Free Lunch Gut Check Decision Filter

“In order to do a gut check on how much I really want to take a space or do a deal, I always ask myself whether I would do this deal if it were given to me for free. That sounds simplistic, I know, but it works. Believe it or not, my answer to this question is most often “no.””

“Selecting a restaurant space is a lot like trying on a pair of new shoes. The style has to be right, the size has to fit, and they have to feel good, or I simply won’t buy them. If I did buy them, I’d never wear them. I’ve declined a significant number of sweetheart deals from developers that were essentially offered for free. I understand how that resistance can frustrate my partners and investors. But the fact that something is free alone doesn’t make it wise or compelling to proceed.”