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BajaCactus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 5-22-2004
Location: Km. 55, carretera transpenisular, El Rosario, B.C.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Helpful
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Advice with future BajaCactus Store/Restaurant
My friends,
I am looking for advice in our next project at BajaCactus. Being most of you seasoned and experience travelers, I believe your input will be most
valuable.... any help will be most appreciated...
The idea is this: we are almost ready to begin the construction of our next project... The BajaCactus Store.
The main idea for this area is a to have a place where anyone can make a quick stop while traveling through Baja and cover their basic needs.
In this building we plan to have:
-- A convenience store, kind of like an AM/PM, where you can get the basics for your trip (ice, water, snacks, sodas, etc.)
-- Restaurant... inside the convenience store we have a small kitchen to prepare basic, quick good meals and some tables (in a private area away from
the store products)... this is not intended to be a full service restaurant, but a place where you order your food, pick it up and enjoy it without
wasting a lot of time... no waiters.
-- Prepared coffee... inside the convenience store we are installing a small area within the kitchen to prepare coffee... like mocha, espresso,
frappes, etc.
-- BajaCactus library... instead of doing this sometime in the future in one of the motel rooms, we redesigned the original plans and inside the
convenience store, on a loft, we manage to include the most awaited BajaCactus library in here.
Outside the store, but in the same building, we plan to have:
-- A small laundromat.
-- Dispensary... a 24/7 place to receive medical assistance, first aid and buy the basic over the counter medicine.
-- Public showers.
This is more or less the idea... the blueprints are ready, but before starting construction, I would like to see your point of view... what would you
like to find inside/outside the store, either products or services, what other things you need that are hard to find and very much needed?
What would you like to have?... What am I missing?
Thank you very much for your help my friends... I really appreciated.
Antonio Munoz
BajaCactus
"Where the Baja is so much more than a dream..."
[Edited on 11-9-2007 by BajaCactus]
BajaCactus
"Where Baja is so much more than a dream..."
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Russ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6741
Registered: 7-4-2004
Location: Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
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Antonio, You have a great idea here. I think once you're up and running you'll discover what items travelers want. The only thing I didn't see that is
important is parking. Your project sounds like you'll bring in a lot of RV's. "Baja Cactus Resort"
[Edited on 11-8-2007 by Russ]
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1910
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Convenience store
Russ has a right thought about the parking. On what part of your complex will the store be located? Do you see the store operating mostly during
daytime hours?
Laundromat is a dandy idea!
John
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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it would be nice to have a small selection of auto parts like all types of oil, make your own fan belts, tail light bulbs, tire repair producs exc,
exc. i know that some of the stores have these but most are difficult to park next to when pulling a trailler or out of the way. look forward to the
addition.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13039
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Really great ideas Antonio...how about a bulletiin board?
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oldjack
Nomad
Posts: 350
Registered: 1-26-2006
Location: Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
Mood: retired
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I am confident that your new facility will be at least as good as your motel... that said... please have room for folks towing vehicles/trailers/boats
to park... in that library or nearby internet access would be useful to many of us who "need to be connected".... a giant detailed map(probably
designed/maintained by DavidK) would be useful to those of us who need direction in life... is there room in this resort for camping spaces for those
in need.....
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
Member Is Offline
Mood: wait and see
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Sounds great Antonio, you have the right idea on all counts.
BTW, I think you meant to say "most appreciated". But then "mostly appreciated" is probably quite accurate as well!
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
Member Is Offline
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Internet cafe?
It sounds like you're basically building a truck stop, so parking for trucks might be good.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Antonio....
Whatever you decide to do, include bacon wrapped hotdogs and Pacifico.
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dccf
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
Member Is Offline
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Will you adopt me?? Seems like you have covered everything. Good luck.
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coconaco
Nomad
Posts: 118
Registered: 12-28-2006
Location: Valle de San Fernando
Member Is Offline
Mood: respooled
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Packoderm
Internet cafe?
It sounds like you're basically building a truck stop, so parking for trucks might be good. |
get a subway, burger king, and star.uck franchises there also.....
will i be able to walk to the outlet mall?
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3797
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Mi dos centavos.
Maybe the public showers, auto parts and quick coffee would serve Baja truck drivers - there is so much truck traffic now - so I agree that you'd need
parking.
Personally, I have always stopped at the markets just at the left curve to buy beer, ice, tortillas and salsa. I like those stores and they always
have what I want. So if you're just going to have ice, I would instead choose a one-stop store. But I might stop in when I got gas to get a coffee.
It would best to have a nice sign - "Hot fresh coffee to go" and have a reasonable price - a fill-up of someone's travel mug for $1.50 with regular
coffee would be wonderful.
The quick food, library, nice coffee drinks and internet would serve your guests' needs, as they wouldn't have to wander away from the hotel looking
elsewhere for these things, and they probably aren't found elsewhere in town anyway - smart move.
So maybe think along the lines of exactly who you wish to corral - transient truck drivers (many); your own guests (they're already there); or drivers
passing through (what do they need). Since most tourist drivers are just beginning or ending their trip by the time they're at El Rosario, determine
what they might need - maybe not too much since they're either stocked up for their trip or don't need anything since they'll be crossing the border
in another 5 hours or so.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64608
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Wonderful news Antonio... What you describe is much like the original Paradores along Highway 1 when it was completed in Dec. 1973... They were at San
Quintin (at the Cielito Lindo road), Cataviņa, The L.A. Bay jcn. 'Parador Punta Prieta', the Eagle Monument/ state border and San Ignacio.
I agree with the others about parking for trailers, and semis... Glad to hear the library is coming... Wilderone and others of us Nomads who donated
books are happy to see that!
Elizabeth and I hope to see you and Lorenia soon, please check your u2u as well...
Mil gracias for all you do... !!!
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TacoFeliz
Nomad
Posts: 266
Registered: 7-22-2005
Location: Here
Member Is Offline
Mood: Exploratory
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Excellent plan -- Good luck Antonio 
We'll be stopping by to check the progress on every trip.
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Also a sign advertising RV supplies.
Some basics like sewer and water hoses, spare water pump, bulbs, fuses, 5 gallon pumpas, etc.
These things are all hard to find in Baja.
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Halboo
Nomad
Posts: 193
Registered: 2-19-2006
Location: 33°26\'00.15\"N 117°37\'09.84W
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemian
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Antonio,
We stayed at the hotel for the first time Monday night and it's just beautiful and has become one of our new favorite stops.
There are many good suggestions here and all I'll add is make sure there's enough parking! I can see your business will be growing fast.
Good luck and thanks for taking such good care of all of us.
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windsurfeddy
Newbie
Posts: 16
Registered: 11-30-2006
Member Is Offline
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May I suggest that you sell homemade tortillas, preferably flour.
Also, if you could sell fresh bread "bollilos".
When we head down to Bahia De Los Angeles, we like heading straight to Bahia Guadalupe, and these staples seem hard to find at times in the early am.
Thanks.
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bajaboolie
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 9-24-2007
Location: Aptos, CA/Mulege
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I agree about the fresh tortillas/bollilos and coffee. If you do that, it will save me from posting a thread next year about where to find good
coffee on the road. I tried coffee from another unnamed place that has awesome food, but had to dump it b/c it was horrible!
Bajaboolie
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3797
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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Just another thought. I spent a week in a very rural village ("village" is stretching it) in Chiapas. There wasn't much to do at night, but there
was a small cafe/store on the premises where everyone gathered because there really wasn't another place to do that. There was a TV where we could
watch whatever we could tune in, and also play VHS videos. If you wanted, you could purchase one of their videos in their market and play it. They
had herb teas at the cafe - the jamaica te was very good. There was an outside counter (as well as an inside counter) to sell stuff in the store.
Also sold were some fresh fruit and vegetables, sweet rolls, and local handicrafts. While waiting for a collectiva for 2 hours, I noticed many
pedestrians from the road come up to the outside counter and buy things. It was a cozy, special place to meet other people too. The tables were
picnic tables, so if there was room, you shared which whoever else was there.
You could get some Baja sportfishing videos and keep them on to keep your guests lingering and buying drinks in the evening.
A fireplace? Meling Ranch has a huge fireplace that is so inviting.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Just a little suggestion. Have a couple of salsas for the food. A few unnamed places in Baja that draw lots of gringos make their salsa for
gringos---on the mild side, and some of us prefer the real thing.
Quality coffee is also important---fresh and IMHO, make it stronger and if you use something like Starbucks, don't cut it with cheaper coffee as done
elsewhere.
Love your hotel, and I am sure your new businesses will be just as high quality.
Best of Luck and we will enjoy watching the progress.
Diane and John
[Edited on 11-8-2007 by jdtrotter]
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