Owners to make reality TV pilot out of restaurant giveaway

Move over, Hell's Kitchen, there is a new reality television restaurant giveaway in the making and it's one locals can really get behind.

Key Western Grille owners, with a location in Bonita Springs and Estero, are holding a contest where the winner will walk away with an estimated $400,000 Key Western Grille, turnkey operation in the Miromar Outlets mall in Estero.

Shawn Teeter, owner of the Estero Key Western Grille and the Cheeburger, Cheeburger in North Naples, and Greg Hughes, who recently opened the Bonita Springs Grille, were looking for a unique way to sell the restaurant in Estero, which makes an average of $150,000 a year. But, they decided they didn't want to sell to just anyone.

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The Grille features a 200-seat inside and outside venue, an open-kitchen, as shown above, and a full-liquor bar.

They wanted the best fit, for what they said is a fun restaurant with a lot of personality — not just the first person to walk in the door and offer them half a million dollars, if they put the business on the market.

Starting June 17, at the Key Western Grille in Miromar Outlets, then in locations in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and out of state, Teeters and Hughes will begin taking applications to find prospects to ask back for first and second interviews. In total, the guys will take four months to complete the interview process.

Eventually, 16 candidates will be selected to move into a Lee County house for the duration of the contest, which will be filmed for television.

The restaurateur-duo will shoot the pilot starting July 3, and Teeters is confident the reality show will get picked up by a network, even if it's on a smaller scale.

"We've got a lot of crazy stuff planned for these people," Teeters said. "The episodes we have planned out are a lot of fun."

Teeters, who has been in the restaurant business in one way or another for 22 years, brainstormed the ideas with partner Hughes. Teeters originally looked at selling his Cheeburger, Cheeburger restaurant, but instead decided to give away the Key Western Grille.

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Key Western Grille in Estero offers Key West and Western-style food, with an easy-going tropical atmosphere, where outlet mall shoppers and arena visitors can get a bite to eat.

Hughes, who helped Teeters come up with the Key Western Grille concept, told his business partner and friend about a gentleman from Key West who held a contest to give a restaurant away. The two decided to expand on that idea.

The restaurant itself is a full service, 200-seat venue, with an open kitchen and a full liquor bar. More than half of the seating is on a front patio, which has a view of a lake with a fountain that lights up at night. The lake has water ski shows every Saturday, which Teeters explains is great for business, because customers can enjoy lunch on the patio and watch the show.

Because the restaurant is located in Miromar Outlets, which averages more than five million visitors a year, business has seen success since its opening in 2003.

"It is a profitable store," Teeters said.

In addition to the outlet mall location, Key Western Grille is also situated next to the Germain Arena, which holds approximately 120 events a year, such as concerts and hockey games. According to Teeters, all of these come together to positively affect business.

To vie for a spot in the contest, participants must be willing to fork over $100 along with their application.

"This is a chance of a lifetime. For a hundred bucks, they have a chance to walk away with their own restaurant," Hughes said.

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The owners of Key Western Grille in Miromar Outlets are taking applications, but not for a new employee — for a new owner. Sixteen candidates will be chosen, out of all who pony up $100 application fee, for a chance to win the restaurant while being filmed for a reality television show.

That is a big plus for those in the restaurant business already, he added, because most of them know the statistics on starting their own venue. Hughes said 90 percent of restaurants fail in their first year, and most restaurant workers don't have the collateral to start their own.

But, Hughes and Teeters know the contest is going to appeal to more than just servers, cooks and bartenders, it will appeal to investors and those aching to be on a reality television program.

"We're looking for everything," Teeters said. "The TV show needs all kinds of personalities. It's gotta be a good show."

Hughes added: "It's also got to have people that could ultimately own a restaurant."

The two are excited about the contest, because both put their heart and souls into the Key Western Grille concept and made it come to life.

"We'll get to actually see somebody earn it," Teeters said.

They are ultimately looking for prospects with a good work ethic and personality. The contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the United States. It's $100 to apply, and the application requests information such as employment history; education; current debt; name; age; and address. It also requests applicants be 21 years of age or older and be legally able to work in the United States. In addition to all that information, Teeters and Hughes also want to know why the applicant thinks they should own a restaurant.

Those interested in applying can stop by the front of Key Western Grille on June 17, 18, 24, 25 and July 1, 2 and 3 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Key Western Grille at 992-6390. Key Western Grille is located in Miromar Outlets off Corkscrew Road in Estero.