The Joy Soon Loy Restaurant, only the current bungalow with a large courtyard is Joy Soon Loyās own property, while the two neighboring ones on both sides are rented.
"But where is there room to set up a kitchen next door? Thereās a lot of stuff here too, and even if we barely squeeze in a kitchen, it would look out of place," Old Song said with a glance.
Cheng Su also felt a headache. When they renovated at first, they intended the next door to be used just for private rooms and didnāt leave space for a kitchen at all. So, even if they moved next door, thereād be no place for the stove.
"Mr. Luh has arrived," Old Song stood up and said to Cheng Su.
Cheng Su turned her head. Luh Kai came over with a briefcase and couldnāt help but smile and ask, "What a rare guest, how do you have time to come by?"
Luh Kai glanced at the watch on his wrist and said, "Itās already twelve oāclock. We all need to eat, right? Passing by your place, I thought Iād come and grab a meal." He nodded towards Old Song as a greeting.
Old Song said, "You guys chat, Iāll go back to work."
Cheng Su nodded, instructed the little girl to bring some tea, and invited Luh Kai to sit down.
"So, have you encountered any problems that you canāt solve? I see your brow is knitted tightly," Luh Kai asked with a smile.
Cheng Su said, "You came at the right time, help me think of an idea. I want to expand this restaurant..."
She talked about the issues with expanding the restaurant, including the business problems, expansion issues, the impacts, and so on.
"Right now, Iām just so troubled. If I close the restaurant in the middle, where do I move this kitchen?" Cheng Su was extremely troubled.
"Shall I take a look around?" Luh Kai stood up.
"Please," Cheng Su stood up with him, looking inside and out, and even went around to the back to see.
Behind the restaurant, thereās a vacant lot. Luh Kai asked, "Whose land is this? Do you have any idea?"
Cheng Su was taken aback for a moment and shook her head.
"I see your building is also quite old. Maybe you should consider tearing it down, and then ask if this land has an owner, buy it all together, temporarily close and build a new restaurant?" Luh Kai pointed to the empty land and said, "This land could completely house a new kitchen."
Cheng Su hadnāt thought about it this way. She looked at it, and it seemed to make sense, but tearing down and rebuilding would cost a lot.
Luh Kai seemed to see her thoughts and said, "This restaurant is your main shop, right? It should have its own characteristics. Adding on isnāt impossible, but over time, the contrast between old and new becomes very clear. Instead of that, why not demolish and rebuild once, expanding the space? If two floors arenāt enough, make it three or four floors, maybe even save on those next-door rents. And over time, this could also become a signature old store."
What he said, Cheng Su knew very well, but the cost is just...
"I know what you mean, but building a big restaurant also takes quite a bit of time. Most importantly, my capital isnāt enough!" Cheng Su said with some embarrassment.
Luh Kai smiled and said, "I remember your Jam Company has two owners, right? So this restaurant of yours could completely find someone to invest shares in, just share some stock! To do business bigger, isnāt it all about financing or whatnot?"
Finding someone to invest?
Cheng Su was momentarily stunned; right now, this shop is entirely hers, and the profit and risk bearing are all hers. If someone invests, sheād have to share the stock profit and also bear a certain amount of risk.
But how much money is appropriate for investment?