Taking Over Restaurant…Suggestions?

I have Worked as a Pizza maker and manager in a restaurant for 7 years, the place i work at has been opened for 18 years and is a functioning well known pizza place. It’s in a smaller beach-y tourist town but is still busy in the offseason. Over the 7 years i have worked there I’ve grown very close to the owner and she has become like family to me; she is getting older and wants to do something different and sell the place, its not on the market so no competition there she would be willing to sell it to me when i’m ready which I’m not sure if I am. She has also mentioned she would work for me and help me until i felt like i no longer needed help or she found another career path to support her children. I wouldn’t change too much I would probably eliminate some menu items to shift the main focus on pizza, get rid of in house delivery drivers and convert to Doordash Uber Eats etc. I was wondering if there were any book suggestions on this topic that has helped people in a similar situation or any advice on this subject to help me have a better understanding of the inner workings of running a successful business. I know some people will say the margins are thin, restaurant business is unforgiving, and that it won’t be easy and while that all might be true i’m looking for a push in the direction of how it’s done and ways to educate me on making my dreams a reality.

Posted Oct 7, 2025, 7:38 AM UTC

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