What's your opinion of unisex bathrooms?

[Blackford Oakes]

Just yesterday, we were tossing around the idea to expand our business model to South Beach. With two locations firmed up already, we got some liberty to customize them in tune with neighborhood characteristics and local needs..

The potential retail space in SB being discussed has limited square footage. To advance the exercise of what was being discussed, I recommended we go with one bathroom. Though considering SB is ahead of our business plan, it livened up the conversation. One guy was vehemently opposed, and the other two saw the practicality, and perhaps the coolness of the idea.

Part of the conversation took note that some college dorms have recently gone coed, and the unisex bathroom concept has been implemmented already in some places. The idea was eventually tossed out and a SB location is just going have to wait.

The closest encounter I had to a unisex bathroom experience, was a sexy gal pouring ice at a urinal at the Palidium Night Club in NYC while I was relieving myself. It was a actually a turn-on. That same year, I visited a hill top in Rome that was actually open air cammode ruins. Got the lowdown hown ancients wiped their asses with sponges on a stick. I didn't ask, but the layout didn't suggest segregation. Maybe I was ahead of the curve, but haviing both sexes relieve themselves all of a sudden didn't seem foreign.

Many of you guys out there, realize the priveledge of having a penis. It happens everytime we wisk past a long line of woman and take our natural quick pass to the piblic restroom. It's akin to having a fast past at Islands of Adventure on route to board THe Hulk. You smile at those suckers that waited 45 minutes in line while you zip by.

I found this a humurous, until recently.........

As a veteren of Space Shuttle launches, I convinced three other couples to partake in Discovery's last launch. Since this became a group thing, I stressed how important that we punctually leave and claim a kiosk at Jetty Park by a certain hour.

Once there, we had our own activities to kill the eight hour wait and that included an extravagant meal aided by the nearby pit. As noon rolled along, the conversation led to the bathroom situation just in front of us. Even though I made light of the situation in the past, it was intolerable to see. It spoiled my meal.



I ate my lunch at the regular pace, while I delved into this issue again in my mind. This time I just wasn't going to let injustice pass me by. Discovery STS ( whatever ) was T- minus 5 hrs from launch.

After I burped a good lunch, I decided to survey the issue. The men's bathroom was only three deep, and I explained the dire need to get these ladies going and relieved. The guys were with me 100% to attack the concern.



In no time, I implemented the relief plan. I announced to the women in line, that the gentleman have no objections of the sharing of facilities and let's get this thing moving.

For selffish reasons, I was bored and now had something to do five hrs before take off, and I was feeling good. Several women thanked me, and the local news crew wanted to interview me. I declined and went to the beach. Once there, the bathroom situation was worse at Jetty's Park main structure in front of the beach. Implemented the relief plan again, and it kind of became my passion for four hours. The rest of my gang was playing dominoes and silly board games to kill time, while I was facilitating a woman's right ot take a piss.

I'm sorry if I bored you: but what is our opinion of Unisex bathrooms? There might be a situation where our business model may have to go that route, but only at SB for now.

[Gus]

Let me begin by saying I don't have any weird bathroom fetishes, but there is something kinda sexy about a women who's not shy to use the men's restroom, when she has to. However, I don't think women find anything cool when a man uses the women's restroom. Actually, I think they probably despise us when we do.

Personally, I think if you keep the unisex restroom spotlessly clean, customers won't hold it against you. I think you should also design it for ladies, and put a funny sign in the bathroom, reminding the men that they are guests in the lady's room, and to please leave it cleaner than they found it.

[Blackford Oakes]

Gus- I had an encounter recently at Sedanos. I only go there because they have Pacifica Beer. Just like gas stations, they had two private bathrooms, each labeled M or W. The M door was locked, so I did my business behind W. When I got out, I got the rath of an elderly Puerto Rican woman.

I see your point and dig the details. Do you thing the younger generation, especially in SoBe, is ready for this concept ?

Personally, I see it eventually comming to a pissior near U.

[dylan]

I think Unisex bathrooms will come around soon enough as private bathrooms. But there will always be that uneasiness for unisex shared bathroom. Plus that may spark domestic disputes.

[Jess]

I am known for using the guys bathroom if there is no line. I did it one time at el rancho on Halloween and a pink bunny guarded the door. That time was surreal.

I am always jealous of my man when he uses a public restroom as he doesn't have to touch anything. Girls bathrooms are usually gross.

But unisex doesn't bother me. In fact plenty of places in sobe either have only one bathroom, meaning it's unisex, or they are open to everyone. Purdy Lounge and Abraxas spring to mind.

[Blackford Oakes]

Jess - are those secured batrooms ?

As far as girl bathrooms, the last place I worked at, it resembled a lounge. Felt like mirrors and talc. Had no gripes about it because of the," powder my nose," bit....whatever that's about.
Realize the different needs and additional dispensary and that. All I cared about was a clean place and some solitude if I wanted to read the sports page or a NYT xword puzzle.

It sounds like SoBe might be Ok with this concept.

[Blackford Oakes]

Might as well add; Discovery punctually took off after some last minute computer glitches got solved.

[Michelle]

When I was younger, my sis and grandparents (don't know how my parents felt), used to always say I needed to check out the bathroom everywhere I went. Till this day, I completely disagree with this statement;maybe I had a small bladder!!

Anyway, if you take their opinion of me into consideration, perhaps my feeling about unisex bathrooms will carry more weight (since I have obviously seen my share of bathrooms).

A unisex bathroom has never bothered me. If it is a larger restaurant, I wouldn't expect it, but wouldn't be horrified by it. If it is a small place, I would think for 2 seconds, "Oh, I guess it is for everyone", and I would not think twice about it in regards as to whether I wanted to eat there.

Guys may have to wait longer, and it may perturb them if they waited until they couldn't hold it any longer, but other than that, should be no worries.

[Christy]

I like the ladies' room. There's something about the big mirror and seeing what other lip glosses people use, and I find women's restrooms to be pretty clean. When I've used unisex bathrooms they tend to be pretty gross. I wouldn't want to see a guy in the bathroom..I don't even like when you're at a place that has communal sinks. I tend to judge restaurants and other places based on their bathrooms.

[Blackford Oakes]

Thanks for the feedback.

South Beach is ~sixth on the list of places to open at. At the moment we got Brickell and Doral locked down and looking now at Kendall, Weston, Coconut Grove and Broward.

Can't believe this is actually going to happen after many ups and downs.

[Gus]

I'm happy you are considering opening the business in another area of Miami. South Beach is way too saturated, if you ask me.

Last night, Michelle and I were talking about your new venture, and we urge you to also consider our neighborhood, Palmetto Bay. There is tons of demand and hardly any supply. To give you an idea, last night, we were looking for a place to eat at 8:30 PM and this is what we found:

- Outback Steakhouse: 1hour and 20 minute wait
- Red Robin: 1 hour wait
- P.F. Chang's: 1 hour wait
- Miller's Ale House: 45 minute wait
- Fudrucker's: 45 minute wait

It's like that every weekend, which means, there's gold in them thar hills!

And I already told you about the diamond mine that's waiting to be tapped near Jackson Hospital.

Coconut Grove is dead and Kendall sucks.

I strongly urge you broaden your search!

[Blackford Oakes]

Thanks for the input.

You're earlier suggestion about Jackson Memorial is being considered and being pushed by me.

Part of the strategy is to target those already familiar with the product...that's where Kendall and Weston come in. We are also looking at something down A1A, which is up your alley. We'd like to take Fudruckers down.... love their ostrich burger though.

The projection is for 20 outlets in SFL. Not all on the potential list will make it. Suprisingly, measurements on Pompano Beach are very postive and might be #3. Others in the group are flag oriented, and there is where the Grove and SB come into play. I think the Grove might work, but the expense of SB, I hopefully think might be too dear. An indication of that is why I brought this topic up about the unisex thing. I'm not pushing it..but I'm only a peon in the group.

Even though we are working within franchise constraints, I'm pretty jazzed about the Brickell location considering a few liberties from the norm. Doral will be more traditional, Brickell might be THE place to watch a ballgame.

In due course we'll see how it pans out
Still anticipate many bumps down the road but this has been cleared for take-off.

This started out as three guys, including myself securing the FL and NY rights of this franchise. None of us having a freakin clue how to pull this off. Since then, some big guns have joined the enterprise and it's game-on.

It's all about burgers, fries and Coke... but if you discount the macademia shake, you do so at your own peril.

This is my last post on this subject. I'm aware of the protocals of the site about advertisements,unless I revist the unisex bathroom question if arises.

[Doug]

Oh, I was confused. I thought you were planning to open a unisex bathroom on South Beach. And I was all for it. If not for relief, you could make major bucks marketing it as a no-tell motel. But burgers and fries? Sounds great for the suburbs!

[Gus]

Mr. Oakes, we don't mind you talking about your dream - That's what Miami Beach 411 is about! Feel free to pick our brains. We might not be "True Miamians" but we know a thing, or two about the City that other people don't.

Interesting that you mention Fuddruckers... I thought that restaurant chain had gone out of business, until I saw them building a new place at US-1 and SW 148th Street. I laughed when I saw the "coming soon" sign, thinking that it wouldn't last 2 months, but boy do I have egg on my face. The restaurant is packed! I've tried going twice, and walked away both times, because there was a line literally out the door. Mind you, I've only attempted to go on Friday and Saturday night. I'll give you a report on what the business is like, during the week.

Before you think about investing in Coconut Grove, please make sure to do some research. The Grove is not what it used to be. Very few people hang out there, since Sunset Place and The Falls opened. I'm not trying to slam the Grove. I would love to seem them make a comeback, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

On a positive note, all of the burger and beer places I see opening up are rocking!

Let me know if I should split this thread into two topics.

[Blackford Oakes]

Thanks for your input,Doug.

The idea of a no-tell hotel/motel sonds intriguing. I'm all too familiar driving down la calle de los hombres solteros. That usually meant a gal ducking down her car seat, away from public viewing, till you got to a motel.

I think SoBe/Miami is past that, though I might join my wife later this week in Colombia at a Geisha joint ( http://www.motelesgeisha.com/ ) to relive old times.

I'm a fan of no-tell motels. It might have been a hit here before we were born.

[Blackford Oakes]

Truthfully, I wasn't aware of Fuddruckers either there. I remember they had a location in Plantation years ago, which since has been closed.

I like the construct your burger concept, and they let you pound on the ingredients. Onions for me! The trick there is to ask for the exotic menu, which usually isn't advertised or on the menu board. I ask for ostrich but I can't recall what else they offer.

They are OK, and we still go for nostaglia sake. At the outset of our relationship, we used to go to the one near the mall at Azuza off The 60. This bitch made me drive to West Covina twice or thrice a week. It paid off in the long run.


Lot of In n' Out ops on the way home though.

[Ingrid]

When I find myself in line with multiple other women I can't help but assure the one waiting behind me, "I'll be so quick you won't believe it". I think using the restroom should be a 2-minute affair, out of courtesy to the next one waiting. If all women could set that as their goal (at least try!) when using public restrooms (and didn't have to "powder their nose") women's life would be much easier.

I have a feeling that this Unisex bathroom situation, once in place, has the potential to result in a war of the sexes. "Men never put the toilet-seats down" and "women take too long" sort of quarrel.

Me personally - I have no problem men using our bathrooms if they must, even though they usually look a little beyond just surprised when I come out of their's.

[Doug]

Another place a joint like that would go down really well is Hollywood Beach. Have you given that some thought? Right there on the Broadwalk!

[Blackford Oakes]

When I find myself in line with multiple other women I can't help but assure the one waiting behind me, "I'll be so quick you won't believe it". I think using the restroom should be a 2-minute affair, out of courtesy to the next one waiting. If all women could set that as their goal (at least try!) when using public restrooms (and didn't have to "powder their nose") women's life would be much easier.

I find myself saying that everytime a hit a stadium bathroom at halftime. In those cases, it's also piss armageddon for the guys. When my turn comes, I usually milk every drop and enjoy it.

I'm for the unisex idea but realize men and woman have different social graces. The last time I was stuck in a critical mass situation, it was at a Van Halen concert. While waiting my turn, I yelled out: " Cabo Wabo sucks !" That was code for the band's old stallworths. Sammy Hagar got pissed in the john in unison.

My wife tells me women usually don't talk to each other in the middle of business. A guy will talk to the shitter in the next stall.

In tune with what Christy was saying, a woman's bathroom leans more towards a sanctuary where they can also pretty themselves up. This rung so true on a day I was tied up at work against a DL. I ventured into the women's bathroom room for kicks. It was just before midnight. As I entered, I thought I just transported myself to the Bacchus Room at Caesar's Palace.

[Matt Meltzer]

I went to one during WMC last year. It was a little weird, but not like a unisex locker room or anything.

There's a club in Sacramento where they have separate bathrooms, but the wall in between is see through plexiglass. So it's almost the same. That may be my favorite.