Cummins, Rented a shop for first 6 years of business, was on a main road intersection and boy was that a pain in the arse!!!!!!
(people constantly stopping for directions, salesman always stopping in , trucks constantly turning around in lot!!!) My father said to me after about 2 years "Bob your gonna have to get out and make some contacts w/ contractors, big steel fabricators, trucking co.s ,etc. because NOBODY is gonna just walk in and give you a $1,000.00 job!!!
(big time thinker)
Anyway if you need a place to do that bridge job sounds like you found a starting place. NEGOTIATE a good rental rate , NEGOTIATE a term of rental time ( about 25% longer than that bridge job would be about right) be honest, upfront about your starting business, and your future landlord MIGHT even be pullin' for you to succeed!!!(REMEMBER THAT GIFT OF GAB)
I rented space from a big fabricator and actually would get work they couldn't do.(aluminum & stainless)
Now labor is a TOUGH nut to crack "everybody wants a paycheck, not everybody wants a job" you have to find guys with a good work ethic and some skills (easier said than done) Interview alot, hire only one at a time, when that works out,start the process again as needed
DON'T BE AFRAID TO SEND GUYS THAT YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT KICKIN' ROCKS!!!!!!
As far as steel sales, if there are no/few warehouses around, you could develop another GOOD revenue stream and maybe something your wife could handle (as in answering the phone and quoting steel !!!!)
You don't really have to stock alot, just have a big warehouse that you have a first name basis with one of the inside salesman!!!!!
Ain't easy but you knew that already, and being a Marine your used to overcoming obstacles/problems
From PITTSBURGH HOME OF DEM' STIILERS' still got a brokin' leg but made it to the shop for a job that needs to be done this weekend and boy was it fun just to be in my shop chewin' on my guys arse's a (all in good fun) gonna do it again tomorrow, I can't wait!!!!!