“Vanity is definitely my most favorite sin” – Al Pacino, The Devil’s Advocate.



You can’t swing a dead cat around this town without hitting someone who wants to open a restaurant. I over use this saying, but it expresses how I feel so clearly. The first thing I ask people who dribble out the pointed words “I want to open a restaurant” is, “Do you have any experience in the restaurant business?” The answer is usually, “No.”



Even in this unpredictable economy, people are sacrificing their hard earned money, using their homes as collateral, or borrowing from well-off family to achieve their lifelong dream of sleepless nights and ulcer filled days. Why do they do it? Certainly it’s not to make money. For the most part, I have come to the conclusion that it is all about one of the seven deadly sins: vanity.



I know of where I speak, my friends. While I did have more experience than many others, I had no illusions that entering this business would suck more than it would be rewarding. I just didn’t realize how much it would suck. When approached by neophyte restaurateurs, I try to tell them this, but they don’t listen. Neither did I, of course, when asking other owners for advice. I just wanted to see if I could do it. It was plain and simple: vanity.



Who are these people who have the itch that only a life of unpredictable ups and downs can scratch? They are teachers, beer distributors, firefighters, Internet techies, graphic artists, development managers, investment advisors, and advertising executives; you name it. These are all real people I know who think they have what it takes to run a restaurant or bar. Vanity.



I believe that the only people that truly survive in this business are those born with the “restaurant gene.” Oh, yes Virginia, there is such a thing. Just because scientists haven’t discovered it yet doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. And maybe a few of these people listed above have it, but don’t know it until they open a restaurant and achieve the success they’ve worked so hard for.



The key here is working hard. This is not a business to dabble with or use as a hobby. I am actually guilty of telling people that my restaurant was a very expensive hobby. But at least I was true to myself and knew my limitations. Sadly, I don’t think I was born with the restaurant gene, but oh how I love food, wine and restaurants! Vanity.



Just because you want to open a restaurant, doesn’t mean you should. There are many new restaurants set to open soon. Some will be successful, most will not. For example, if you have a passion for hip-hop, hard cider and foods from the Basque region, should you really open a restaurant with those components? Probably not, but I am always shocked when people do. Vanity.



Now, with that smack said, while restaurant entrepreneurs are a little bit crazy (which you have to be), they are also people living a grand dream. And whether they achieve success or not, they put themselves out there and have accomplished a goal very few people have the balls to even try. How many of you can say the same?



If it were not for these people, we would be stuck with Olive Gardens and Applebee’s on every corner. Not that these restaurants don’t serve a purpose, however there is only so much re-heated, pre-packaged food a person can tolerate. It’s just unfortunate that our independent owners have to participate in a game where the stakes are so high.



While vanity may be a sin, wanting to live a dream and hopefully making some money at it isn’t. If you really want to open a restaurant, I say go for it. I dare you …



Eat out, Tacoma. We need your love.