THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412200116
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: EARNING A LIVING IN VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
IN ALL OF HIS 36 YEARS, Greg E. Robinson has only worked for two companies, but he has held nearly every position imaginable in the field of restaurant management.
In about 17 years, Robinson has gone from busboy to dishwasher to cook to assistant manager to manager.
After becoming a cook, he joined the training program of the Village Inn restaurant franchise in his Nebraska hometown.
Robinson now owns his own franchise - Village Inn Restaurant - and has for the past seven years.
In fact, Robinson's restaurant, with its staff of 55 full- and part-time employees, was recently named 1994 Franchise of the Year for outstanding performance by VICORP Restaurants Inc., the franchise's parent company headquartered in Denver.
According to Robinson, there are the obvious things responsible for his success - a great location on Independence Boulevard across from Pembroke Mall, an established business and customer base and a supportive parent company.
The not so obvious, though, is equally as important to Robinson.
``I believe it's most important to focus your time out in the restaurant with the customers,'' he said.
Robinson once gave up a job in the corporate franchise, so that he could get back to what he enjoys most, dealing with customers on a face-to-face basis.
Dedicated employees are also important in the restaurant business, he said.
He said he's retained about 60 percent of the restaurant's original employees who worked for a man who first owned and opened the franchise in 1983.
``The longer they're here the better it is for everyone,'' said Robinson, an Ocean Park resident. ``If there's always a turnover, the food isn't going to be the same.''
The restaurant serves mainly American fare and is a cross between fast food and fine dining. Billed as a family restaurant, it serves about 6,000 plates a week and can seat about 150 people at a time.
The Virginia Beach restaurant is the only one in the state. All told, there are about 100 Village Inn Restaurant franchises throughout the nation. The next closest one is in Florida.
It wasn't too hard for Robinson to decide to buy the Virginia Beach franchise when it came up for sale in 1988. The biggest selling factor to Robinson, aside from a supportive franchiser who was willing to finance the cost, was the location.
``This corner looks just like Lincoln, Neb.,'' Robinson said. ``There was a Sears across the street there, too. To me, it looked just like home.''
After six years of supervising eight company-owned stores in Nebraska, Robinson realized he missed working with the public.
Around the same time, the Virginia Beach franchise became available.
``I thought maybe it was time to look at one for myself,'' said Robinson, a York, Neb., native.
Robinson didn't have any major qualms or worries about being off the company payroll and being his own boss. He knew the franchise offered a lot of support when it came down to the particulars of running the business.
``If you have a system and you are part of a franchise the best way to go is to follow those programs,'' he said. ``It's a lot more cost efficient and most people expect franchises across the country to be the same.''
Franchise owners are invited to a yearly retreat, as well as four quarterly state-of-the-franchise meetings where owners are encouraged to give their suggestions.
Robinson and his employees received their award at the company's convention in Cancun, Mexico, in May.
``It put me into shock,'' said Robinson. ``I realized that year after year business is good here and it keeps getting better.'' MEMO: The Village Inn Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is
open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and
Saturday, the restaurant is open 24 hours a day. The phone number is
499-5557.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Greg E. Robinson, 36, who had supervised eight company-owned stores
in Nebraska, decided to buy the Virginia Beach franchise in 1988.
Photos by PETER D. SUNDBERG
The Village Inn near Pembroke Mall is the only such franchise in
Virginia. There are about 100 others located throughout the nation.
by CNB