Brooke frowned. “I don’t know. Do you think I should include some kind of property overview?”
“It wouldn’t hurt. A realtor could give you a list of commercial buildings that have sold in the last twelve months. I’ve made some notes about small things. Apart from the property prices and making it clear that your preferred option is to buy the building, the plan looks okay to me.” He handed the folder to Brooke. “What will you do if the bank won’t give you the money?”
“I’ll keep working from the commercial kitchen in my garage. But the store in town is perfect. It used to be a French bakery. Apart from some painting and signage, I won’t need to change anything for a long time.”
“Where’s the building?”
“On Main Street. It’s about five buildings away from the general store.”
Gabe knew the property Brooke was talking about. The French bakery was still open when he’d arrived in town. With its wide veranda, arched windows, and red-brick exterior, the building would make a wonderful candy store.
“Have you thought about working with a business partner?”
Brooke nodded. “I did, but it didn’t seem realistic to expect someone to invest in a confectionery store. Most of my sales are through word of mouth and at the markets and fairs.”
“You described ways your business could grow. Putting those actions into place might appeal to an investor.”
Brooke sighed. “I really want to do this on my own. If the bank doesn’t lend me the money, I’ll rethink my decision to involve a business partner. Otherwise, my garage will have to do. Thanks for taking the time to help me. I really appreciate the suggestions you made.”
Gabe smiled. “You’re welcome. If you want another opinion, talk to Mabel at the general store. She could review your sales projections to see if the peak business times match what you’ve identified.”
Brooke picked up her bag and patted Sherlock.
His dog didn’t even bat an eyelid. Sapphire Bay was turning him into a giant teddy bear.
Natalie grinned. “Don’t worry. We won’t corrupt him too much.” She handed Gabe his whistle. “We didn’t need this. Sherlock stayed beside us the whole time.”
Gabe’s eyebrows rose. “What did you bribe him with?”
Natalie patted Sherlock’s head. “We didn’t have to bride him. He enjoyed our company.”
Sherlock wasn’t the only one. And that worried Gabe almost as much as the stalker who was following him.
