I am 25 years old and tired of the corporate rat race?!? I was in Madrid earlier this year and liked it a lot. My questions to everyone are: has anybody thought of starting a business in Spain? Would the legal hurdles be easier to cross? I personally feel a regional American-themed restaurant would work in Madrid as foerign cuisine hasn't quite caught on yet. If anyone has any other ideas, I would definitely like to hear them. Thanks

Yankee! An "American Themed restaurant in Spain"???!!!! Bite your tongue right off! As if Spain hasn't become "American-ized" enough!!!" There's a chain-restaurant called "Tony Roma's" in Madrid and they're popular for ribs and french fries and are an American-themed (and owned) restaurant. Yes, sadly, they're popular.

("American-ized = homogenized = tortilla-patata-in-a-can = SCARY!)

How 'bout a Mexican restaurant instead? The few they have in Spain are quite popular.

Saludos, MadridMan

TORTILLA-DE-PATATA-IN-A-CAN?????? Please Madridman tell me that you are kidding! Tortilla de patata is the easiest Spanish meal to make in the world. I'll give the recipe and instructions to everyone that request it.

Yes, I'm kidding. hehehe.. I was just joking about how things MIGHT become if one was to start up yet another "American" business (like a Dunkin' Donuts that they ALREADY have in Madrid. ARGH!!) in Spain could bring about the downfall of the Spanish culture that we all know and love. That before you know it, they'll be selling tortilla patata (aka tortilla de patata, aka tortilla española) in a can to make life simpler as we require it to be here in the USA. And then(!), the next thing would be to have home delivery of something as sacred as PAELLA!!! Oh wait... they already have that... It's called Tele-Paella. ARGH!!! THE BEGINNING OF THE END IS UPON US!!! Isn't it bad enough that the fashion in Spain is to call their newborn children names like Kevin, Joshua, and Kathy, or the names of popular US teleivsion programs which are shown in Spain? In the coming years, the next minister of foreign affairs for Spain might be called Dillon Martín, Brandon Lopez , or .... Doogie de la Cruz!

Hmmm.. Now I realize, the day I created the new forum "General Chatter", that this rant should have gone there. hehehe. Oh well.

Saludos, MadridMan

i like your idea, MM, <<"Lata-de-Patata," comida casera!>>

Yankee, your idea is not out of the realm of reality, but unless you are talking about gourmet-style american food, i wouldn't try it just yet... funding is really important for spain, more so than here in the states!! everything just costs more... especially in a more socialistic environment..(EEC standards).

Real_megia, do we have "Gourmet" "American" food???? Gee, I didn't know it existed. How can you make steaks and baked potatoes into a gourmet meal?? hehehee..

Tele-paella??? Next thing you know they'll have paella you make from a box!

Lata de patata was pretty good! I wouldn't start any food-oriented biz in Madrid, for sure. Ask the folk who work 19 hr days... and the gringo ones that succeed are chains, with all the chain-backing. Why not start the ex-pats cybercafe near the Complutense? It would give espanyoles and americanos/brits a place to meet, have a beer, etc. You could sell magazines in English, stuff like that. Just a thought. Probably lame!

Hardy har har, Brian. hehee.. Paella in a box. Impossible (MadridMan says sheepishly hiding his paella-in-a-box mix)!

Lata-de-patata WAS pretty darn good. And yes, I've seen those teens on their motor scooters/mopeds zooming through the Madrid city traffic, box on back, and the Tele-Paella logo ON THAT box carrying the delivered paella. Actually, I've heard it's not bad at all. I think this is from the same company that brought about Tele-Pizza; same kids on mopeds delievering pizza to your door. By the way, they purposely remove the mufflers on those things so they WHINE down the streets and make your ears cringe.

rgf, I like your idea better. Make a "space" where expats can gather and speak American. hehehehehe.. (I'm sure you can all believe how many emails I get asking if a person going to Madrid will have trouble finding people who "speak American")

Saludos, MadridMan (listening to CanalSur , internet radio from Sevilla)

Hi Yankee!

Here's some history on American restaurants in Madrid.

Whe I first moved there in '83 you couldn't get pizza anywhere in the city. Eventually they opened a Pizza Hut, but it didn't taste the same as in the US, and it wasn't too popular. (They have since improved enormously and are doing better.)

Then, an American opened a pizzeria on c/ Orense - Pizza King, or Queen (I could never keep them straight). It became a wildly popular chain, and started all the others. I met the guy - very nice - after he'd made his fortune and sold the business. He went into another restaurant venture in Madrid, but did not have the same success.

A couple of restaurants called Foster's Hollywood opened. They called their menu American. Hamburgers, cole slaw, Reuben sandwiches, some Mexican... As an American planning on spending my life in Spain, I went out of curiousity. It was AWFUL. I went again a few months later, thinking it must have been a bad day, and it was still AWFUL. No one could stand it. It went out of business.

Then the chains came. Tony Roma's, TGIFridays, Hard Rock Cafe joined McD's, Wendy's, Burger King. They're doing well. Why? I think it's because they follow a formula to the letter. Those ribs at Tony Roma's are out of this world!!! They import the meat, and follow their recipes. The meals at Fridays are the same as in the US, and they are good. (I refuse to go into the Hard Rock Cafe, so no comment there!) Unless you have a proven formula, it won't work. Spanish food is SO GOOD (the BEST in the world), you have to have something that is REALLY good to win their approval.

By the way, this holds true about food from any country outside of Spain. Last year I went to an Australian restaurant outside Madrid. All the food was dreadful, and we ordered a variety of dishes. The waiter was very nice, but it was obvious that they didn't know what to do in the kitchen.

Oh, one more thing --

The paella from TelePaella is good - almost as good as mine! The way I see it, if this is the way to keep busy Spaniards eating good Spanish food instead of junky imports, I'm all for it!

(Did you know they even have a place called Telepiensos, which delivers dog food? We became friends with the young Spanish couple who started it. Now THAT was a great idea!!)

[This message has been edited by Diana (edited 08-19-2000).]

Lots of things to say about food business in Madrid / Spain:

Dunkin' Donuts was very successful at the begining. There were lots of people waiting to buy donuts. Now, very few people go there.

As for cybercafes, there are alreadt lots of them. Two big new ones (250 PCs) are coming up offering high speed connection. It isn't a good business at all.

There are also shops selling books and stuff for ex-pats. And I don't think there are enough americans/brits in Madrid to success. In fact, The Broadsheet tried to sell its magazine for "only" 400 pesetas. But then, I think they have stopped doing that.

Place to meet other American/brits?. Well, there are plenty of Irish pubs in Madrid.

Madridman,

Tele-Pizza has nothing to do with Tele-Paella. In fact, it is an amazing business. Fast food has never been very successful in Spain. [We only go there when where are tired of going to other places]. However, Tele-Pizza founder is a Cuban who came to Madrid and, after several years, now he has branches in 9 European countries and has even taken over Pizza World and another chain (I don't remember the name now).

There are lots of Tele- whatever you may think. Tele-Cordero (Tele-lamb), Tele-pollo (Tele-roast chicket), Tele-botellón (they bring you drinks for your parties), Tele-chinesse food....

Only foreing tourists go to Hard Rock Café. I've never been there but my friends have told me it's really expensive and the food is not so wonderful. Wendy's went out of business quite a long time ago.

Diana has given the best answer about starting a food business in Spain:



You may attract people at the begining (as Dunkin Donuts did). But if you don't offer extremely good food and prices, you won't success in your restaurant.

A good idea was Aerocity. They copied from the US. So find something interesting there that it isn't yet here. I think this is the way to go.

Regards,

Antonio

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The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

I appreciate the help so far.
I am a little disappointed that you believe American culture is all plastic and fake. I would like to have samples of as many varied cultures as possible where I live. That is one of the reasons people like London and New York so much.
Based on what I have read so far, the restaurant idea is out. Are there large university campuses with places in surrounding areas for students to hang out in a casual environment?

Hey, Diana:
You mustn't have looked very hard or asked the right people (in '83 when you couldn't find a Pizza in Madrid): Alduccio's started out in Torrejon de Ardoz where he made Pizza for the USAF airmen based nearby. He moved into Madrid and opened his first Italian Restaurant just south of Estadio Bernabeu. I am told thay he now has several Italian restaurants in Madrid and they all serve Pizza (not just Pizza). Alduccio's Pizzas are much more of a meal than Pizza Hut's or most of the American fast food products.

Yankee:
25-years old and tired of the Corporate rat race? Wow! If you had said: "25-years in Corporate America," or something like that, I might understand but at age-25 you haven't really gotten into it - unless, of course you made your several million dollars in the 'Market' already.

Maybe you are a day late and a dollar short: Irish Pubs have taken your target customer base.
There might be a market niche for something like a Daves & Busters (I don't know if they are in Europe or in Spain yet). My wife's nephew loved it when he visited us in Phila last year (the theater where the seats move like you are in the car race and the Virtual Reality - that might require a considerable Investment). The wild wild west theme also still has much popularity in Spain. That might be another idea.

[This message has been edited by Eddie (edited 08-22-2000).]

Hi, Eddie!

I'm sure you're right about me on both accounts - I wasn't looking very hard for pizza, and I know I didn't know the right people! Back in '83 I relied on my student-sister for all my info, since she spoke Spanish and I didn't (yet). I was also living (happily) on $200 a month in Madrid, and rarely ate out. Once I moved into an apartment with all Spaniards, I forgot all about "American" food!

The day after posting my previous message I happened to pick up the 1982/83 edition of "Bear Facts about Madrid," a services and shopping guide published by the American Women's Club of Madrid. I got it second hand when an American left Spain, years later, but I never really used it. In it I found that back then there were several "American" restaurants around Madrid, including Bar el Descanso and Rancho Texano out toward Torrejon, Helen's, on Castellana, and Foster's had already opened. I never visited any of the places frequented by US servicemen, as they tended to be outside of the city to the east, close to the air base. I don't know if they're still there, but their American customers aren't, so they may not be. I remember hearing about Helen's baked goods, but I don't think she's around any more. (There was a store a few years ago called Taste of America on Castellana, which sells foodstuffs from the States that you can't get anywhere else in Madrid.) I never heard of Alduccio's, but I know there are some very nice Italian restaurants in Madrid. I guess if you want to open a specialty place, be sure you have the customers, and that they'll stay!

Ahhhh, El Descanso, (The Rib House) They had the best ribs, and the atmosphere was very light. I often wondered if it was still there.....

This is a great thread! I saw it for the first time this morning, right after I had the same thought. What if someone inherited a whole lot of money and wanted to maybe purchase a business that has already established itself. (I found this great little hangout in getafe, near the university called The Library.) Does anyone know the first step to take? I would assume one would contact the Spain embassy here in the states to begin with. Does anyone know any of the specific laws regarding foreigners purchasing property in Spain? There would be no problem with proving financial independence. Could use some serious advice on this. Thanks

YANKEE.....

I don't know if you are still around, but I read your earlier post and I know what you mean.

I too am 25 an quit the "rat race" about a year ago. I am currently living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, but am moving to Spain in March for about 6 months. I am considering several opportunities for a new business and would like to hear your ideas. If you are still around, drop me a line at:

rfrye@pvnet.com.mx

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Yankee,

I came across a brochure from the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid or Spain. I am not sure whether it is Spain or Madrid. One thing I notice several companies from Spain are looking for an agent to distribute or sell their products to the U.S. or vice versa, looking for products from U.S. to distribute or sell in Spain.

How is your Spanish? Understanding the language helps when you have your business.

Good luck.

mcclarke, could you give me the name of the companies or where i need to contact for that brochure regarding import/export? My madrileño husband is in this business with Mexico and as soon as he graduates from the university, next year, we are interested in exporting products from Spain. Any leads would be appreciated, if only to show my husband my support and interest(he may already have his own leads).

I think what people need in Madrid it is a place to go for a cup of coffee and have a half an hour "siesta" after lunch and then go back to work. A lot of spanish people have 2 or 3 hours for lunch and have their homes far away.
It is a great idea! Isn`t it?



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Airport shuttle, limousine service and car rental.
http://www.aerocity.com

Celia, it is a great idea! And apparently you are not alone - it sounded familiar, and I did a search, and discovered an article MM found and posted about the same idea. You can read it here: http://www.madridman.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000008.html

It sounds like it was happening in Barcelona. But what about Madrid? You're so right about people working in Madrid and living far away. Turn around, and another ciudad dormitorio has appeared, along with the added traffic jams.

I think it's a wonderful idea! I wonder how business is going in Barcelona... It may be worth looking into...

I too thought it sounded familar, but didn't remember posting that article here.. <losing my memory>

Yankee, you could always open up a francise of KFC. It is very popular in madrid. Last night I saw a report on the news that KFC is planning on adding 300 new stores in Europe, mostly in london because they are so popular. Mmmmmmmm That is some really good chicken.

he he he...

you know, there is a theory about why KFC no longer uses the actual word "chicken" in their marketing, don't you all...??

i can just imagine the "chicken-like" masses growing in petri-dishes in labs that KFC uses as their product... the dishes are labeled with "crispy," "extra-crispy," and so on... he he he je je je...

i'm just joking you know... (but there are people who really think this here...) hope i don't ruin anyone's apetite!

I just recently heard that rumour. I don't know if it is true, but it really turned me off. YUUUUUCK!!!!!!!