Help Blimpy Burger!
Blimpy Burger is looking for funding to move to a new location. I know this a crowd favorite, so I'd figure I'd help them out a bit. Bring back Blimpy, you know, to impress recruits and whatnot.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/krazy-jim-s-blimpyburger
December 14th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
As I recall, they were paid handsomely for the former property and they also had a going out of business dinner where they charged an exobanent amount of money.
The owner seems to be an oppotunist of the 1st order.
Also, people I have talked to didn't have too many good things to say about the quality of the food or the service.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
I don't think they owned the property from what I remember reading...orginial owner's wife did, but the business hadn't been owned by her for some time
December 14th, 2013 at 10:59 AM ^
Here is the site for Blimpy Burger:
You are correct. It does say quite plainly that the restaurant itself did not profit from the sale. It also says that they are at least as far as a location near the original with a contractor and a design lined up, which is good to hear.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:33 AM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
It's not even really true anymore. The last few times I went there they were nice enough. They just want to keep the line moving.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
Your recall is faulty. The current owners of the business did NOT own the property, and received none of the proceeds of the property sale. They were simply commercial tenants.
As for your comment about the quality of the food or service, I'll leave that to others to respond. I've lived in town since 1975, and I ate there a grand total of two times, so their closing doesn't affect me at all one way or the other.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
My apologies. Regardless, what happened to all of the profits from their years of operation at said loaction?
December 14th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
Second, if you didn't like the food or service (and sounds like you never even tried it, just heard it), why are you posting in a forum about helping the place out? If you dont want to help, don't. It's not a charity fundraiser for a kid with cancer, no one asked you to agree with the cause or donate.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
I think we all would like to retire earlier. Do we all ask for donations?
They chose this way to restart the business. It's their choice and they have a right to do it as long as the money is used for the purposes they state. I have no reason to believe they won't. However, businesses have to make decisions all the time. If they believe in the business they could use their retirement funds to restart the business. If it's successful they could sell it at a later date.
I think a successful business has other options which are more commonly used such as loans, lease terms, investors or use their own retirement money.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:20 PM ^
Dude. If they can make money this way, why shouldn't they? If people want to donate, why shouldn't they? Sneering that they don't make money the Approved BlueCube Way is stupid.
Maybe you should ask for donations. If nobody gives you any money, you're probably not doing something they value.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:36 PM ^
You make literally no sense. I thought bringing back voting was supposed to get rid of people like this??
December 14th, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
Sounds like you have never been there. All you are saying is stuff based on what you have "heard". The place is/was an icon, the burgers were great, the onion rings were great, and the service was part of the of the ambiance. I really could go for a quad right now....
December 14th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
If the place was that great, it stands to reason that they would have turned a profit at some point. Where'd all of that money go?
If their business model is so great, they should be able to secure a business loan, no?
December 14th, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
The food is great and the restaurant is/was a landmark. I, for one, will happily donate.
December 15th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
My guess would be payroll, taxes, and stock. The owners probably also took some money to live on. That went to living, presumably.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:25 AM ^
The business was split up into two halves - one owned the building and the other owned the business. When one of the owners died, his wife decided to sell the property to UM after the lease was up. So the sale of the building went entirely into their pocket, not into the owner of the business.
Though, donating to a private business for this reason seems a little odd. Seems like with such a long standing successful business they would have no problem getting a loan for a new building.
December 14th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
I'll give them $10 if I am allowed to yell at the owners for not being financially and logistically prepared to move locations.
You know, since they did the same thing to customers who weren't prepared to order food.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
This time of year, there are its of people who really need help.
To pay a private business that can charge whatever it wants for food to find a new location AFTER they were bought out of their old location is ludicrous.
The mere suggestion is offensive to me and will lead me to bit only hope they don't come back, but to probably boycott then if they do.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
It's "offensive" to you? Seriously? Were you "offended" when this site asked for donations to publish a book? And are you "offended" at the site of Beveled Guilt donation tab at the top right of the page you typed your comment on?
Maybe you should begin your boycott right now with this Blog. They are just as guilty as Blimpy Burgers both being private business and all.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:01 AM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
Hey, I'd love it if I could walk into Blimpy burger and eat without paying a cent but it doesn't work that way. MGoBlog isn't a traditional business; most people visit this site and gain a lot of entertainment without actually paying a cent. The donation tab gives them a way to donate, if they want. Or not. You don't have to donate. What Blimpy burger is saying is "if you want to eat our burgers again, donate"
They should've been ready for this move, they've had a couple of years to save up money to move.
December 14th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
Except they're not calling for "donations" per se—they specifically state they're looking for "investors." Presumably that means some sort of tangible return on the investment for the person who is investing. Whether that means free quints for life or a monetary return they don't say up front.
As far as wondering why the owners of the restaurant didn't plow their massive profits into getting a new space, running a restaurant is normally a small margin business if you don't have a liquor license and don't own the building you're in.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
I think you've just stumbled upon the key to massive profits: Blimpy Burger with a Liquor License! Can you imagine?
The first time I ever went there I could barely walk back home due to the grease clogging my digestive tract and quickly coagulating in my circulatory system. Add alcohol into that mix and I'd probably never leave due to not being able to find the door. I'd die happy though.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^
The point I was making is that it shouldnt offend anyone for a business, any business, to ask for donations. If you dont want to give to Blimpy's, don't (I'm certainly not), but to be offended by their asking is just silly IMO.
Do we get offended by tip jars? We paid for the food afterall and the server was paid by the owner to deliver it.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 8:57 PM ^
The federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13/hr. In Michigan its $2.65 in OH it is $3.93 and here in FL it is $4.77. Tipping your server/bartenders is not a bonus, it is how they survive.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:08 AM ^
If I donate to a website it's because they don't charge a fee.
Do you see subscription sites asking for donations?
The blimey businesses model is to charge you for food. Do you donate to Ford because you like their cars?
Your examples are ridiculous.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
Being "offended" at their completely voluntary kickstarter campaign is equally ridiculous.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
December 14th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
So Ford never had outsiders invest in their business?
December 14th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
They are asking for a donation, which is no return.
December 14th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
Look at the incentives. Donaters are getting a return for just about every price level on the docket.
December 14th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
Investing =/= Donating
Investing implies that there is some sort of return on said investment. Donating is just giving them your money.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:57 AM ^
Peter I wouldnt be offended in the least in the least if Ford started a Kickstarter - I just wouldnt contribute and would think that others that did are being silly given that they could buy stock in the company.
I wouldnt be offended if you started a Kickstarter to raise money to fund the "Really important things that PeterKlima thinks about things" billboard campaign. Again, I just wouldnt contribute.
December 14th, 2013 at 12:22 PM ^
I would totally buy into a Ford Kickstarter if it was worth it. If they asked me to take out a $40k loan today, or write a $40k check, with a guarantee of a Shelby GT500 delivered to my doorstep in six months, I'm buying in for sure.
If the tangible/intangible benefits don't exceed the tangible/intangible costs, don't spend (goes for any unit, time, money, reputation, whatever). Same equation works for everything else in life, too.
December 14th, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^
I'd be all in if they did a kickstarter to bring back this bad boy.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:19 PM ^
This is literally the only recently discontinued thing that I want to return (thanks to Wendy's for the bacon portabella making a reprisal).
If I were in the market, Ford GT > everything, except the F12 and Mercedes SLS.
December 14th, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
they did, it was called the bailout. or was that GM?
December 14th, 2013 at 12:57 PM ^
That was what we call a loan, or at least in the case of GM, the outright purchase of its shares by the US government (later sold at quite a profit to you, the taxpayer).
Neither Ford nor GM recieved a donation.
December 14th, 2013 at 3:04 PM ^
want to do some research Speakeasy....
The taxpayers took about a 10 Billion dollar loss on the bailout of GM.
December 14th, 2013 at 3:11 PM ^
there is plenty of resentment when celebrities make kickstarters for random stuff.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dylan-gadino/kickstarter-abuse-why-are_b_…
this obviously is totally different than blimpy's situation, but that blanket statement is not shared by many
December 14th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
No, we only donated to GM and Chrysler lol
December 14th, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^
... all businesses have the right to find any legal revenue stream they can. Mgoblog is a media company. It benefits from advertising revenue, associates revenue from companies like Amazon, donations from readers, and paid content like HTTV. This is what Brian does to pay his bills, pay his staff, and keep the lights on in order to pursue his passion (even if it is slowly killing him, as this season has shown).
The owners of Blimpy Burgers also have the same right. While I don't question your right to be offended, because that's just like your opinion, man, it seems an odd thing to care about. Don't donate if you don't want to, bitch if you want to, but you're wrong.
December 14th, 2013 at 12:55 PM ^
And if you say, well, Michigan is nonprofit - they probably run on similar margins to a fast food joint frankly.
Anyway, the indiegogo / kick starter route usually implies that the "investors" get some sort of value in return, so it's not a donation per se.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
For those curious, the website says they did not profit off the sale of the old place. They claim they were merely displaced tennants, so the the money from the sale did not go to them.