There's a discussion going on in the yahoo O group about BTD restaurants, and it generated a lot of thought on my part. So I'm going to share it with the masses in hope that somebody out there will give it a shot.

Restaurants are fairly high risk, and you don't want to start out too big. So look for a small location to start with just a juice bar, that can be upgraded to snacks and wraps, and eventually, if it's well received, expand it into a full-scale restaurant.

Where to locate it...I'm thinking of finding a location near a place where people already know their blood type and are fairly health-conscious. The local Red Cross, or any blood donor facility. (Near a Health Food Store would also be good.)

The only problem I can think of with this idea is that they give out juice and snacks to blood donors. Unless you're willing to eat junk though, this option doesn't provide the fuel you want after donating. I'm sure you could work out something with the Red Cross to allow you to advertise in their snack area and offer discounts to donors, then you could send customers over to them who want to find out their blood type.

I think you'd have to offer some standard fare, and allow people to order wrong for their type. It's about providing options, and educating customers, but not forcing them. If you go out of business because you didn't offer what the customers wanted, you're no longer able to help those who do want to eat right. But if you make the right foods taste so much better than anything else... nobody could complain about that! That may be a challenge if you want to cater snacks to type O non-secretors, but it should be possible.

As for me, until that happy day comes that an establishment like this comes to my area, there's a juice place nearby where I get carrot/ginger or carrot/celery juice. The Jamba Juice is also willing to give me what I ask for, usually pineapple juice and ice as the base, then some banana, mango, blueberry, etc. That way there's no added sugar or milk; it's not quite as sweet, but it's refreshing.