@ Geezer: I agree about what you say about experienced capitalists. And your rules of thumb, I'll accept, probably 'work' for that reason. But as you say, they are a starting point - but surely they vary with the cost of 'labor' and other factors, and anyway the maximation of profit isn't the only goal? People I know who have run small businesses often become attached to the product of their businesses, the way they choose to produce it, as well as the profit they make from it (which does, you'll agree, have to do with the difference between profit and wages, not just something that comes after wages are paid) and to the environment (including the social environment, which obviously involves employees, as well as customers) they have created, and I wouldn't be too interested in frequenting a business where this was not the case. Seems to me this probably applies to most or all of the small Western-run places in Kunming that I know about, which do not strike me as mere 'money machines'.
@ Peter: I don't think I know of any Westerners here who feel seriously desperate, except perhaps when they first arrive and are unfamiliar with a lot of things here.
I appreciate Xiefei's comments and, since I started this thread, I'd like to point out that I did not mean to imply that anybody in particular is into serious greed. I have no idea what the margins might be - I meant what I said: "...merely an impression." I don't think we're producing dollar millionaires, and I hope not.
Location of The Park is on the courtyard of then Buddhist temple (now full of shops for tourists) on the island in the middle of Cuihu (see listing). I don't know how to join the wechat group. Notification of meetings happens on this thread, and is also usually entered on the calendar for the day.
Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.
As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.
Large portions, seriously so with the pizza, which is Brooklyn/American style, I guess. Convivial, conversational, good place to drink with good folks on both sides of the bar, especially after about 9PM.
Volunteers needed to help Lufeng schools
发布者Hope the real estate speculators and black-Audi-drivin mfs kicked in.