http://www.statenews.com It’s perfectly legitimate to question whether Mateen Cleaves has ever truly left East Lansing and MSU. The 2000 men’s basketball national champion plays for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA’s D-League, yet he often makes East Lansing trips to participate in basketball camps, visit the Spartans men’s basketball team and meet with head coach Tom Izzo. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:19:39 -0400 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40832 That is some good stuff. Thank you Mateen! Maybe my barbers beliefs will come true. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:47:50 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40832 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40856 Good luck, Mateen. I will eat at your restaurant every time I visit EL. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:44:18 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40856 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40860 Over half of new restaurants fail. Best of luck to him, he’s got a better shot than most (no pun intended). Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:07:42 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40860 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40869 Good Luck Mateen…we love you here – always and forever! Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:10:38 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40869 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40903 I hope he has ample supply of snackage. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:28:26 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40903 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40908 Instead of asking for help from Chris Webber, why doesn’t he ask for help from the best HRI program in the country, coincidentally right in East Lansing? Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:13:48 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40908 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40923 despite the strength of our HRI program the first thing it takes to run a business is money. C-Webb isn’t short on that. And since he already runs one successful restaurant he can help Mateen get started. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:32:09 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/40923 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41002 Hey Mateen, I know it’s been a while since you’ve been back in town but the Hall of Fame Cafe is already the exact type of resturant you want to “bring to E.L.” You’re just 3 or 4 years late to the party. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:57:31 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41002 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41041 Even with the Hall of Fame Cafe already in the market there could still be room for a similar concept dependent on the location. For example Okemos or Meridian Township might be a better location choice. Research shows that about 40% of restaurants “fail” in the first year of business for a variety of reasons not all of them financial. If a new restaurant can make it past the first year the success rate increases to 65-70%. The number one reason restaurants fail is because they are undercapitalized so for Mateen to succeed he needs to make sure he has sufficient capital for at least 6 months business without making a profit. If Mateen wants help with his project The School of Hospitality Business at MSU would love to help! We teach entrepreneurship and restaurant management and can assist in a variety of ways. Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:06:01 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41041 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41056 Well said, Dr. Elsworth. But then, I didn’t expect anything less. He should contact THE School and get good advice and suggestions from the faculty there to lead him to a successful launch of his new restaurant – hopefully somewhere here in Meridian Township! Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:33:15 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41056 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41110 Where and what is the “Hall of fame cafe”?? I haven’t been to EL in almost ten years. I suppose its time to go back. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:19:39 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/41110