[quote=“almas john”]Mother T wrote:
[quote]
I had plans (and started writing up business plan) to develop a killer business in Northern California, combining a sushi restaurant, massage, and Japanese garden with hot tub rentals all on one property. I’m certain it would have made me very happy and wealthy. But my wife is extremely risk averse, so it now seems impossible.[/quote]
Sure does sound nice. I remember you telling me about it a few CNYs back. What’s your dream location for such a place? Northern Cali?[/quote]
The small town where I lived in Northern Cal had an hourly hot tub/sauna rental place that was very popular, with the tubs in a bunch of separate, small, individual tub fenced enclosures scattered about a japanese garden and a small building in front where you enter, pay for your tub, get your towel and read magazines and/or have a drink/snack while waiting for your tub. In college I took many girls there. 
And in SF (Japan town maybe), I once went to a really cool massage place with communal hot tubs, cold tubs, showers, etc., that you can use before or after your massage (not gay, not sexual, just a great professional massage). After doing that, we went upstairs and there was a completely separate sushi restaurant we went to.
So I figured I’d combine it all into one. I buy the land, develop the garden out back with the separate tubs (just a fence around them, so you can look up at the stars), build a nice japanese style building in front, which is 1/3 entrance/waiting area/payment for the tubs out back, and 2/3 sushi restaurant. After buying the land and developing the place, I run the tub business (cuz that’s easy, doesn’t require any expertise) and I lease out the restaurant to a japanese chef. I also have a few rooms in the hottub waiting area building that I rent out to masseuses.
So, guests can come have a sushi dinner and massage, or sushi and hot tub, or hot tub and massage, or all three, or whatever. I also have promotional deals with the bike and sporting goods stores and other businesses in the beginning (buy a bike, get a free hour in the tub) just to spread the word, but I don’t think much would be required. I expect it should be a huge success. Northern Californians especially are crazy about that kind of stuff – spending lots of money to feel good and eat good. And, not only would I rake in the dough, but I’d be really happy and feel very good, because I would be making so many people happy. What a cool job, eh?
Had I gone to Japan instead of Taiwan it might’ve happened, because I could’ve explored their japanese gardens, tub places, sushi places, to get ideas and inspiration and possible contacts for potential investors, partners, chefs, etc. But, I came here and now I’m fairly certain it’ll never happen. Oh well, it was a nice dream.
Btw, your hostel idea sounded great too. Too bad, I guess, it never materialized. But maybe not. Reminds me of the guy who lost a horse, then it came back with others, then his son fell off it, etc. Neither good nor bad; it just is.
