Lakeside Country Store & Grille Newsletter

The First Year 2005
It was a very good year for the Lakeside Country Store & Grille considering it was the first season under this new ownership of Gregory Bubbert, President of GCB LLC.
The store did very well in 2005 and business was overwhelming at times during the summer weekends especially on the holiday weekends.
It would have been a profitable or at least a break even year if it wasn’t for a few unexpected costs from equipment breakdowns to the surprise of a failed fire suppression, exhaust hood inspection.
Greg is proud to announce that the store itself is in the cleanest condition it has been in for many years.
Greg is tired.  Since he purchased the business at the end of December, all of his time has been consumed into the business from sunrise until after midnight or longer seven days a week cleaning, repairing, renting, sales, purchasing, cooking, banjo picking, advertising, webmaster, and managing the business.
“I need to apologies to all those close to me that I have neglected in my busy times.”

Getting Started
Before Greg was even able to purchase the Lakeside Country Store & Grille, a meeting had to be arranged with the Fremont Nebraska State Park Supervisor and the Division Administrator of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at the Game and Parks office in Lincoln Nebraska in order to perform an interview process to see if Greg would be a good responsible candidate qualified to be a representative of the Nebraska Game and Parks to see if he is qualified to run the business up to standards expected to be performed on state property plus have the responsibility of being an authorized Nebraska Hunting, Fishing, and Park Permit dealer.
Greg also had to acquire a Bait Dealer Permit, Restaurant Permit, Convenience Store Permit, Egg Handler Permit, Sales Tax Permit, a Corporate Income Tax Certificate, and an Income Tax Withholding Certificate, had to qualify to achieve a Grade 5 Water Operator license, and even was required to get a Litter License.

Getting the store up and running was a big challenge to me and my co-workers.
The store was purchased at the end of December which gave us only three months to get things up and running by my tentative open date of April 1st.
The business and buildings have been purchased by me and is privately owned but the land the facility is sitting on is leased by the State of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission with a clause in the lease requiring the store to be open at least six days a week in the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  It is optional keeping the store open any extra days of the week and before or after these major holidays.

We started off by picking up and moving all the refrigerators, freezers, and other equipment so that a thorough cleaning and repair of the building could be accomplished. 
We then applied a new floor coating, painted the walls, and installed a new suspended ceiling with fireproof tiles above the kitchen area.  New lighting was also installed giving the facility a whole new look inside.
Two coolers with fish bait inside the store needed to be removed from the concessions area and taken out to the new bait shop outside.
We re-arranged the store in order to use the floor space in a more work efficient manner and also made the grocery area customer friendly.

The store has had a few setbacks.  While in the middle of working a special meal for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce we had a fire suppression system inspector start going through the kitchen and even climbing over the grill and fryers while we were making food for the luncheon.  He informed me that the fire suppression system is out of date and will need to be updated and brought up to code.  The Nebraska Fire Marshall was in about two hours later, red tagged the fire suppression system and exhaust hood, and informed me that after we purchase a K-Class fire extinguisher we would have until September 15th 2005 to get the situation up to code.
Until we get everything repaired we are diversifying our menu and utilizing our ovens instead of using the grill and fryers.  It has been disappointing to some customers wishing to purchase pork tenderloins, French fries, onion rings, etc.
After doing some research through the fire inspection office it was discovered that the exhaust hood and fire suppression system had been red tagged under the previous owner.  This fire suppression red tag situation ethically should have been disclosed during the purchase procedures.

The coolers and some other equipment needed to be rewired with new cords to replace worn, frayed, and too short of wire so the use of extension cords would be unnecessary providing a safer environment.  A pizza spinner/warmer needed a new heating element.
New/used equipment was purchased to get some more diversity into the kitchen. 
A new popcorn maker, a new vacuum packer, a couple of new triple container roasters, double stone pizza oven, Hobart mixer, double oven, steel table, and a glass top display freezer.  An account was opened with Coca Cola and a Coke vending machine was placed in front of the store along with the existing Pepsi vending machine.
In order to handle a large volume of customers we purchased something called the Lacajachina.  This is a large cooker able to roast a whole hog in four hours.  It will be used to offer weekend specials and cook for large groups.  The Lacajachina roaster may be seen inside of a fenced area for safety reasons.  In the future we will add a kettle corn maker.

When the weather started warming up we focused our efforts to working on the outside of the facility.
Washing the outside of the building and paint was most of the things needed to be accomplished.
Perimeter seating in the screened area were installed more than doubling the seating capacity for the store.
A major task was to move two sheds and a horse trailer used to store firewood to a new location in order to allow guests a better view of Victory Lake looking towards the East from the screened area.
The sheds are now located on the west side of the mobile home.  One of the sheds is used for storage and the other has been converted into a bait shop.
We moved some of the shelving and two small refrigerators from the store into the bait shop.
Equipment needed to get the bait shop up and running was a 24” x 72” stock tank and a high volume aerator for keeping live bait.

In order to better serve our customers around the park Greg purchased a beverage cart.  Park guests have the option to call our store and have items delivered right to their campsites.
 Basically it is a golf cart conversion with racks and a beverage cooler along with a small trailer giving us the ability to sale and deliver pop, snacks, ice, and wood to the guests of the Fremont State Park.
The cart is also used around the park to deliver rental boats to many of the lakes in the area.

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Rentals
We now rent canoes, paddle boats, and small electric powered bass boats.
More paddle boats will be ordered for the 2006 season.
When we first started in 2005 we also rented out a 14 passenger pontoon boat but unfortunately one day a couple of gentlemen rented the boat only to go off and Greg was told later that day by the game warden on lake duty that the boat was loaded up and sailing with twenty three people on board.
This resulted in damage to the vessel by water logging the pontoons and also resulted in damage to the transmission that wasn’t discovered until we attempted to rent the boat to another customer leaving them stranded after they went off on their boat ride and had a break down.
It is very doubtful that we will be renting power boats any more since some people do not feel they have any responsibility for the condition of other people’s property.
Considerations for the future may be the purchase of some sort of a tour boat that would be piloted by an employee of the Lakeside Country Store & Grille offering a view of the boating lake that many people do not get an opportunity to see.
In the past, this facility rented Jet Skis.  When Greg went to his lease approval meeting with the state one of the first things said was.  “Now, about those Jet Skis…”  Greg immediately said.  “I’m NOT going to rent them!”  There was a big sigh of relief from the two interviewers and the rest of the meeting went really well.
Greg was told that the State of Nebraska was going to request that we do not rent Jet Skis any more at this location because 90% of the accidents on the lakes were caused by Jet Skis and half of those accidents were caused by the rentals themselves.
Greg is also concerned with the health and safety of the public plus the cost of the liability insurance on renting a PWC is outrageous.  It was not a hard decision to stop the Jet Ski rentals.

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The Mobile Home
Many efforts were made to get the mobile home on the property cleaned up and repaired so it would make a good place for an office and be an adequate storage facility.
A couple of broken windows had to be replaced.
The deck in the back and the car port was finished off with lattice for more privacy.
We had quite a surprise when we turned the water on for the first time and discovered that the plumbing was not properly winterized and burst along the entire length of the trailer.  The propane tank had been run dry and had to have new regulators installed.  The way things were having problems around here Greg was really apprehensive in getting the pilot lights lit so we waited until October to get the propane going.  A funny thing that happened was when the plumber replaced the pipes under the trailer he had reversed the lines and now hot water is running through the toilet.  A dryer in the trailer needed some sort of a heat sensor replaced in order for it to start working properly.  The septic was also full and had to be cleaned out.
One of the bedrooms has been converted into Greg’s office secured with locks and cameras.
An illuminated flagpole was installed in front of the home so we could proudly raise the American and the Nebraska State flags.

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It is quite a challenge to keep a business working in the environment where the store is located.  Being in the middle of a state park has its advantages and its drawbacks.

Advantages
Advantages are that I have exclusive rights and a captive audience to all the vending in the park.  No deliveries from any other business are allowed in the park without permission from the Lakeside Country Store & Grille.
There is park security and the store is watched by State Park Staff, Dodge County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, and Nebraska Game Wardens.
The park staff helps to groom the landscape.
These helpful people are offered half price on their meals.
We have been informed that many positive comments are being said about the improvements we have done so far by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Drawbacks
Drawbacks affecting the success of the business are quite a challenge to work out.
The business in seasonal and we are very much affected by weather conditions.
Since no alcohol is allowed in the store property, the sale of beer and liquor is excluded.
There is a noise curfew so no loud music after 10:00pm.

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Friends and Staff
Greg is really appreciative of the employees that came back from last year and the new hires in the year 2005.  The success of this store would not have been possible if it weren’t for the efforts of these people.
It was exceptionally kind of an old friend (Mike) that came around once he heard a rumor that I was in the process of purchasing the Lakeside Country Store & Grille and offered his services.  At first he only wanted to help get things going but ended up working on a full time basis.  His expert services and experience in food preparation really helped in making this year a success.  His culinary skills are amazing and we are glad to let him have free reign of the kitchen dreaming up new and delicious meals.
Greg has to remind him once and a while that, “It’s Just a Concession Stand.” 
His wife (Diana) has offered her services to the kitchen creating some home made cuisine and has come up with even more items expanding our menu.
We all agree that we will make great efforts to offer quality food items to our customers and we are consistently looking for the best of ingredients.
Another friend that works here was a great help in getting the store cleaned and remodeled in the time frame that we had to work with.  His electrical skills came in quite handy when it came to some equipment repair.  He now runs around the park in our beverage golf cart delivering special orders, rental boats, and vending pop, snacks, ice, and wood.
His wife comes around once and a while, dresses up in a clown costume and hands out balloon animals to the kids in the park.  She even managed to get her picture in the local Fremont paper (Front Page).
The young adults we hired on were a lot of fun but when it came time to get busy they got down to business and got their tasks accomplished.
Greg is trying to make the Lakeside Country Store & Grille a fun and challenging place to work.  Many of the kids working here were sad to leave and I was sad to see them go but things like higher education and better job opportunities really must take priority.
Greg really appreciates the efforts offered by his wife (Teresa).  She took on the responsibility of keeping track of store inventory, making out work schedules, and even had a hand in working in the kitchen not only flipping burgers but making wonderful baked items for our breakfast buffets.

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Looking to the future of the lakeside Country Store & Grille
I suppose one of our mottos could be, “Never Ending Improvements”.
Our chef came up with the motto, “Consistency is Futile, Quality is Not!”
The lakeside Country Store & Grille has such great potential so Greg will be on the lookout for new menu items, store items, entertainment, and do whatever it takes to improve services to the guests at the Fremont Nebraska State Lakes.
Paddle boats were very popular.
Kettle Corn is a very popular item so we will look into getting a Kettle Corn Cooker.
Bike rentals are a consideration.  It would be nice to get some tandems and surreys.  There is a little known trail between Victory Lake and Lakes 11 and 12 that could easily be made into a walking/bike path.  There are other areas in the park that could be made into walking/bike trails.
A Tour Boat giving piloted boat rides around Victory Lake is being looked into.
A Vending Vehicle would be useful in getting beverages, snacks, and bait over to the Northwest fishing lakes.
T-shirts, Hats, and Mugs with a Lakeside Country Store & Grille design would make a good souvenir item.
Greg will be looking into offering space for craft fairs and possibly a farmers market.
Looking ahead on a grand scale; 
It would be wonderful to improve the area by removal of the mobile home and replace it with a lodge.  A large log building with windows over looking the lake watching the tour boat sail, observation decks, an observation tower, meeting rooms, a stage for performances and melodrama, gift shop, and a buffet style restaurant.

It is such a good feeling knowing that we are successfully serving our guests and I must say “Thank You” to everyone that comes out to visit the Lakeside Country Store & Grille.  We hope to see you all in the future.

We're Here To Help
Lakeside Country Store Grille is here for you. If you have questions or comments about our services, or want to know how we can help you, please call us at 402-753-0957 or e-mail us at Lakeside.Grille@gmail.com

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