Business Overview:
The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train offers the right buyer a unique, highly regarded, high quality, perfectly located, profitable with strong cash flow business opportunity. The restored rail cars have historic value and offer a quality, moving dining experience. The staff is loyal and it is expected that they would stay on should a new owner keep the basic product to the same exacting standards which currently exist. In existence for 17 years, the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train has a strong following of both visitors and locals alike. Operationally, with 95% of the business by reservation, it is easier to control costs and minimize waste knowing in advance what your product and staffing supply needs to be, based upon a known demand of covers. This is absolutely a perfect opportunity for an experienced food and beverage professional looking for something to call their own, complete with a strong record of success, loyal clientele, high quality uniqueness, and beautiful location.
Should a potential buyer be looking to re-locate to the Lincoln-Woodstock area, the Sellers would be willing to sell their riverfront home along with the business, which is within walking distance of the train. This 3500 square foot home sits directly on the East Branch of the Pemi River, and features a two level deck with beautiful views, a three car garage, three bedrooms, 2 baths, and a beautiful stone fireplace. This property is only available in conjunction with the sale of the Café Lafayette Dinner Train, and is offered at $500,000.
For more information regarding this listing please contact us by completing the "Contact the Seller" form to the left. We look forward to hearing from you.
Property Features and Assets:
The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train consists of seven railroad cars operated on a 3/4 acre location on the world famous Kancamagus Scenic Highway in Woodstock, NH. There is a lease to run the cars along the railroad tracks through 2008, with the option to extend another 15 years. There is also an existing agreement with the Hobo Railroad to utilize their locomotive to move the train along the tracks. There are three dining cars with a seating capacity of 150 as well as extra space to accommodate functions. Assets also include a power car, a caboose, a kitchen car, and a car used for an office and gift shop. All cars in current use have been completely restored and are in excellent condition.
Market Competition and Expansion:
The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train is ideally located directly off Interstate 93, at the Kancamagus Highway exit. The Lincoln-Woodstock area is a resort town, catering to visitors interested in winter recreation, summer recreation, spring hiking, and fall foliage. The dinner train is open from May through October. It's quality of food and service is second to none, and the ambience of a train ride through the scenic White Mountains in unrivaled. There are other quality restaurants in the valley which compete with the dinner train, but for the quintessential special evening out, the Cafe Lafayette is the majority choice. The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train currently operates only 6 months of the year. A new owner could conceivably operate the restaurant 12 months a year, keeping the train stationary during times when the tracks are snow covered. Also, there is the potential for much more function business during what is now the offseason, and also during the afternoon in-season, when the train is operating in the evening for dinner.
Reason for Selling:
Pursuing other career opportunities.
Additional Details:
- The property is owned.
- The owner is willing to train/assist the new owner.
- This is not a homebased business opportunity.
- This is not a franchise resale opportunity.
- This is not a distressed business or bankruptcy situation.
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