Tenant Wants To Open A BBQ Place
The thing is, he has no business plan. He tells me he wants to first go to the heatlh dept, the fire marshal etc, and then take it from there. 

He has no plans for a smoke house or a roof covering, no real thought out concept. I would like a business plan and it seems he expects me to go on his time and let him figure things out as he goes with an expected commitment on my part. 

I was excited about the idea, but there have been a few red flags, a little crazy can go a long way and work to the favor of a ambitious entrepreneur,  it also can be a nightmare. He has had a BBQ place before, he showed me pictures, I know that is legit, but it is also not in existent for some reason. What that reason is, who knows?

I'm ready to say fuck it, I was excited about having a BBQ place in one of my units, but this isn't panning out as I'd like.

What would you do?  I have potential clients who want to open a pizza shop, they have ovens, this guy has nothing, it doesn't settle right with me. 
[{"id": "du1juas", "text": "You would be amazed. Some of the most successful deals I have done are ones I never thought would make it.  \n\nThat said, dont invest any money in it. ", "replies": [{"id": "du1kcdi", "text": "I'm all for giving the under dog a shot, but there have been quite a few red flags. The main thing with BBQ, is the fire marshal, we're next to residential housing next door, and behind, and plus I don't want my building on fire.\n\nThat's why I'd like a thought out business plan, not just going on faith. At first I was very enthusiastic, but I can't invest in some guy just winging it and me being left basically clueless to the madness of his method. \n\nI think a BBQ joint would be great for the location, but the lack of specifics leaves me in the dark. \n\n\nAlso, I'm offering discounted rent, and 3 months free, just to give businesses like this a chance. I don't want to say I'm doing anyone a favor, because my focus isn't on profit as it is building a spirited community for all to value. ", "replies": [{"id": "du1o2iu", "text": "is he not paying rent throughout the duration of this process?  ", "replies": [{"id": "du1ofbp", "text": "No, nothing is concrete. Is it usual to ask for rent while people are going through the parish(county) and state even though it all may fall out of their favor?\n\nThis was one of my ideas, but I think he is a lose cannon, and I don't want him to feel I owe him something. I rather wash my hands clean of him.", "replies": [{"id": "du1qh6u", "text": "sounds like you have the answer to your question.. more good sleep &gt; less stress ", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "du1my6w", "text": "The restaurant business is VERY tough for seasoned (pun intended) operators. A newbie with no experience, no plan, no idea? I wouldn't touch that with a 10' pole. YMMV", "replies": [{"id": "du1o76z", "text": "He actually had a restaurant and he showed me pictures. That obviously went down, so that leaves me with more questions. I don't feel like interrogating him.\n\nI actually called some of his references and they said the food was good, but it sounds like he fell on hard times, I don't know what it is exactly, but I can't invest blind faith.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "du1pi9w", "text": "I am a commercial leasing broker, and if I had 2 proposals as such for a retail center, I would recommend the pizza guys as they have the highest possibility of closing the deal with good tenants. With the BBQ operator, it sounds like there will be too much variables, at the same time, they are asking the landlord to commit too much with such an unknown amount of time for permitting through the fire department plus the free rent you've already committed. What happens if the operator isn't proactive with the city in obtaining permits and permission for a BBQ place within the 3 months? Will you invest another 2-3 months for him to get that? I would most definitely advise my client's to move forward with the more qualified tenant.\n\n**This isn't to be used as leasing advice but nearly for discussion purposes. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "du24fhy", "text": "Pretty much figured what I am going to do, if he wants it, he will start paying rent now. It isn't my job to wait for him to seek the approval of the state and local government, he can figure the code himself. Then he has to draw blueprints? This sounds crazy\n\nHe will probably back out by then. Next, business plan, I have to approve, without that, BYE BYE.\n\nNo 3 months free rent, in fact I did a favor with lower rent to attract businesses like restaurants but this smoke house is too much of a liability, with insurance and all that, I'll probably raise the rent from what I initially offered.  ", "replies": [{"id": "du5lofh", "text": "&gt; he can figure the code himself. Then he has to draw blueprints? This sounds crazy\n\nthats how it always works pretty much.  \n\nYou can also do 3 months free that occurs after he opens.  So basically all while he is jerking you off he is paying rent.  When he gets the ok's and starts serving food then he gets 3 months free.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "du5lkg2", "text": "you got a lot of good help, but I just wanted to comment outside of doing cre brokerage I am a pretty big bbq enthusiast.  On the various fb etc groups I belong too at least once a month I see folks asking about getting reopened or resolving a lease because the city shut them down for smoke nuisance.  I'd look into what local laws you got on that before you do this deal.  Particularly if its all res around it like you are saying.  \n\nI'd like to see a business plan too, bbq places typically make a ton off catering.  Will he be doing that?  Is he now?  \n\nCommercial smokers etc aren't cheap either, he is going to have to buy like 20k worth of shit at least probably.  He will need fryers, fridges, etc too like any of commercial kitchen.  People do shoe string shit, but I'd feel much better with someone who has this stuff planned and has a sba loan to launch with like 100k or something.  \n\nI think you mention somewhere this is multi tenant too, how do you feel about a bbq place?  What is he doing to get rid of the smoke?  Is he doing it through a hood system that empties out at an appropriate height or is he going to have a pit sitting in the side of your building?  What do your other tenants do?  Are they going to get pissy about this?  \n\nSounds like 50/50 he ever opens tbh.  Maybe he winds up a great tenant.  I'd go with the pizza folks.  Seen way too many of these people who just want to tie up space for 3 months then come back with \"oh yeah I don't think this is going to happen.  I got with the city and this is going to cost way more than I thought\" \n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]