For Starters: New Restaurants and New Owners

City Flame Smokehouse, Manchester
Milena and Ventz Simon have been cooks for more than 20 years, mostly in their native country Bulgaria. The couple migrated to the U.S. nine years ago and just opened their first restaurant last year.

City Flame Smokehouse is a casual dining establishment with lazy Susans in the middle of each table to hold condiments, and counter service available.

We have a very laid-back atmosphere, Milena Simon says. We have a lot of customers from the local lawyer's offices who are regulars, and then we have a lot of families, too. Between the counter service, and the sit-down service, we cater to pretty much anyone that doesn't need a lot of formality but does want a really rich meal.

Focusing on keeping quality high, and prices low, the Simons created a menu around a Memphis-style barbecue theme, and renovated the space, which was formerly a bar with no food service.

The renovation was by far the biggest problem. We had to bring everything up to code, not to mention build a brand new kitchen. We had a rough time with finding that the end costs rarely matched the beginning estimates, so we ended up tripling our budget just to open, Milena says.

She notes that the permitting process and finding help was the easy part, and the couple was pleased once the restaurant opened and they were able to find a good, strong base of customers quickly.

I think what really makes us a nice place to visit is that we are family-owned and operated. There is a level of consistency that we offer, in our service, our food, and our prices, that people enjoy and rely on, Milena says.

J. Dub's Coffee, Manchester
Jim Whitney is a coffee connoisseur, by his own regards, and recently decided to open a coffee shop in downtown Manchester, making his first venture into the business of hospitality.

This is a second career for me, Whitney says, having recently retired from corporate America. I was just looking for a new field. I went with a coffee shop because it's a sustainable career, and recession-proof. As long as people keep drinking coffee, of course.

I love coffee of all kinds, and I really enjoy the culture around it, Whitney says. I have spent a lot of time really getting to know the coffees from around the world, and with that kind of knowledge behind me, I figured where could I go wrong. It helps that I'm also a morning person.

Whitney converted a photography studio into his space, completely revamping the interior, as well as replacing all of the plumbing and electrical work.

With lime green walls and an orange ceiling, Whitney's coffee shop is much more coffee-centrist than some of his competitors. With us, it really is all about the coffee. We buy and use locally roasted coffees, all organic and fair trade so that we can support the local coffee growers' good quality of life.

We have been really lucky, Whitney says. We have not only the best organic coffees, a vibrant atmosphere, and top grade equipment, we have the best staff who are all too eager to help and serve the public.
www.jdubscoffee.com