Issue No. 44Week ending Sunday, November 1, 2026685 episodes · 3017 articles
The Throughline ↓
The Podcast Summary.

10+ hours of podcasts, in 5 minutes.

Host

Bill D'Alessandro

Bill D'Alessandro appears in 2 full episodes we cover on Acquisitions Anonymous. Host of Acquisitions Anonymous. Below is what each conversation covered, with a key takeaway per article. Every quote in the articles is verbatim and timestamped to the source video.

2 episodescovered
9 articleswith timestamped quotes
Private EquityAcquisitions Anonymous

The Pirate Liquor Store Making $300K a Year

This episode delves into the analysis of a unique pirate-themed liquor store in Anchorage, Alaska, boasting $306K in Seller's Discretionary Earnings. The hosts examine the business's impressive growth under its current owner, the strategic advantage of strict local liquor license limitations, and the unusual transparency with which the business is being sold. They explore the feasibility of remote ownership in such a distinct market and ultimately agree on the deal's strong appeal for a local acquirer seeking a reliable cash-flowing asset.

  • A pirate-themed liquor store in Anchorage, Alaska, the Captain Sparrow Liquor Store, pulls in $306,000 in Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) on $2.55 million in gross revenue, making it a highly attractive cash-flowing asset. Read →
  • Sirius Fujimoto, owner of Captain Sparrow Liquor in Anchorage, Alaska, doubled the revenue and Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) of an 80-year-old business in just six years, reaching $306K SDE. Read →
  • Alaska's retail liquor license quota system, limiting one license per 3,000 residents in a census area, creates an ironclad barrier to entry for new competitors. This makes existing stores, like Anchorage's pirate-themed Captain Sparrow (boasting $306K in Seller's Discretionary Earnings), dispropor… Read →
  • Sirius Fujimoto, owner of a pirate-themed liquor store in Anchorage, Alaska, chose to publicly disclose detailed financials, including tax returns showing $306K in Seller's Discretionary Earnings, directly on his company's website. Read →
  • Don't fall for “10 hours a week” claims in brick-and-mortar businesses, even with remote POS. The hosts found this particularly suspect for a pirate-themed liquor store in Anchorage, Alaska. Read →
  • SBA loans frequently finance liquor store acquisitions, despite alcohol being a product often labeled as a “vice” by some. This often surprises founders. Read →
Private EquityAcquisitions Anonymous

How One Bowling Alley Made Millions Through COVID

This episode delves into the analysis of a Charlotte-based modern bowling alley and entertainment venue, Queen Park Social, which posted impressive financials including strong resilience through COVID and substantial historical EBITDA. The hosts dissect the BizBuySell listing, discussing the complexities of its recent revenue decline, the high value of the underlying real estate, and the critical role of lease terms in business acquisition. Bill D'Alessandro ultimately proposes a creative financing strategy involving an SBA 504/7A combination loan to acquire both the business and real estate.

  • For experiential businesses tied to specific locations, a short lease term in a gentrifying market is a ticking time bomb that can destroy business value. Read →
  • Even when a business shows recent revenue dips, owning significant underlying real estate can make an acquisition viable. Bill D'Alessandro proposed a clever SBA 504/7A combo loan to acquire Charlotte's Queen Park Social, a modern bowling alley, despite its reported declines. Read →
  • The original entrepreneur behind Charlotte's Queen Park Social created a staggering $20 million in value over eight years by simultaneously building a profitable business and owning appreciating real estate. Read →
The Sunday Email

Want The Carry in your inbox?

The week's private equity podcasts, boiled down to one short Sunday read, for deal professionals, operating partners, and LPs.

Newsletters

For now, every subscriber gets both newsletters. No spam. Unsubscribe with one click.