Sheesh, where do I start? Looking to start a small concession inside a business.

 
Hi there.
 
I currently live in Vancouver, Canada and own and operate an indoor paintball field. Through customer demand (and of course profit demand) - we are considering starting a small concession in our facility.
 
Now, I have absolutely zero experience in any kind of food business. I've never worked at McDonalds, I've never been a bus boy at Dennys. I understand numbers, inventory, and capital. But when it comes to the rest, I'm at a loss.
 
We don't want to do anything fancy, but I'll give you the run down.
 
It will operate as a "on-the-fly" concession. We are open 7 days a week, but see most of our business on the weekends (Fri-Sun) so we would only operate on those three days, or open if a customer requests as part of a birthday package. (Pizza, hot dogs, cake, etc.)
 
I don't know where to find equipment to purchase, other than craigslist and auction houses. I'm not really sure of everything I need.
 
We would like to house hot dogs/buns/chips/chocolate bars/cookies/pizza, and fountain drinks. I know where to get the products (costco) to fill it, I am just not sure of all the equipment necessary to start something like this.
 
I'm also curious about the permits required. Assuming something like this would need a permit. How much space should I allocate to making this work?
 
I'm not asking for the run down, I am just curious if someone has done something similar and would allow me to pick their brain to get this started! And of course, finding someone familiar with BC, Canada health codes.
 
Thanks in advance.

your cheapest bet is to find someone that knows what they are doing and save yourself ALOT of money and headache. Hire a vendor or food cart to set up every day or just on weekends, whatever your busiest hours are.

There is a guy on here with several carts in Vancouver....I think his cart name is big dog......sells all natural and organic stuff if I remember correctly......go see if he will talk to you, your not his competition.

Your situation raises 100's of questions! Most of us aren't familiar with BC Health Dept and Building Code Requirements. I would start there. Tell them what you're thinking about doing and get their input FIRST before going any further. Building code requirements will be a major issue depending on how you plan to operate. Contact someone in the construction business that's built snackbars and get their input. I just Googled, "Restaurant Contractors in Vancouver BC" and a bunch of stuff popped up. Here's just one of them:
https://vancouverconstruction.ca/intro.php
"Each voyage starts with the first step"
Start there and get back to us later.
Talk to the folks at The BC Restaurant and Food Services Association.
http://www.bcrfa.com/
Here's their buyers guide:
http://issuu.com/www.bcrn.com/docs/bcrn_buyersguide
The Lord helps those who help themselves!

Well, this is a start. Thank you all for the insight.
 
In regards to building a snackbar, it really can't be all that difficult, and with money in mind, I don't really want to pay a contractor $3000 in labor for something I can probably do by myself with the staff. I have construction experience, so it certainly helps.
 
I'll do my research!

neoh, there is a paintball field near me that has a snack bar on premisses for there games. like yours they do the weekly stuff but are busier on the week ends too, they offer hot dogs, chips, gator ade etc, sometimes meatball subs, but for there bigger scenario games we do all those for them, some of those games like the one we just did they pull in over 1000 people, they tell me in no way could they handle that many people most of which come at the same time, theirs is an outside field 87 acres they say its alott easier for them to let me come in and handle the food for them. the games that we do for them are 24 hr games too .

Neoh,
Not saying you need to hire a contractor but you can talk to them, pick their brains and learn all you can about Building Codes, Health Dept. Requirements etc. Maybe work out a deal where they help you design it and you do the work. Some equipment suppliers will help you with design work if you buy equipment from them.
Here in the States, some places require that you use licensed contractors to do the work on commercial end-use buildings, get building permits etc.
Do your homework before you start.

    Got to get yourself a built in refer first dude.......
And make sure it all up to building code etc......

      Honestly to make money and spend none rent your spot to a hotdog cart vendor and in the contract rent is still paid wether they show up or not.....Also you are shring welth with someone who may otherwise be unemployed they are going to pay rent to someone else why not you and they would be greatful to be employed and working and getting their rep out there and also the licensing and crud will be on them.....