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According to all the glowing reports in the PNJ and on Studers website. this should have been open by June 1 st. I wonder why no updates?
Maybe it is there and I just can not see it?
Josephs prevails in Studers’ Pensacola Business Challenge
Mari Josephs accepts a key to her new business location after being chosen the winner of the Pensacola Business Challenge. Sharing the moment is Andrew Rothfeder, who served as volunteer director and coordinator of the Challenge. Keely McKissack/Gulf Breeze News
From special reports
Mari Josephs, an area restaurant manager and chef who has excelled in several downtown Pensacola establishments, was chosen the winner of the Pensacola Business Challenge sponsored by Quint and Rishy Studer.
Josephs’ idea for Carmen’s Lunch Bar was the winning business plan selected from more than 100 submissions. She will receive a year of free rent, two more years of reduced rent, a $25,000 build-out package and a host of business experts to assist her in starting her new business at the corner of Main Street and South Palafox.
Carmen’s Lunch Bar will offer fresh, flavorful food with an eclectic blend of Southern and International fare with Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Moroccan and Indian influences. In the evening, it will be a wine and tapas bar.
Josephs’ winning submission came after two rounds of cuts and an intensive, in-person interview with seven local business leaders who served as judges. She will bring her considerable culinary skill, restaurant management talent, and customer-service oriented approach to her own unique concept on Palafox Street.
The Pensacola Business Challenge was the brainchild of the Studers, who had an empty space in one of their downtown redevelopment properties and decided to host a competition to fill the spot.
“Quint and I had no idea just how big of a success the contest would be,” Rishy Studer said.
The contest, announced in December, attracted more than 100 applicants, each of whom participated in intensive business planning training conducted by the UWF Small Business Development Center. Those seminars attracted entrepreneurs and business owners from across the region and were focused on the aspects of creating a business plan, such as product and service description, market research, and financial modeling.
Of the 111 applicants, 31 entrepreneurs submitted a fullfledged business plan, which required a full description of the proposed business, a market analysis, financial projections, and proof of six months’ operating capital, to cover things like payroll and inventory.
“The great thing about this contest is, although there is only one winner, we now have dozens of entrepreneurs out there who have a business plan with solid feedback who can use that feedback to refine and improve their business ideas and ultimately be better prepared to succeed when they launch their business,” contest administrator Sara Rothfeder said.
Josephs expressed her gratitude to the Studers for the contest.
“I thank Quint and Rishy Studer for this amazing opportunity and for their generosity,” she said. “They are two people who are making things happen in Pensacola. I am so grateful for their support in this new venture.”
Rishy Studer noted that several applicants and contestants sent the Studers inspiring notes of appreciation and optimism.
“We’ve received some really touching letters from people who have said how much they have learned, how much better they will be when they start their business, and some have even gone ahead and started their businesses, with the help of the training and feedback from the contest,” she said.
“Everyone from the applicants to the community to the judges who did such a great job in their deliberating and choosing a winner has been so supportive. It’s exciting to be a part of something so positive in the community.”
The business plan trainings were conducted by Larry Strain at the UWF Small Business Development Center, which assists small businesses in starting and executing their business plans.
The other judges included John Myslak, Rus Howard, Caron Sjoberg, John Peacock, Robert Hill, Richard Hawkins Ph.D., and Andrew Rothfeder.
From the Pensacola Business challenge web site.
March 8, 2012 – Round 2 Applicants to present plans in person to Judging Panel
March 15, 2012 – Grand Prize Winner Announced
March 16 – May 31, 2012 – Space designed, built-out, furnished and equipped
June 1, 2012 – Open for business
Maybe it is there and I just can not see it?
Josephs prevails in Studers’ Pensacola Business Challenge
Mari Josephs accepts a key to her new business location after being chosen the winner of the Pensacola Business Challenge. Sharing the moment is Andrew Rothfeder, who served as volunteer director and coordinator of the Challenge. Keely McKissack/Gulf Breeze News
From special reports
Mari Josephs, an area restaurant manager and chef who has excelled in several downtown Pensacola establishments, was chosen the winner of the Pensacola Business Challenge sponsored by Quint and Rishy Studer.
Josephs’ idea for Carmen’s Lunch Bar was the winning business plan selected from more than 100 submissions. She will receive a year of free rent, two more years of reduced rent, a $25,000 build-out package and a host of business experts to assist her in starting her new business at the corner of Main Street and South Palafox.
Carmen’s Lunch Bar will offer fresh, flavorful food with an eclectic blend of Southern and International fare with Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Thai, and Moroccan and Indian influences. In the evening, it will be a wine and tapas bar.
Josephs’ winning submission came after two rounds of cuts and an intensive, in-person interview with seven local business leaders who served as judges. She will bring her considerable culinary skill, restaurant management talent, and customer-service oriented approach to her own unique concept on Palafox Street.
The Pensacola Business Challenge was the brainchild of the Studers, who had an empty space in one of their downtown redevelopment properties and decided to host a competition to fill the spot.
“Quint and I had no idea just how big of a success the contest would be,” Rishy Studer said.
The contest, announced in December, attracted more than 100 applicants, each of whom participated in intensive business planning training conducted by the UWF Small Business Development Center. Those seminars attracted entrepreneurs and business owners from across the region and were focused on the aspects of creating a business plan, such as product and service description, market research, and financial modeling.
Of the 111 applicants, 31 entrepreneurs submitted a fullfledged business plan, which required a full description of the proposed business, a market analysis, financial projections, and proof of six months’ operating capital, to cover things like payroll and inventory.
“The great thing about this contest is, although there is only one winner, we now have dozens of entrepreneurs out there who have a business plan with solid feedback who can use that feedback to refine and improve their business ideas and ultimately be better prepared to succeed when they launch their business,” contest administrator Sara Rothfeder said.
Josephs expressed her gratitude to the Studers for the contest.
“I thank Quint and Rishy Studer for this amazing opportunity and for their generosity,” she said. “They are two people who are making things happen in Pensacola. I am so grateful for their support in this new venture.”
Rishy Studer noted that several applicants and contestants sent the Studers inspiring notes of appreciation and optimism.
“We’ve received some really touching letters from people who have said how much they have learned, how much better they will be when they start their business, and some have even gone ahead and started their businesses, with the help of the training and feedback from the contest,” she said.
“Everyone from the applicants to the community to the judges who did such a great job in their deliberating and choosing a winner has been so supportive. It’s exciting to be a part of something so positive in the community.”
The business plan trainings were conducted by Larry Strain at the UWF Small Business Development Center, which assists small businesses in starting and executing their business plans.
The other judges included John Myslak, Rus Howard, Caron Sjoberg, John Peacock, Robert Hill, Richard Hawkins Ph.D., and Andrew Rothfeder.
From the Pensacola Business challenge web site.
March 8, 2012 – Round 2 Applicants to present plans in person to Judging Panel
March 15, 2012 – Grand Prize Winner Announced
March 16 – May 31, 2012 – Space designed, built-out, furnished and equipped
June 1, 2012 – Open for business
