Features to Look for in a Building When You're Buying Your First Restaurant
When you’re buying your first restaurant in the Florida Keys, here’s what you need to watch for as far as features go.

Features to Look for in a Building When You’re Buying Your First Restaurant

If you’re interested in opening your first restaurant, you have a lot of research that you need to do. Starting a restaurant is a big endeavor, and running a successful restaurant over the long term is even more challenging. Choosing the building is one of the more important aspects of starting a successful restaurant business, so here are a few features that you should look for when finding a building to buy or lease.

Know Your Concept and Layout Needs

One of the most important parts about choosing a building is having a strong understanding of the concept of your restaurant. You can have a full-service restaurant, a fast food restaurant, a diner, a supper club, and several other types of restaurants. Each one will need a slightly different layout, and you’ll have to know what it will take to convert the existing building into the type of restaurant that you’re opening.

Look for a Solid Structure, Electrical and Plumbing

While cosmetic updates can get pricey, structural, electrical, and plumbing issues can be very expensive, and you need to fix them immediately so that you’re up to code. Employ an inspector who’s knowledgeable about restaurant buildings, and start adding up the costs as they find issues about the building that you’ll need to address. In a restaurant, especially, this will also include the ventilation, air conditioner, and heating system, too.

Kitchen Space

People who have worked in the restaurant industry know that having a functional kitchen is one of the best ways to ensure great customer service. Ensure that you have enough freezer and cooler space that you’ll be able to purchase enough food for at least a couple of weeks into the future. Also, if you think that you’ll need to reconfigure the kitchen, make sure that you’ll still have plenty of space for cooks to prepare food efficiently. You’ll also want plenty of storage space for dry goods. In fact, a separate room is ideal.

Features That Comply With Building Codes

When you’re buying a restaurant building, you’ll be serving the public, so learn about fire codes and ADA compliance for restaurants in the area that you live in. For instance, if there are stairs in front of the building, you’ll need a ramp for people in wheelchairs. There are numerous laws that you’ll need to comply with, and they can vary by your location, so a little bit of research can save you a lot of money in renovation costs.

Hot Key West Business Opportunities

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In the meantime, check out these 1-click searches:

Newest Key West Commercial Properties on the Market

Prime Mixed Use Income Producing property for sale. Total of 6 units. There are 2 Commercial units on ground floor facing Truman Ave. Both Commercial spaces now occupied by the Seam Shoppe, a long term, stable tenant. On the 2nd floor there are 4 good size apartments. Each 1bedroom and a loft bedroom and 1 bath. Each has use of large, outdoor deck in back. Potential Gross rental income approx. $15,000/mos.Total of 6 Water and Electric Meters. Rear parking lot for 4 + or - cars. Building in good condition and well maintained.Excellent Replacement Property for a Buyer looking to perform a 1031 Exchange.Owner may consider Seller financing to a Qualified Buyer at Seller discretion. $2,150,000 Active

1109 Truman Avenue KEY WEST, Florida

4 Beds 6 Baths 4,410 SqFt

Prime retail location on busy 300 block of Duval St with great visibility at the corner of Eaton St. Vacant and available now for long term, quality tenant. Perfect for Retail or small Restaurant.Unit B is approx. 880 sf. and has been renovated including new flooring, ceiling tiles, lighting, several sinks plumbed in with front reception area and prep & storage rooms in back. Exterior of the entire building has been renovated as well including new facade and steps. Unit B has a private ADA compliant bathroom. Thousands of tourist walk by daily and nightly. Ample customer and employee parking in the rear. Great mix of tenants including Wendy's, Wicked Lick Ice Cream, Kermit's Key Lime Pie and a large space dedicated to a Bank of America ATM machine for quick cash.Base rent is $80/sf plus $24.40/sf. NNN = $7,656/ mos. rent quoted, plus additional Florida Sales Tax equals total rent per mos. $7,656 Active

335 Duval Street B KEY WEST, Florida

2 Baths 6,495 SqFt

Opportunity to purchase prime Duval St. Real Estate with a very valuable, full, unrestricted 5COP Liquor License BEV5400029 included. An opportunity like this is rarely available anywhere in Key West or Monroe County. State issued Liquor License alone known to have sold recently well over $1 Million. Terrific Upper Duval St. corner location with high visibility from 43' frontage on Duval St. There is all day & night foot traffic from many Hotels & Guesthouses in the immediate area. Near the Southernmost Point in Key West. Historically this property has been a popular Restaurant & Bar and Retail store. Very solid 2,760 sf. CBS Building is currently configured with retail display space and a large, unused kitchen with existing Hood. There is also storage on 2nd floor in the attic. Additional storage, restroom and former Back bar with access off Amelia St.Large corner lot at Duval St. and Amelia St. with 98.75' frontage on Amelia St. x 43.18' on Duval St. Same owner since 2012 motivated to sell, Bring Offers! Existing business not included in sale. $4,500,000 Active

1114 Duval Street KEY WEST, Florida

2 Baths 2,760 SqFt

Buy a Bar & Liquor Store in Key West! Dons' Place is the opportunity to purchase an Iconic and Landmark Indoor and Outdoor Bar & a Liquor Store with a Drive Through! This package is rarely available in Key West or anywhere in the Keys. Big bonus is that is includes a very valuable, full, unrestricted & transferrable 5-COP Liquor License that includes Tobacco & Retail Beverage with no food requirement! BEV 5400161.Monroe County Liquor Licenses are valued well over $1 Million and 2024 County Assessed Values of the two real estate parcels is over $2.5 Million. Total Asset value alone is over $3.5 Million.The Indoor Bar and adjoining Liquor Store are in the main corner, CBS 2,396 sf. building along with men's and women's restrooms, office & storage. The building also operates maybe the only drive through, pick up window for Beer, Wine and Liquor left in the Keys! Several major repairs include new AC unit, new Bar and plumbing. New roof in 2022. There is an assuring backup propane Generac Generator with automatic transfer. All Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment included.Outside is another 1,588 sf. covered outdoor Bar for entertaining, weddings, special events and parties. There is bar and table seating and a separate small office/storage building. The Bar and Liquor store are popular with both tourists and locals. The business is family managed with absentee owners and a few long time employees. Current Bar hours are 7am until 4am, 7 days per week. The Bar and Liquor Store are a money making operation with so many opportunities for growth for a new owner. Currently there is no food service on site, only pre-packaged snacks sold, but HNC -1 Zoning allows Restaurants and likely Food Trucks for added income.Same absentee owners since 1998 and first time listed for sale. Sellers may consider Seller financing to a Qualified Buyer at Sellers discretion. $4,750,000 Active

1000-1006 Truman Avenue KEY WEST, Florida

2 Baths 2,756 SqFt


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