Crazy awesome business idea.

[Flounder]

I am from Rochester, NY and spend much of my time in Buffalo. As you may or may not know, we have quite the gimmicky food places around here, in Buffalo there's Anchor Bar and Duff's wings, Mighty Taco, Ted's Hot Dogs, all staples that need to be visited if you visit Buffalo.

Rochester has Nick Tahou's and Henrietta Hots Garbage Plates (if you don't know, please inquire), and the meaty hot sauce that seems to be only found in the greater Rochester area.

Needless to say, all of these places are hot spots for late night dining, when you leave the bars at 4am or 2am in Buffalo or Rochester, respectively, you almost always hit one of these places up for some chow before headed home.

My idea tonight, as I made a grilled cheese with pepper jack cheese, why not a place that is completely grilled cheese themed? All breaks, white, wheat, sourdough, pumpernickel, rye, hard rolls, bagels etc, with everything you could imagine in it from meats and all cheeses, american, cheddar, pepper jack, monterrey jack, colby jack, bleu, swiss, etc, etc. Good after bar food, finger foods on the side and even a dessert menu, grilled cheeses with cheesecake filling, fruit filling, marshmallows and chocolate. It's genius!

Open for lunch and stay open through 3-5am.

Just curious what your thoughts would be, it's late, I'm bored, and think this is a super stellar idea...

[SmokeyJoe]

You could call it, "Just Grillin'." (I will expect a royalty check)

I'll take a swiss and salami melt on rye, please. :tu

[Bill86]

I think it's too specific. Now if you incorporated that with some good drunk friendly bar food and possible some salads and other sandwiches you might have something.

The biggest thing when thinking about a restaurant is can people eat here everyday? If your answer is no and you are a locally owned business you're off to a rough start.

So many businesses fail because the food is unhealthy and people can't regularly visit. It's gotta be a nice looking spot too.

I've seen this happen all too much.

[Flounder]

My thought would be to get it either really close to the row of bars here in Rochester, or right on the same stretch as H-Hots and Nicky T's, people on there way to those places will see my place and figure they ought to try it. Why drop $7-10 on a garbage plate when you can get grilled cheeses and fries for cheaper/ the same price. Have a wall of fame for whoever can down the most? Play on the drunk kids coming in with their pride and liquid courage to try it.

You could eat there everyday, I mean, we go to H-Hots to get plates for lunch and stuff at work, or just for dinner. Not healthy, but if you sell a sandwich for $2 (just bread and cheese) or $3 (for meat and cheese) and fries for $2, it's affordable, but cheap to make, and easy. And do specialty sandwiches, name a certain sandwich after a local celebrity's favorite (research required).

[bobarian]

A public forum is probably not the best place to float business ideas, if its a really good idea someone with more capital and know how may move faster.

There are many such restaurants in other parts of the country. http://www.google.com/search?q=grilled+cheese+truck&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=63G&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&biw=1280&bih=608&source=hp&q=grilled%20cheese%20restaurant&pbx=1&oq=grilled%20cheese%20r&aq=1&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=sc&gs_upl=11105l14296l0l16550l7l5l2l0l0l0l297l887l0.4 .1l7l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d6b7c50fe1987ca1&pf=p&pdl=300

[CoreyD]

Can we smoke cigars in the restaurant?Otherwise it sounds like a great idea however by me theres lots of small businesses going closed......

[elderboy02]

http://www.tomandchee.com/

[Blak Smyth]

People are doing this already! But I would go to one if it where close to my home or work!
My wife makes an amazing grilled cheese and we talked about a grilled cheese truck before.
Not an original idea though, I have seen it on the food network for the last couple years.


http://foodtruckfiesta.com/grilled-cheese-food-truck/
http://www.facebook.com/roxysgrilledcheese
http://thegrilledcheesetruck.com/
http://www.chedds.com/
http://meltbarandgrilled.com/
http://theamericansf.com/
http://grilledcheesegrill.com/

Also $2-$3 sounds like a great deal I believe it is unrealistic as a price point, you have overhead costs for the building, utilities, staff, equipment, insurance, and the cost of food. I fear the cost of good quality bread, good meat and good cheese will put you over that price point before the other factors are even considered.

[mmblz]

This was an idea on America's Next Great Restaurant - I think the guy's concept was called Meltworks.

[Blak Smyth]

This was an idea on America's Next Great Restaurant - I think the guy's concept was called Meltworks.

Yup I saw that too. I think you are right about the name.
I think "The Melt" would be a good name.
Or "I'm Melting".

[Taki]

Not a bad idea.I'd eat there!! :tu

[Eleven]

I love Melt Bar and Grilled in Cleveland. Most sandwiches are around 10 bucks, including fries and slaw.

I ate at Gabriels Gate in Buffalo last year, I liked it too. That area of town looked like it would be suited for something quirky.

[Parshooter]

How about a place that serves ground beef, shapped into patties, on a round bun. Patrons could put such bizarre things such as ketchup, mustard, pickels, onions....
Maybe serve deep fried strips of potato with it. Just gotta come up with a catchy name.

[Blak Smyth]

How about a place that serves ground beef, shapped into patties, on a round bun. Patrons could put such bizarre things such as ketchup, mustard, pickels, onions....
Maybe serve deep fried strips of potato with it. Just gotta come up with a catchy name.

McBurgerQueen?

[mase]

Please, please, please, don't discourage Flounder. I am always intrigued to read his posts. Keep on posting Flounder. Say hi to your frat brother, Mothball, for me.

[Flounder]

Please, please, please, don't discourage Flounder. I am always intrigued to read his posts. Keep on posting Flounder. Say hi to your frat brother, Mothball, for me.

I have a fan! Whoop!

All I am saying, is if you target the right crowd, the late nighters, but also offer an appropriate lunch atmosphere, this could work. Even if you do bump up prices, it's something different than wings, Mexican, and plates.

[pektel]

How about a place that serves ground beef, shapped into patties, on a round bun. Patrons could put such bizarre things such as ketchup, mustard, pickels, onions....
Maybe serve deep fried strips of potato with it. Just gotta come up with a catchy name.

How about a place that serves ground beef, shaped into patties, on a GRILLED CHEESE bun? Grilled cheese top, grilled cheese bottom, burger in the middle.

Saw it on TV a while back. Throw on a couple slices of bacon and a fried egg, and you have some badass drunk food. You can call it the black out burger or something lol.

[mase]

I have a fan! Whoop!

All I am saying, is if you target the right crowd, the late nighters, but also offer an appropriate lunch atmosphere, this could work. Even if you do bump up prices, it's something different than wings, Mexican, and plates.

I agree with you. Drunks like to eat greasy food and a little variety in a geographic area would be great.

Some of your posts make me think about college again and all those crazy drunken conversations we used to have. If a utility company sent me $100, that would have made my semester. Of course, I wasn't into cigars back then. That $100 would have been spent on $7 cases of Natty Ice or Keystone.

[ApexAZ]

I am from Rochester, NY and spend much of my time in Buffalo. As you may or may not know, we have quite the gimmicky food places around here, in Buffalo there's Anchor Bar and Duff's wings, Mighty Taco, Ted's Hot Dogs, all staples that need to be visited if you visit Buffalo.

Rochester has Nick Tahou's and Henrietta Hots Garbage Plates (if you don't know, please inquire), and the meaty hot sauce that seems to be only found in the greater Rochester area.

Needless to say, all of these places are hot spots for late night dining, when you leave the bars at 4am or 2am in Buffalo or Rochester, respectively, you almost always hit one of these places up for some chow before headed home.

My idea tonight, as I made a grilled cheese with pepper jack cheese, why not a place that is completely grilled cheese themed? All breaks, white, wheat, sourdough, pumpernickel, rye, hard rolls, bagels etc, with everything you could imagine in it from meats and all cheeses, american, cheddar, pepper jack, monterrey jack, colby jack, bleu, swiss, etc, etc. Good after bar food, finger foods on the side and even a dessert menu, grilled cheeses with cheesecake filling, fruit filling, marshmallows and chocolate. It's genius!

Open for lunch and stay open through 3-5am.

Just curious what your thoughts would be, it's late, I'm bored, and think this is a super stellar idea...

I've seen something like this on food network. I think it was on DDD. Seemed to be working well for them, but it was also a full bar.

[Doctorossi]

Can we smoke cigars in the restaurant?

Not in New York.

[Flounder]

Not in New York.

We can if a certain percentage of the sales are tobacco... Could put cigars on the menu and see what happens.

[BigCat]

There is a place called Grilled Cheese and Tomatoe Soup by my house. They actually make all kinds of other soups and sandwiches. It has been around for at least a few years, but it is kind of pricey. I would imagine the overhead in New York will be higher than that in Michigan.

[bobarian]

Financing, location, financing. :2

[mhailey]

There is a "street meat" vendor herein Denver, CO that specializes in grilled cheese: Zen and the Art of Grill Cheese

http://www.yelp.com/biz/steves-zen-and-the-art-of-grilled-cheese-denver