Two options I've heard for museums that are breaking into food service
in a small way:
Contracting with a local restaurant or caterer to provide food service
on the busiest days, either by renting space for a flat monthly fee or
on a commission of sales (this is the typical arrangement for
restaurants in large museums). BUT the vendor may not feel you can
generate sufficient sales to justify the expenses (wages, food,
equipment, licensing, insurance), so you may be placed in the position
of having to pay a vendor to set up shop and guarantee a minimum (I've
been in that sad situation). If you do go this route, be sure to insist
on a business license, a health certificate, and insurance--if a visitor
gets food poisoning you'll want to be protected.
Vending machines, although often derided, are getting more attractive
and diverse. Here in Washington DC, we've become a test market for
McDonald's for several different types of vending machines and so far
they're getting acceptable results. It is certainly easier to obtain a
machine with a commission on sales from the big drink vendors, and
they'll compete for your business (BUT be prepared to handle lost coins,
defective machines, vandalism, and energy costs). Food vending machines
are harder to find, but I'd first talk with the drink vendors to see
what they recommend (who knows, they may have purchased a snack food
company).
Good luck!
Max A. van Balgooy
Director of Interpretation and Education
National Trust for Historic Preservation
-----Original Message-----
From: Kimberly Kenney, Curator [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 3:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: food service -- on a SMALL scale
Hello!
My Director asked me to pick your brains about food
service in your museums.
We are a medium sized museum, and we are exploring
options for providing our visitors with lunch,
particularly on the weekends.
We were wondering what others' experiences were, how
to break into that idea, what the pitfalls are, etc.
We want to hear from smaller places.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Kim Kenney
=====
Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator
McKinley Museum
800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW
Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043
"Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict;
and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of
war." --25th United States President William McKinley
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