may be more prudent to sell 100 hamburgers and a beer everyday for $295 than to sell 10 burgers, 5 tuna melts, 5 roast beef sandwiches and perhaps 30 or 40 other assorted items with a sliding price point and a beer.

A bar is a bar and a restaurant is a restaurant. The latter makes it's coin from food and may well offer alcohol. The former makes its bones with alcohol and may offer simple food to accompany their drinks. You do not see reviews of great restaurants also being great bars and vice versa.

With a good selection of establishments all in a row separated by 60 paces at most, you had better have your priorities straight and make it perfectly clear that for your raison d'etre, this is the place to stop and sit for qualtiy and value or customers will keep on walking until they satisfy a price point. Selection although a consideration, is not normally a determining factor that trumps the other primary purchase considerations. Most consumers already have an idea of what they wish to eat and/or drink before they sit down. Most will not be swayed by additional menu items that deviate significantly from what they originally decided they want to purchase.

A steak place can offer different cuts of beef. A Sushi place can offer different variations of Sushi. A seafood place can usually get away with fresh options with some variety in presentation. IHOP can offer various breakfast options but will not sell many steaks or enough Sushi to warrant the effort and expense. General eateries are masters of nothing and are generally known for mediocre offerings and higher prices because it costs more to maintain that level of on demand inventory. These places survive solely based on price and convenience (usually location based).

Back home, these roadhouse type restaurants mainly exist in isolation in the corner of a big box store parking lot and would not do well being one choice of 10 in a row. Well established franchises being the exception where quality and taste is universally recognized and guaranteed.

The Cabarete beach strip is a tough spot to operate in if the establishment cannot be price flexible and menu agile to the point where choosing to go there is easier and more appealing than somewhere else a few step to either side.

 

[william webster]

Sticky Wicket -- eh Buster??

HOW'S HE ????.... they all shouted at the sticky wicket......

on topic
I went to WAVE the other day in lieu of PAPI'S... never again

too much for too little

 

[oriole100]

O' Shay's used to be sports bar. Where you'd go to watch football, etc. Rocky's just doesn't have the same feel. I know I'm old, but , less TV's and it seem seating. It's so bright in there It is hard to see the TV' unless you at the end of the bar looking right at it. When I have gone there, it's empty. I can't talk about sports with myself. I only went to talk to Frank 12 or some of the
people I know and even they don't go anymore. It's sad and I don't know how to fix it. Everyone knew O'Shay's. Rocky's is just another beach bar.

 

[cobraboy]

I would also throw into the mix - as a business owner - that this year is harder than any other as far as I know, and most people I talk to say they're having a rough time. Demand is low, and the clients who you get seem to be looking for bargain bucket everything. We all thought that after other islands took a caning with the hurricanes last year, DR would get more visitors than ever, and so far this hasn't happened. A lot of hotels and restaurants seem to be selling below cost price, and certainly a lot cheaper than last year.

Oddly enough, my tour bidniz is having the best year ever!

 

[windeguy]

Frank12, I don't see anyone dissing the way either owner treated their employees. But if you have a business that is closed, as this is, there are no employees to "treat".

 

[cobraboy]

I applaud O'Shay's/Rocky's for employing loyal people long-term and paying all legal taxes etc.

But I go to Cabarete beach almost every afternoon. Yesterday, I went to Mojito for a couple of beers and then Lax to eat. I would say that both of these bars have at least as many employees as Rocky's had and have proper fiscal tax systems. At Mojito all the beach tables were occupied and I sat at the bar. At Lax I took the last available table. Yes, it was Sunday but both these establishments are always busy and have prices considerably cheaper than Rocky's had. I had an excellent burger with cheese and bacon, plus a Bohemia at Lax and the total bill was RD$295 including all legal tax and service charge, and I gave a further tip. It would have cost much more at Rocky's.

I don't have any access to management figures, but I would say these beach bar/restaurants have the right recipe for success.

You can call me tacano, but while the prices may not make any difference to two-week tourists, to people like me who live here and to multiple month snowbirds, good value is important.

Unless one has a Giffen good, achieving maximum revenue often means a lowered price.

Seems O'Shay's "earned" their price. Did Rocky's?

 

[jimbobo]

Again, Dov1984 is right in his/her assessment. (You must be in the service industry)


Rocky's prices were in line with everyone else on the beach--give or take .50 pesos. The sandwiches were very good, and as far as i am aware, we were the only business on the beach--maybe the entire North Coast--that served imported Black Angus hamburgers from the USA. They come in boxes of 12 (each burger is individually sealed) and these are brought once a week from the distributor in Santo Domingo--where we got all our imported beef.

Both O'Shay's & Rocky's only served beef imported from the US. The chicken, of course, was local--as most of the fish. But some fish was also imported from the US for consistency & quality.

Neither O'Shay's nor Rocky's ever lost money, but again, no one was getting rich either. But more importantly, it was keeping 20+ employees employed and fed...and insured. (no one ever thinks about this).

To do some math, if you take 20-employees, and let's say...each of them were supporting 2-3 family members (some supported even more), you then have roughly 80 to 100 family members (mostly children) being supported by O'Shay's or Rocky's.

So, its much more then the question "Are you getting rich!!??" It's also about are you helping support a community?

As far as i know, there is no other restaurant on the north coast that had 20+ employees. To be specific, i'm not just talking about the waiters, waitresses, bartenders, and kitchen staff. I'm also talking about the night time security, secretary, accountant, beach cleaners, and a full-time maintenance man/electrician--because there is no way to be a restaurant in front of the ocean and not have a major daily battle/war with salt air.

To reiterate, every business wants to make as much money as possible...that's given. But, both Big Frank & Rocky had a real strong connection and relationship with all of the staff and employees. Both men treated 20+ employees like family. For them, it was more then just turning a profit. It was also about giving back and having a good time.

What other business can you think of on the North Coast that sunk $100,000 to $150,000 pesos into a Superbowl party? and then turned around and sunk the same amount of money a St. Patrick's Day party...knowing that they will be lucky to even to come close to breaking even?

Any sane person would not be sinking that kind of money into events--and of course, no one else did.

It was more than a little discerning to see people coming to our Superbowl parties & St. Patrick Day parties and bringing with them their own drinks--even being bold enough to brag online about going across the street to save--and i'm not making this up--.30 pesos on a beer. .30 pesos!

With everything in life, you have to take the good with the bad. And running a business on the north coast is no different.

You must be a communist

 

[frank12]

off topic post removed by a moderator.

 

[jd426]

So Rocky's is now moving to the Catskills ?

 

[Luperon]

All you have to know is that they are all great guys. Less interested in profit than employees and community service.

Praise the Lord.

 

[windeguy]

All you have to know is that they are all great guys. Less interested in profit than employees and community service.

Praise the Lord.

Amen until we hear what the courts have to say. Lord have mercy on those who don't pay up...

 

[JD Jones]

All you have to know is that they are all great guys. Less interested in profit than employees and community service.

Praise the Lord.

I keep hearing this, so why are they even having this problem?? Something ain't right in Smallville.

 

[cobraboy]

I keep hearing this, so why are they even having this problem?? Something ain't right in Smallville.

Seems pretty simple: one great guy owes and didn't pay. The other great guy foreclosed.

 

[william webster]

the bar & restaurant business is a tough one....not for the faint of heart

Normal business rules ..... need not apply

who knows how much 'cash-cash' passed hands....
not unusual in that arena

 

[JD Jones]

Seems pretty simple: one great guy owes and didn't pay. The other great guy foreclosed.

But...but... They are both great guys! That's not how great guys act!

 

[SKY]

But...but... They are both great guys! That's not how great guys act!

One acted appropriately, the other unfortunately did not..................

 

[Luperon]

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-choose-between-two-great-guys-1

But...but... They are both great guys! That's not how great guys act!

 

[chico bill]

Wasn't there a court date today for Rocky and Frank ?

 

[Tarheel]

But...but... They are both great guys! That's not how great guys act!

I'm sure that in your illustrious business career you have seen good level headed business men have disputes over money. I know Frank a lot better than Rocky so I will not comment on his honesty. They made a deal which became a contract and Rocky violated that contract. According to SKY the violation was heard in a Dominican court and Frank won. Rocky will pay Frank or lose the lump sum paid at the signing of the contract plus the remodeling costs that are surely being depreciated currently. Rocky has signed a deal to lease the bar to a guy that plans to make it into a Mexican restaurant and keeping the current staff.

I know a lot of people love to speculate on these things without knowing the details. But I will second Frank12's assessment that both guys cared for the employees. How do I know this? By talking to the people that worked there.