Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwitch

A friend of mine is considering open up a Banh Mi shop in Schaumburg area, near Woodfield Mall, similarly to the Hung Phat or Ba Le Bakery on Argyle St. .

1. Do you think Schaumburg is a good location? Any other suburban location in mind?
2. Does anyone have any idea what kind of store rental cost in this area?

Thanks for your inputs in advance,

Nghe

1) As far as location, Schaumburg is not a bad idea, but your friend might want to look into the Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Wheaton area as I can think of approx. 4 different Vietnamese/Pho shops within about a 3 mile radius of each other. Pho Saigon, Pho Hoa, Nha Y and, Luong Loi (half Chinese). For some reason, population density of their target market most likely, the shops have congregated in this area like car dealers do.

2) A very rough estimate is low to mid teens for a small spot in an average strip mall up to 3-4 g's for a larger spot in a high traffic/high visibility area.

Nghe wrote:A friend of mine is considering open up a Banh Mi shop in Schaumburg area, near Woodfield Mall, similarly to the Hung Phat or Ba Le Bakery on Argyle St. .

1. Do you think Schaumburg is a good location? Any other suburban location in mind?

Given that the Woodfield area has no Vietnamese restaurants at the moment, I'd think a banh mi shop or any other Vietnamese restaurant could do quite well given sufficient promotion.

I think it might do well in Arlington Heights, as well. Downtown AH currently supports three Thai restaurants, two sushi bars and a tonkatsu place, so there's definitely an interest in Asian food.

Come to Albany Park in Chicago. We would love a vietnamese sandwich shop!!!!!! That is just me being selfish, my husband constantly complains that there are no good shops around here, like the delicious one in san francisco.

Good luck with your business!