Recovered original email from Peter Zeimet. Body preserved verbatim.
I am or actually have suspended the food wagon. Customer reception for what I sold was good. Our economy is still dead here leaving so many workers part time, they do not have LUNCH HOURS. Breaks do not exist when people are working 4 hours per day.
I am going to sell it. IF I can sell it. Circumstances not present last year when planning that now make the operation a no go. Below is a list of factors.
1. My health. The diabetes cannot handle the long hours causing dehydration and dizziness. More than anything, this is a game changer. I can keep it under control, but not doing this. I was afraid this would happen, but was too far into completion. I did not know unitl jumping in health issues were to say NO for at least this year. More time is required.
2. Cost of fuel/food. The two largest costs for mobile food are generator/tow vehicle gas useage and food. In the last 6 months, gas/food costs have risen 30%........so much there is no way to see a profit. I cannot justify borrowing more money to lose money.
3. Local regulation changes NO LONGER ALLOW SELLING ON THE STREET OR ANY PARKS. ???????????? WHAT THE HELL? Seriously. Most mobile units that WERE on the road are now sitting idle. The local police are ticketing and pulling operational permits for breaking this ordinance. It is a good old boy network by casinos who refuse to give up any potential customer. It is ludicrous as mobile units are not competition, anyway. But, they own the local government agencies. So, only private property with a certain amount of room......... and fenced off from the street is allowed now. Written request for even this must be submitted for operation. The county boys are rejecting everything submitted. I did have a private warehouse where the sales area was a football field from the road, but it cannot generate enough business.
4. Insurance regulation changes. I had to get my entire business insurance reissued at triple the cost 2 months ago to comply. Again, it is the good old boy network
5. NEW FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS after I ordered the unit required expensive equipment and reconstruction this winter. The electrical and fire suppression system had to be identical to that of a high rise hotel kitchen. No place in the nation requires this. I had no option.
6. Decisions made before diagnosis were not the best. Diabetes can mask itself. Sugar levels untreated can cause stupor like thought process. The last person to know is the one going through it. I thought my brain was working properly. It was not. Completion costs were higher than needed as I could not do work myself nor adequately monitor what electricians, installers, etc. were doing. For one thing, I could not drive for almost 2 months. My vision was blurry and trying to cope with being sick took my entire focus. It was a downward spiral that is just now slowing. Thought process is better and I can drive, but continuing at this point would put me into a nursing home. The options are just black and white. There is no grey inbetween.
SO, THAT IS WHERE I AM AT. The above situations did not exist last year when I entered into this venture. I owe way more money than probably can sell the thing for. The health and expensive changes just will not allow operation. Leasing out the wagon here is impossible due to regulations, also. Regulations make leasing nearly impossible. Units that WERE on the road for years are now parked. I imagine default will happen for the loans on the unit. OH WELL, what can I do about it? - pz
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