anybody here own a bar? or want to comment on owning a bar?

[mopinko]

might have a little windfall coming, and have kinda been thinking for a while about a small business. there is a bar in the hood here that has closed after a very long time. i am making some inquiries about what happened.
i will say that i have little in my employment history to qualify me to own a business, except that i have a bunch of (grown or almost grown) kids that might be useful. or not. i am pretty much fun, and pretty funny. till you really get to know me, anyway.
i have the idea that running a bar is not all that hard. this place had a steady clientele afaik. someone who brought in some premium beers should be able to build it up. there is not much competition in the area.

thoughts?

[Bennyboy]

1. Bars are a money maker...BUT...

They can also be a disaster.

How long has it been closed?

Why did it close?

how is the equiptment?

license in good standing?

If there are no other bars around, make it a tap house and use the craft beer community to promote your business.

have team trivia once a week. (Monday thru thur 7-9 PM)

NO JUKEBOX. I cannot stress this enough.

[mopinko]

2. yeah, don't know the answer to any of those questions, but

there is a strong, strong, strong fan base for craft brewed beers here in chicago, and that is one thing that i do know about.
this is as much dh's dream as mine. he is a home brewer, and would love to step it up. he could go here-
http://www.siebelinstitute.com/ he would be so happy.

[Roon]

9. I used to frequent a bar here in downtown Denver

and the owner told me the jukebox paid the rent.

[mopinko]

19. DH refuses to have anything to do with a bar

where he can't have music.
i see the point, fersher. but....

[Capn Sunshine]

3. I have run Bar and Grilles

I consult to the industry. Been involved with it since 1969. Since you are a DUer I will be happy to help advise you free of charge, just PM me. While it looks easy on the face of it, first timers tend to not notice the money flying out the door from a variety of causes.

Most annoying is the "regular" who expects free drinks in exchange for him hanging in your place every day, like that's some kind of benefit. Half the time they vibe out anyone new who might be looking for a place, or get drunk and belligerent when you cut them off. These types really wish "Cheers" was a real place. They don't realize that if that bar really existed , Sam would have filed ch 7 a long time ago.

However, a "regular" probably tips pretty good, so the bartender makes sure to give him free drinks. Bartenders in general have rationales for everything they do, including stuff that costs you maybe a thousand bucks a month. Believe me, things add up.

If you have your eye on a particular place, hire some professional audit guys once you get up and running. They will observe the place at various times and let you know where the "Leaks" are.

This sounds a bit negative, but you have to be realistic about selling booze.

[mopinko]

4. the free booze thing i know.

so many old-timers just expect it. definitely something i would be very careful about.
i was only in the place a few times, and there was definitely a vibe of "who the hell are you, coming in our bar?" i wonder how much the smoking ban might have hurt this place. it used to be hard to even see, let alone breathe.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. sounds like exactly what I was talking about

small bars have a tendency to tip off the edge especially with the "Regular" thing leading the way. However if I had to guess I would say it's landlord related as opposed to a smoking ban. Smokers are used to going outside to smoke by now.

[mopinko]

6. could be, but

not many landlords kicking people out these days. and it is sitting idle. couple other empty storefronts on the block, too.
but who knows. maybe the regulars lost their income. things are not as hard here in chicago as elsewhere, but we are hardly untouched.

[snooper2]

10. Us regulars don't want free drinks...

We just want our special price all the time since you change them on a weekly basis :)

And don't hire stupid bartenders who have to use a jigger and end up spilling more on the counter than goes in the glass.

And let the smokers have a corner in the back if your city is non-smoking bullshit...

And if you have pool tables, have somebody level them and put some decent felt on...

And what else do regulars want...Oh yeah, don't serve that jackass Dean any more shots....ever... :rofl:

[mopinko]

35. howard dean is the one guy who gets free drinks in my bar.

and yeah, non-smoking town. otherwise i would not even be entertaining this fantasy.
there is one dart board, but there are a few bars in the hood that do the whole tourny thing.

regulars pay extra to keep the place up.

[old mark]

7. My dad owned a bar at one time - be very selective on who you hire to

tend bar and keep an eye on your cash flow.
Might be good to lower prices one night a week on an off night. Also, get good insurance, check for liability laws in your state.

Be prepared to spend a lot of time there - I know of several owners who were run into the ground by a manager they hired to do the daily business while they took a vacation.....lots of thinkg disappeared-cash, food, customers, etc.

Can be a gold mine if done right....good luck to you!

mark

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. I think DU could use an official Chicago clubhouse to hang out at.

[mopinko]

16. that would be awesome.

could i get an individual mandate on that, do you think?

[jakefrep]

11. Keep a close eye on cash and inventory.

Be wary of bartenders that are lazy about ringing up sales for their friends/entourage.

[Capn Sunshine]

15. You just reminded me

not ringing up drinks, and it's companion, ringing in lots of "no sales" are sure signs of scamming.

Keep an eye out for bottles that you didn't issue your self. Lots of bartenders bring their own in and charge cash. Your costs look OK but your sales are way off.

[applegrove]

12. I had a friend who had a brother who had a bar. All his money went up his nose I think.

He was a mess when it all fell apart. Just remember location, location, location. And be prepared to loose your windfall. I think the restaurant/bar business is some of the most difficult businesses to be successful in because there is so much competition.

[triguy46]

13. Having worked in bars from college town to a small town American Legion hall...

They are great to work in, but sure wouldn't want to own one. Will you be there all the time? How will you handle the staff (people like me) who drink freely from the stock? Just as in restaurants, the staff can make you or shut you down. Expect to be there all the time, not just a few hours a day.If not people like me will drink/eat/steal you blind.

[mopinko]

17. i would be there.

it interests me because i don't get enough human contact. meeting people, but being able to cut them off when they start getting obnoxious just seems perfect to me.

[goldcanyonaz]

14. Better to purchase a trailor park.

No long hours, no stealing and great money.

I've worked at enough bars to know that it's not worth it to own one.

[704wipes]

23. or a coin-op laundry

if you know how to do washer/dryer maintenance yourself.

Also, you don't seem like an asshole and most bar owners are pretty much assholes, but then the business sort of makes them be that way.

However I always thought it would be funny to open a bar in a highly populated place place and name it:
"The NO Sports Bar" and show no games, play music, board games, etc. -It would probably fail.

[goldcanyonaz]

25. We have a laundry in our town and it's crazy busy.

[mopinko]

26. actually, i was hoping to put my ability to be an asshole to good use.

i can be very friendly, and mostly like people, but i also do not suffer fools gladly. i think i would be a good "bar mom".

dh was also talking about a coin laundry. there are quite a few around here, but the hood is going more and more condo, less and less rentals, so i think that market might be glutted.

[mopinko]

18. i talked to a friend today who owned a bar in this hood for 10 years. she

likened it to being pecked to death by ducks.
hmmm.

[flvegan]

20. I think you just need to watch "Roadhouse" a few times.

Seems like that movie covered most of it.

Yes, being naive can be fun.

[mopinko]

29. ok, it's in the netflix queue- question

should i see the sequel?

[guitar man]

21. .02

Been there done that. I was part owner in a bar for a while back in the 80s. But I have more experience from almost 30 years of working in bars and nightclubs as an entertainer.

I'll repeat what has already been stated up for it. Don't turn your back on the hired help or they will steal you blind. Also, the bar business is not necessarily a business where "the customer is always right". Sometimes the customer is a mean habitual drunk asshole and the only solution to the problem is to throw him out on his ass and tell him not to come back.

You have to be prepared to get rid of troublemakers. If you're not the type to do it yourself then plan on hiring a good professional bouncer. That's the biggest reason I sold out my part of the bar that I owned. I would toss the troublemakers out and my stupid partners would let them back in and I would have to toss them out all over again because they didn't have the stomach for it nor the will nor the muscle.

But, depending on the type of place you wind up with and the type of clientele that frequents the place it could probably be a lot of fun to given the right set of circumstances. Good luck

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

22. Location location location

I live in the fastest growing area in Washington State, and any bar or restaurant that opens in my area is packed and almost an instant success, just because there aren't that many.

My husband and I had a habit of going to one of these places every Friday night right after work, just to unwind from the week. We did this for about 3 years straight, so naturally we got to know the owners pretty well. The place was always packed, sometimes we would even have trouble getting a table.

A little more than a year ago, the owners sold it simply because they were exhausted from working 6 and 7 days a week, 10 and 12 hours a day. But I guess if you have to sell your business, that would be a better reason than most. Right about that time we entered in a year + period of unemployment, so it was just as well, but it was weird to have everything change.

I always felt that this place was my sanctuary for just my husband and I, where we could relate to each other as adults without the pressure of family and mortgage and work. Everything got talked out there. I always felt the stress rolling off me as soon as I walked in the door. It was a good feeling, maybe you will provide that for someone else. :)

I say, do your homework, but go for it.

[mopinko]

27. we have a place like that.

had a few fights there, even. sat and cried in the booth. walked off and left him alone at the table.
home. home away from home.

[Chan790]

24. Okay...

bars are kind of the family business. My brother is a bar manager, my mother used to own two bars. They're both restaurant professionals though who grew up doing this and it's not as easy as it seems to run a bar. Do I think you should buy a bar? Absolutely. Here though is what I'd advise:

1.) Hire an experienced and skilled bar-manager. Most bars I've seen close, closed because they were badly run by people who had no idea what they were doing. Don't skimp on this expense...if you interview 5 people and four of them want $40K-$55K and the 5th one only wants $27K, hire the person who wants $40K...I'd guess the person seeking $27K has no actual KSA (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities) in this field.

2.) Make it the sort of place you'd like to hang out. You're going to have to spend the vast majority of your time there. No lie, my brother is at the bar he runs 118+ hours a week. Social life outside work? LOL. you're not going to have one if you intend to keep the doors open.

3.) Find out why it closed. Bars don't really close for no reason. You need to know how/why it went out of business to be able to assess whether you really want any part of this venture.

[datasuspect]

28. are you in Chicago?

better start working closely with your alderman (by "work" i mean "give cash") and find out some way you are connected to Daley.

Daley has a hardon for neighborhood bars. If you plan to serve white, upper middle class clientele in a gentrified area, it might be easy to open a bar.

but the city is still in shutdown mode for all other types of liquor licenses.

[mopinko]

30. the biggest problem with this particular location

is that it is on the other side of the boundary of bernie stone's ward. but it does already have a license. it is a long time bar. i don't know why it is closed, but if it was license, there would be a big, neon notice on the door.
i am active in my ward, and could probably get some help. but....

[Capn Sunshine]

31. That was good advice

no matter where your bar will be you need support of the go-to politicos in the area. Yes, this means a donation to the election fund. Get it back by hosting a few functions for the guy

[mopinko]

34. yeah, it's a shame. i love my alderman.

this place is just over the line into the ward of one of the city councils oldest, most arrogant fossils. i guess the good news is that he had a squeaker last time, and maybe next time around he will be replaced by someone progressive.

[Nikia]

32. One of our friend's mother owns a bar

One of the negative aspects about it is dealing with the police because of patrons getting into fights or committing other crimes at or around the bar.

[mopinko]

33. there are some bad ones around here. we can vote a precinct dry.

one reason there are not that many bars in the area of this one is that several precincts in this ward have been voted dry to get rid of problem bars.

[MilesColtrane]

36. You shouldn't open unless you are prepared to make no profit for at least a year.

Oh, and don't forget to pay the band.