WOODLAND (CBS13)- The current
economic troubles have not been kind
to the restaurant business, but a
Woodland restaurant just launched a
new expansion to capitalize on their
current success.
To see how the problems on Wall
Street affect Main Street, look no
further than Main Street in downtown
Woodland. There are at least half
dozen empty storefronts on Main
Street alone, and some others are
cutting back or cutting out.
Despite that, the Tazzina Bistro in
downtown Woodland, which has been
open for four years, is finding new
ways to grow. The restaurant just
opened a new expansion this
weekend, and owner Rebecca
Reichardt is using consultants from
across the country to try and improve
her business.
"It was pretty insightful just to get an
outside opinion [from] somebody else
who is in the industry," she said.
"When you're in [the industry] every
day, sometimes obvious things are not
obvious."
She was given 90 days of
consultations through a program with
American Express, who is trying to
grow small businesses in the
hardest-hit industries. Rebecca is also
paying for a business coach from
Florida, who keeps her plan on track.
It's expensive, she says, "but it's worth
it."
The consultations and coaching has
helped her better understanding
marketing, change her logo, and make
adjustments to her menu. Even though
the restaurant was profitable in
previous years, it had to borrow to pay
for the changes, putting it back into
debt.
It's a scary situation, but that's part of
being a business owner, Rebecca said.
"Every day's kind of terrifying when
you own a business," she laughed. "It's
part of the thrill."
The Capitol Hotel just across the street
will be reopening in the near future,
according to the city manager, and
other nearby businesses are also
improving their storefronts and making
changes.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All
Rights Reserved.)
economic troubles have not been kind
to the restaurant business, but a
Woodland restaurant just launched a
new expansion to capitalize on their
current success.
To see how the problems on Wall
Street affect Main Street, look no
further than Main Street in downtown
Woodland. There are at least half
dozen empty storefronts on Main
Street alone, and some others are
cutting back or cutting out.
Despite that, the Tazzina Bistro in
downtown Woodland, which has been
open for four years, is finding new
ways to grow. The restaurant just
opened a new expansion this
weekend, and owner Rebecca
Reichardt is using consultants from
across the country to try and improve
her business.
"It was pretty insightful just to get an
outside opinion [from] somebody else
who is in the industry," she said.
"When you're in [the industry] every
day, sometimes obvious things are not
obvious."
She was given 90 days of
consultations through a program with
American Express, who is trying to
grow small businesses in the
hardest-hit industries. Rebecca is also
paying for a business coach from
Florida, who keeps her plan on track.
It's expensive, she says, "but it's worth
it."
The consultations and coaching has
helped her better understanding
marketing, change her logo, and make
adjustments to her menu. Even though
the restaurant was profitable in
previous years, it had to borrow to pay
for the changes, putting it back into
debt.
It's a scary situation, but that's part of
being a business owner, Rebecca said.
"Every day's kind of terrifying when
you own a business," she laughed. "It's
part of the thrill."
The Capitol Hotel just across the street
will be reopening in the near future,
according to the city manager, and
other nearby businesses are also
improving their storefronts and making
changes.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All
Rights Reserved.)
WOODLAND (CBS13)- It seems a
Woodland business owner has
discovered the recipe for success. She
is expanding her bistro, despite the
slow economy, and she's got a clever
concept to attract more customers.
Despite the tough times, Tazzina Bistro
in Downtown Woodland is expanding.
"We're going to have some lower table
seating in this area," explains Rebecca
Reichardt, owner.
Rebecca hopes to offer customers
shelter from the economic storm – in
the form of a big bash.
"We're having an ice bar for vodka
tasting, can-can dancers and a DJ.
(And) Ultra Limousine is providing free
local rides home," Rebecca says
enthusiastically.
And if the economy was in the same
state as it was four years ago when the
bistro opened, Reichardt says the re-
launch would be done on a much
smaller scale.
But, times have changed and she
hopes freebies will be good for
customers and business.
"It made me concentrate on a bigger
party because people need it even
more," Rebecca says.
Rebecca considers herself lucky – she
hasn't had any major financial road
blocks because the expansion began
before the nation's economy took a
dive. And even the collapse she's
found a silver lining.
"I've gotten some incredibly high
quality work and I haven't had to wait in
line for it, so there are benefits to
doing it when it's not busy, and not
everyone's hay day," she explains.
As uncertainty looms, Rebecca is
focusing on the positive.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All
Rights Reserved.)
Woodland business owner has
discovered the recipe for success. She
is expanding her bistro, despite the
slow economy, and she's got a clever
concept to attract more customers.
Despite the tough times, Tazzina Bistro
in Downtown Woodland is expanding.
"We're going to have some lower table
seating in this area," explains Rebecca
Reichardt, owner.
Rebecca hopes to offer customers
shelter from the economic storm – in
the form of a big bash.
"We're having an ice bar for vodka
tasting, can-can dancers and a DJ.
(And) Ultra Limousine is providing free
local rides home," Rebecca says
enthusiastically.
And if the economy was in the same
state as it was four years ago when the
bistro opened, Reichardt says the re-
launch would be done on a much
smaller scale.
But, times have changed and she
hopes freebies will be good for
customers and business.
"It made me concentrate on a bigger
party because people need it even
more," Rebecca says.
Rebecca considers herself lucky – she
hasn't had any major financial road
blocks because the expansion began
before the nation's economy took a
dive. And even the collapse she's
found a silver lining.
"I've gotten some incredibly high
quality work and I haven't had to wait in
line for it, so there are benefits to
doing it when it's not busy, and not
everyone's hay day," she explains.
As uncertainty looms, Rebecca is
focusing on the positive.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All
Rights Reserved.)