HUGE Loan for Bookstore - An Update

[RetroLounge]

Went to the bank today. Things went great! We were so prepared, did our homework, and impressed the hell out of the banker. My partner was fabulous, totally on fire, and we backed up all our numbers with research and source data, my financials were tight and conservatively done, and the presentation was near perfect.

The process has now begun, and we will now see where this takes us. Hopefully to $500,000!

There WILL be a bookstore in our future. I can see it, I can feel it, and after today, I can taste it...

:fingers crossed:

RL

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Good luck with this, RL.....

I will enjoy seeing you start your bookstore. The building looked really great.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear RetroLounge!

Now here's some really kick-ass news! GOOD for you both! Kudos! Major props......

And all that!

I can't wait to hear how things progress, sweetie!

:woohoo: :applause: :applause: :woohoo:

[driver8]

19. My goodness!! Peggy said "kick ass"!!!

I'm telling...
(can you tell I have 2 small children?)

[bigwillq]

3. Good luck with everything.

Wishing and hoping for the best.

:hi: :hug:

[KitchenWitch]

4. That is very good news!

:hi:

[lizziegrace]

5. Hot damn!

I'm so happy for you! :hug:

[WCGreen]

12. What she said......

[wovenpaint]

6. Great news!

"If you can imagine it,
You can achieve it.
If you can dream it,
You can become it."
-William Arthur Ward-

The power of visualization.....sending good vibes your way :hi:

[Jazz2006]

7. Awesome, RL!

Thanks for the update. Now I am looking forward to future updates and progress reports as that wonderful building evolves into the bookstore of your dreams!

:toast:

[Evergreen Emerald]

8. Wow! That is great news!

What fun it would be to run a bookstore. Any particular type?

[lildreamer316]

9. When you get going...

How's about helping me open a 24-hour bookstore here in this 5-college town? My best friend and I have had the idea for years,and no capital. C'mon over!!

[Mutley]

10. Fantastic!

Fingers crossed. :bounce:

[yvr girl]

11. Glad to hear it went well

I knew you'd nail it.

[Neoma]

13. ummm.

Hopefully fingers crossed isn't bad luck.

[6000eliot]

14. Good luck!

Will you have a web presence, so your friends from DU can patronize you?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

15. Good luck!

[emmajane67]

16. That is fantastic news Retrolounge!

I have been reading your posts of late and have been impressed with your dignity, respect and love for yourself and those around you.
I am so pleased that out of difficult times, wonderful things are coming for you!
Sounds like you have done your homework. The building looked great and from the way you have described your store is sounds super cool!
I wish you all the best in this venture. I hope it is challenging, exciting, rewarding and most importantly successful beyond your wildest dreams!!!

[hfojvt]

17. $500,000???

Holy cows. Is that all borrowed money?

I started my store with a mere $12,000 and only spent a fraction of it to start. Perhaps that slow start hurt me and people who came in at the beginning did not return to see how I improved over time. I had a number of people tell me that my competition was arranging their books by publisher and that had not been true for some time. I do not see how those numbers can possibly work, unless you are the only store in Appleton or something. Even then, you would have online competition.

[tjwmason]

18. A good start - best of luck for the rest.

The book shop sounds like a wonderful idea, I'm sure you can pull it off magnificently. :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

20. Just make sure you have a surley drunken Irish man running the store.

:thumbsup:

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Books)

[NMMNG]

21. Congratulations!

Bookstores rule!

[fight4my3sons]

22. That's great! Glad it went well.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you :-)

[City Lights]

23. Good luck to you, RL!

My father-in-law owns 3 independent bookstores in northern Michigan. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. He actually wants to sell them. Too bad relocation isn't an option for you.

[Midlodemocrat]

24. Good luck, RL! Hoping things go your way.

[MissMillie]

25. Can I come work for you?

I want to try something new.

[Squeech]

26. Yay!

Are you going to risk it all and buy the building too?

Will you modify the facade to get more window space? I liked the look of the building as a building, but it didn't exactly invite walk-ins. (Although I figured some of those arched panels might have been boarded up windows.)

Will you host live music? Can I come and play?

[indigo32]

27. Good Job

owning a bookstore, how fun is that! :bounce:

[riona]

28. Wonderful!

Wishing you both success.

[madrchsod]

29. cool --another excuse to drive to wisconsin

[LaraMN]

30. Awesome!

My husband's business has a chunk in SBA loans, but they've done well in the year+ since they opened, and once they're paid off we'll hopefully have a decent income. He loves his work, and owning a business has been one of the scariest but greatest things he's done. It's well worth the sacrifice, when the rewards are so great! Fingers crossed that you get what you're hoping for and that the business is a huge success!