How can an independent, locally owned restaurant business survive when it's surrounded by successful chain restaurants?
A number of local restaurant owners face that challenge daily. Some make it, and some don't.
Among the survivors is the Acropolis Restaurant, a locally owned business at 501 N. Green River Road on Evansville's East Side. It survives partly by operating a catering business off its premise.
Independently owned G. D. Ritzy's, located next door to the Acropolis, and Lic's Deli & Ice Cream, which is also independent, fight the same battle.
The independents must compete with at least 18 major franchise restaurants that line the same North Green River Road strip.
That list of franchise competitors includes Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy Restaurant, which recently opened on an Eastland Mall outlot, across from the Acropolis and G. D. Ritzy's.
Other popular chain restaurants along the same strip are T.G.I. Friday's, Chili's Grill & Bar, Wendy's, Starbucks, LongHorn Steakhouse, Taco Bell, Denny's, Grandy's, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, Fazoli's, Bob Evans, Arby's and Rafferty's.
Doros Hadjisadvva and George Yerolemou, brothers-in-law from Greece, opened their East Side Acropolis in November 2003. They had a similar restaurant by the same name in their Roadside Inn hotel on Old U.S. 41 North for years and then closed the restaurant when the new operation started.
"Our first year on Green River Road was like our honeymoon year. Business boomed," Hadjisadvva said.
Business was a little slower in 2004, when a number of new chain restaurants opened in the area. But 2005 was better, and now the Acropolis owners hope that pace will continue in 2006.
Hadjisadvva, 35, said independent restaurants have their work cut out for them when competing against the chains. He believes many people patronize chain franchises because they are more familiar with the establishments' menus. Some patrons aren't adventurous when it comes to trying new entrees, such as Greek dishes, which are the Acropolis' specialties.
"They get used to what certain chains, such as the Olive Garden, have, and they shop no further for a restaurant, though we all buy from the same food suppliers," Hadjisadvva said.
The Acropolis' advertising budget pales by comparison to the humongous advertising power of the chain restaurants. But the Acropolis' owners aren't discouraged.
Hadjisadvva said he and Yerolemou, 37, plan their advertising months in advance.
They also strive to familiarize the public with their restaurant by sponsoring occasional fundraising events for nonprofit groups.
A plus for independent owners is that they don't have to seek approval from corporate headquarters before introducing new entrees or making other decisions, Hadjisadvva noted.
He and Yerolemou also pay no franchise fee.
"We each take a salary and after that we put all the restaurant proceeds back into the business," Hadjisadvva said. "Nearly every single penny we make goes to paying off our Acropolis property - and we're almost there."
Hadjisadvva said his and Yerolemou's desire to be debt free is part of their Greek upbringing.
"We don't want to owe others money for the next 20 years," Hadjisadvva said.
Once the Acropolis property is paid off, Hadjisadvva said their main expenses will be labor and food.
It cost Hadjisadvva and Yerolemou more than $1 million to construct their Acropolis restaurant. It is in the gutted building on North Green River Road that formerly housed Darryl's Restaurant, a chain operation.
The Acropolis owners are currently expanding their catering business to help offset any potential slack periods that may occur in the future.
Meanwhile, they're also busy converting their former restaurant space on Old U.S. 41 North into a large banquet hall to cater weddings, anniversary receptions and other functions for between 300 to 350 guests.
Hadjisadvva and Yerolemou have renamed their Old U.S. 41 North hotel Econo Lodge and have affiliated the business with Choice Hotels.
Hadjisadvva said they believe it's important that they hire people from other cultures. Acropolis has employees from Indonesia, India, Egypt and the United States as well as Greece.
"Our customers expect a unique experience and we try to give them that through both our employees and food," Hadjisadvva said.