In reply to SVreX:
Sure, come in here and be the voice of reason. Spoilsporty McBuzzkiller.
You do realize some good points though, cars are full of nasty juices that leak out and they may cause you environmental issues. It'd be a good thing to look into.
In reply to KyAllroad:
Yes, I understand. Call me Mr Buzzkill. I'm just watching out for a brother.
After drink #15, when everyone else is yelling "Chug, chug, chug", I'm probably gonna be the guy that says, "Don't you think you've had snough?"
Sorry if I spoiled your fun, if you'd rather see a brother go down in flames.
I've owned several businesses, including a couple that were unsuccessful. It's a VERY unpleasant experience.
I love to see small businesses succeed. But it is ALWAYS worth asking the right questions in advance.
dculberson wrote: Don't overlook how much work each element will be. You'd essentially be starting two complete businesses with all the work that goes in to each. There's not a lot of overlap between a junkyard and a restaurant and bar.
Arguably, that's three businesses. Restaurant and Bar are not necessarily the same animal. If I had to cut one of those three, I'd cut out the restaurant. Bars are simpler and higher margin.
petegossett wrote: In reply to daeman: I think you could make a living selling/shipping repairable 25+ year-old utes to US GRMers.
I'd certainly be open to helping with vehicle exports.
In reply to dculberson, NOHOME, SVreX: thanks for being voices of reason guys. It's the more detailed aspects of the business that concern me. I can get an acerage anywhere and fill it with junk cars, its a case of is this place set up well enough to make it a good workable solution.
Environment issues are definitely on the radar as to associated problems and costs, while the area is not very heavily regulated, it would only take a minor change in government or legislation and I could have a lot of problems. My number one concern is have the underground fuel tanks been removed, that's big money in site remediation.
Insurance is also something to bear in mind, my brother is currently hobbling around in a moon boot after cracking an ankle bone in a junkyard a couple of weeks ago. He knows it was his fault and healthcare covered it. But it easily could have been more serious and problematic for the yard he was in. The other problem! Is there have been a few junkyard fires in Australia over the last year or two, so I'd imagine insurance is only getting tighter.
The lack of any junkyard experience other than as a customer means a steep learning curve, and basically reinventing the business. It would need to be much better organised, with a good online presence, probably relying more on boring essentials whilst trying to slowly build up an inventory of Aussie classics. Money in Aussie muscle and classics only seems to be heading higher.
Lastly, the food. I like the idea, but there's more than a couple of obstacles there. Only other local business is a tavern, and apparently they now operate as a cafe. Coming into a small town and treading on toes won't be very welcome. Plus there's the whole being spread to thin aspect of trying to tie two business together, I have a feeling that would translate to doing neither well.
Buy it. Run the yard yourself, lease operation of the bar/restaurant to someone else, or set up a partnership in which you don't have to be deeply involved with it. Preferably someone with (successful) restaurant experience.
In the right location a JY/bar/restaurant could be an interesting destination spot.
In reply to dropstep:
With or without the wrecker, I'd be willing to help you out on that one mate. Pm me if you're serious about it.
Argh. Lost a post.
Guys, despite the roadhouse stuff and my love of food, I want to look more at how it would function as a stand alone junkyard and how that would be run successfully and profitable. If it doesn't stack upon its own then I'd be better off buying a property with some spare space and doing a low volume of targetet stuff such as 4x4 or Aussie classics as an online only business.
That said, mentions of a themed eatery/bar have given me a good idea. About half an hour down the road is the small town that I grew up in. It's the halfway point of the Hume highway and a much more trafficked town than where the junkyard is. It's also a truck changeover point. An Aussie motoring and petroliana themed dinner would work fairly well there. Think route 66 dinners but Australian.
In reply to SVreX:
Umm, sorry my tone didn't get through in text form. I was teasing you a bit for being right. You were being the sober voice of reason and that is a good thing around here as often as not.
In reply to KyAllroad:
No, I got it.
Perhaps it was MY tone that didn't come through in text form! 
daeman wrote:petegossett wrote: In reply to daeman: I think you could make a living selling/shipping repairable 25+ year-old utes to US GRMers.I'd certainly be open to helping with vehicle exports.
I might be interested in bringing something to the states. Been looking in the UK for other stuff, but I would love to get my hands on a UTE.
good luck with what ever you decide to do if you buy the place. but i would de some reasearch to other yards and talk to some groups that might be part of the chains that are the industry or something. the big thing would be the eqaul of the epa and what the town might deide to do in the future. sounds like it could work. get the yard started for a couple of years, then think about doing a dinner down the road or leasing it out later.
In reply to TyGystics:
Any idea as to what you want?. As always, I don't mind helping out other car guys. Im happy to be eyes and ears and act as a bit of a middle man provided you have a sensible budget and are genuinely committed to seeing a transaction like that through.
Id certainly get a bit of a buzz knowing im parlty responsible for something fairly unique running around the states.
Early investigation is showing a few potential downsides. It appears the bulk of trade is cash, alot o the inventory and equipment is dated and the business itself would need substantial restructuring and promotion to get it to a level of profitability that would provide a secure existence for my partner and I.
Just the cleanup and reoranizing alone makes starting from scratch no more difficult.
My brother does a bit of business with the owner and gave me a bit of an idea as to how things are working, and will go and have a bit of a chat with the owner some time in the next week to try and work out exactly where things are at in terms of the business. He's not really favorable about the land itself, apparently it turns into a total mud bog with barely any rain due to run off from the highway etc.
Once I've investigated a bit further I'll post a link up for you guys to dream about.
The idea of buying a larger and nicer property and fencing off a half acre or so and doing low volume specialist part outs is looking like a better option at this stage..
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