Try to remember: What was the last bar or restaurant you walked into without knowing anything about it at all — no recommendations from a friend, no glowing online reviews?

You were out walking around, feeling hungry or thirsty. More than likely, it was on the first or second floor, near a train station, and the interior was clearly visible from the street. If you're looking for a space for your restaurant, that's exactly what you're after.

Unfortunately, the harsh truth is that there is strong competition for those spaces and, as a small business, you're up against restaurant chains and corporations with restaurant arms. If a large chain makes a bid on a place you're trying to get a lease to, no landlord would take a chance on you over a sure thing with deep pockets and a national presence.