T MINUS 196: Ms. Hamer, Ms. Hamer

I had lost my mojo there for a while...7 months needed for construction time, trouble getting the retainer fee for the securities attorney and a near-falling out with the closest things I've had to a best friend in 5 years. My stress level is high and so is my blood pressure I'm sure, my ears are constantly ringing and the strain in my shoulders will not go away. Can't get rid of this cough because my immune system is probably shot to pieces from all the ripping and running and I just can't seem to get enough sleep! I was starting to feel like Ms. Hamer, Fannie Lou...one of the female leaders of the Civil Rights Movement notably known for saying she was "sick and tired of being sick and tired."

I needed a shot in the arm- some juice, motivation, mojo, take your pick. Frustrated because I've done all I can do and my control over the progression of the project is dwindling day by day. And even more troubling than that is the fact that the progression of the project itself is dwindling day by day. I got that shot in the arm today though. I had the pleasure of sitting down with an architect to discuss the project, where I was with it and what steps I needed to complete next in order to move forward. I was excited about his insight on the City's Economic Development Council incentive programs along with the funds available through the Community Redevelopment Agency. He also gave me some insight on how to negotiate the asking price for the property that we're looking at for Concept (which he was familiar with).

He asked me what the timeline I was working with was and I told him that I honestly had no idea at this point. What was so amazing was that he understood the absolute necessity of me getting the products that he produces in order to secure my financing. He advised me of his industry's practice to typically do renderings last because of the need to get them as accurate as possible. I completely understand that! But he was also aware of the need to get those renderings in front of investors and bankers and I appreciate that even more.

The first place for us to start was to determine the scope of the project- how do you want it to look, what will go where, what don't you want in the establishment? Lucky for me, I've been working with a great architectural student from FAMU who has really helped me articulate my vision for Concept and what's even better is that he completed a summer internship with this particular firm a couple of years ago! The real shot in the arm came when he asked me if Emmanuel and I would be available to meet this afternoon...as in today! Like today today, T MINUS 196! He said that he and his staff would work on getting me everything I needed at cost within the next 2-4 weeks!

I think that shot in the arm I just got is healing me quickly, I don't feel so sick anymore and although I'm still a little tired, right now I'm glad that there is no rest for the weary!

T MINUS 205: One Bite At A Time

I went to the construction company to help determine if the numbers I had in my line-item budget for the projected startup costs were practical. That was in March...today is June 9th and I just got those numbers from them on June 1st. Their estimate says they will need 7 months to complete the project. That 7 months doesn't include the time it will take to get the permits or the financing to get the permits or the documentation to get the financing. A dream deferred indeed.

It isn't so easy to give up now, not when I've put so much into this dream- sacrficied so much and given so much. I can't just scrap the idea completely just because there is strong possibility of not meeting the deadline I've been planning on for the last year and a half, can I? And that's why I've made myself accountable to so many people, why I've wanted to share this dream with so many people because somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that I would have to lean on the support of those around me.

So, getting back...the basement floor is going to be dedicated to the conference center and meeting space; second floor to restaurant space and executive office leasing and the top floor to the Cocktail Experience Lounge. You know the Lounge is my baby, the highlight of the portfolio- the other businesses are ancillary and the revenues they generate will be to pay the expenses of the business. The revenue generated from the Lounge will be used to pay the investors. Initially, the plan was to have every part of the business operational for NYE 09...in 205 days.

I've been asked by a couple of people if I had considered opening the business in smaller chunks...How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! So this is how the project has evolved: we will get the conference center and executive office space open in order to begin generating those revenues (getting hard out here in these streets!). I asked the construction manager if would be feasible to get that accomplished and he agreed that it would be. The requirements to do that would get the plumbing, HVAC and electricity updated and make sure the fire exits are ADA accessible. We're keeping the concrete floors and are going to add the glass walls from Hufcor (www.hufcor.com) to separate the space.

The major challenge comes in determining how to acquire the space. With this new approach, I can take the property managers up on their offer to lease the space but how will that impact my application to purchase the space? That's a question for both Florida First Capital and Larin- my personal real estate acquisition guru. The new timeline aims for an open date of October 17, 2009 for the conference center and office space at a minimum. I'm not sure yet when we would get the cocktail lounge open but you know how when you're eating something that's so good and you have only one or two bites left? And that last bite is the absolute best? This one bite at a time thing may not be so bad after all!