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Profits in Paradise
Popular and Proven: Dock n Duck Pub & Grill For Sale
7924 Balfour Wharf Road, Balfour, BC
Listed for $299,000 CAD
Established Location Excellence
Located on Kootenay Lake's only licensed beach, the site has thrived for over 76 years as a bustling restaurant and pub. Positioned adjacent to the Kootenay Lake Ferry Terminal, this hotspot attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, set against a backdrop of a stunning temperate mountain rainforest. Key highlights include:
Strategic location with guaranteed high traffic from the newly-renovated ferry landing, from highway and boat access, as well as robust destination traffic from local, regional and tourist / campground patronage.
Convenient proximity to Nelson, BC, and just 170 miles from Spokane, WA. on the International Selkirk Loop
Year-round recreation and attractions with warm summers, mild winters, ongoing fishing, picturesque golfing, all forms of skiing, world renown hot springs and so much more.
Simply the best location on Kootenay Lake.
Thriving Pub & Grill
Generating seasonal revenues close to $700,000 with a robust 44% gross profit margin over 155 days, the Dock n Duck offers significant financial promise. The establishment boasts potential full-year gross revenues approaching $1 million, having maintained viability as a year-round operation pre-COVID.
The menu is crafted to maximize customer appeal and revenue, focusing on speed of service without compromising on fresh, homemade flavours, providing a “quintessential Canadian experience”. Alcohol sales contribute to one-fifth of the revenue, highlighting an area with room for growth. Food sales are predominantly the best sellers, accounting for 75% of sales, with non-alcoholic beverages comprising the remaining portion.
Facility Description
This expansive 6,000 sq ft venue with dual licensing for the Grill and Pub and the only licensed beach in the region features:
200 seat capacity with two licenses: a liquor primary license for 30 that includes an offsales liquor license; and food primary license for 73 indoor and 47 covered patio seats, plus 50 sandy beachfront seats.
Ample operational spaces include a loading dock, office, two walk-in coolers, a walk-in freezer, laundry room, and a walk-up food service window.
Over 3,000 sq ft of interior space, an 800 sq ft covered deck, and more than 2,300 sq ft of licensed beach area.
A two year lease at $7500 per month with the option for renewal.
Many recent leasehold improvements include new flooring, new chairs, new kitchen equipment, new computers, extensive beach landscaping, and more
Excellent Reputation and Loyal Following
With a solid base of over 10,000 followers on Facebook and multiple awards, the Dock n Duck is renowned for its exceptional service and high-quality food. The restaurant's philosophy of "homey, hearty, and healthy" has proven effective, and is supported by robust, proven systems. Notable awards include Platinum and Gold in categories like Overall Favourite Restaurant, Favourite Family Restaurant, and Best Business Lunch Place.
Franchise-Style Systems in Place
This turn-key opportunity is fully systemized, providing an exceptional casual dining experience. Key operational systems include:
Comprehensive food safety plans and a recipe bible for precise food preparation.
Systematized cleaning duties and detailed food prep to plating instructions.
Extensive new employee orientation covering company policies, safety, and procedures.
Full inventory management with optimized supplier contracts and precise menu costing.
Take advantage of the Seller’s extensive corporate food service experience and sixteen years of local expertise, recognized as Outstanding Business Operators and winners of many awards
Experience a seamless transition to owning a celebrated lakeside eatery with robust systems in place for immediate operational success.
Effective Marketing in Place
The Dock n Duck brand has been rigorously promoted, gaining significant recognition and top-of-mind awareness across the region. Since 2015, extensive marketing efforts have significantly increased regional awareness and visitor traffic, particularly from those who travel to Kootenay Lake for day trips, constituting 34% of the total traffic.
Current Marketing Channels:
Local Media: Active involvement in radio and print media, including rack cards distributed across Kootenay, sponsored content in Nelson newspaper and regional radio advertising.
Digital Presence: An enhanced website features a virtual tour, mobile-optimized menus, ferry schedules, and more. A successful drive to boost our Facebook presence has grown our following to over 10,000, enhancing online engagement.
Family-Friendly Promotions: The children’s menu and coloring book have been particularly popular, attracting families.
Other initiatives include online promotions to boost regional awareness and sales, enhancing the "Escape to the Lake" campaign, and adding more outdoor signage, ensuring consistency in messaging across all platforms.
Maximize Revenues with These Easy to Implement Strategies
Step in and enjoy the thriving offerings or put in effort toward growth potential and see annual sales increase over the million dollar mark.
Increase Days of Operation
The Pub and Grill is currently closed for about six months annually, during which approximately $350-$400,000 in gross revenue is forfeited. By remaining open year-round, these revenues will be recaptured, significantly boosting annual earnings as demonstrated by year round operation pre-COVID.
Expand Operating Hours
The business is currently operational for 8-11 hours daily. Extend these hours to capture more business:
Morning Revenue: The ferry starts moving at 6:30 am every morning. Opening with a morning menu will tap into early customer traffic and increase revenues
Extend Night Service: The existing license allows for liquor sales until midnight and 1 am, and food service 24 hours, yet operations currently close by around 9:30. Extending hours during the busy summer and hot springs seasons will capitalize on pent up late-night demand.
Optimize License Utilization
Licensed activities have not been fully exploited:
Off-Sales: Currently understocked and under-promoted, enhancing the visibility and variety of liquor off-sales will attract more business.
Beach Events: The recent addition of the licensed beach has yet to be promoted.
Catering: Huge revenue potential exists in wedding and other event catering. In spite of obtaining Interior Health Catering Licensing, the sellers currently turn away much of this business every year.
Entertainment: Hosting bands, dance nights, karaoke or variety entertainers will transform the venue into a vibrant nightlife hotspot.
Gambling: Incorporating BC Lottery Corporation games could attract a new customer segment and increase sales.
Merchandise & Cigarette Sales: Adding a range of Dock n Duck merchandise and/or cigarette products will provide an additional revenue stream.
By implementing these strategies you will significantly enhance revenue streams and offer a more diverse and engaging customer experience.
MARKETING GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Event/Activity Marketing: There are ample opportunities to boost sales through creative event marketing in the offseason. Organizing events such as fishing derbies (e.g., Doctor’s Derby), sailing regattas, beach volleyball tournaments, and music jam nights will significantly increase traffic and generate additional revenues.
Package Promotions: Tailored packages aimed at specific interests -such as fishing, golf, skiing, hot springs, spelunking, white-water rafting, and cultural tours - will attract targeted market segments. These focused promotions are an efficient way to drive off season sales and enhance the visitor experience.
Joint Promotional Opportunities: Collaborating with local business networks, including the Chamber of Commerce, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), and nearby enterprises, will maximize advertising efficiency. The "Escape to the Lake" campaign exemplifies successful cooperative marketing, yielding greater returns on investment.
By continuing to innovate with marketing strategies and collaborating with regional partners, the Dock n Duck is poised to capture an even larger share of the market and build upon its well-established brand.
The Dock n Duck Pub & Grill represents an outstanding investment opportunity. Its prime location, combined with a strong operational foundation and multiple avenues for growth, positions it uniquely for continued success. Potential investors are presented with a turn-key operation in a vibrant community, with ample scope to increase profitability. Get ready for Profits in Paradise.
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