Anyone here currently or in the past own/run a bar?

[Azwed]

I remember one or two people saying something about this but don't remember who they are.

I am doing some research and would like to talk to people with experience.

 

[bearlee]

My grandparents, and various members of my family were in the bar business from before I was born until the late 80s. I think just about everyone in the family worked in one of the bars at some point.

 

[Gilly Bean]

My grandpa owned a bar until I was 14. I always wanted to run it when I was younger, and thought when I was old enough, I could. But, he got out of the buisness and retired.

 

[Azwed]

I guess I should provide a few more details. One of the local bars here had to be shut down because the current owner lost his ABC License, six or seven DUI's will do that plus selling to underage, so now me my roommates and a couple other people are looking to try and take the bar over.

Most of us will be graduating this May so we could do this full time and spend the whole summer renovating the bar to fit our new business concept.

 

[Gilly Bean]

From what I remember, it can get hard. Now, my grandpa was old, so that's a factor, but having the late nights, the rowdy people once in a while, having cops in and out on busy nights, etc.

 

[Azwed]

From what I remember, it can get hard. Now, my grandpa was old, so that's a factor, but having the late nights, the rowdy people once in a while, having cops in and out on busy nights, etc.

Yeah I know I have spent enough time in bars in the 5 years I have been here. Right now the town is down a bar or two, this bar was a pool/darts bar and that means there is only one other darts bar in the area and only two other real pool bars, so their is a big gap in the market to fill.

The two other pool bars here are pretty much packed wed-sat night after 9pm too.

 

[bearlee]

My grandfather spent most of his time fooling around. My grandmother worked up to 20 hours a day six days a week and opened against her license on Sundays for six hours. It's a heck of a lot of work. She put in so much time because it was hard to find people outside the family that didn't give away tons of free drinks. Darts-dangerous in the wrong type of bar and the same I guess with pool, although if you own the table, there's a potential for a lot of unreported cash to be made-not that she would every do that of course Look to spend tons of hours working.

 

[Azwed]

We are planning to get rid of the dart boards and only do pool for the safety and money reasons.

Darts don't make you any money by themselves but pool does and we would own the tables.

 

[Guest]

 

[Azwed]

Nothing dangerous about electronic darts.



OK, running a bussiness.

The less people the better, less conflict. You can have silent owners, but the more you get, the more headache.

Someone good and trustworthy with the money. SOmeone good with people to handle all the bussiness. Gotta have your Bartenders and then I would think of carding at the door. It saves the bartender headaches.

Yup we got that already.

Only planning to have 4-5 voting owners(me, current roommate, ex-roommate and one other close friend) then a couple of other silent partners like my old boss at my shop or one of the older already financially established friends of my roomate.

 

[Guest]

 

[SuprSalor]

Yes. I owned a small juke joint in Texas for about 2 years.
Have bartended in 4 states.
Running a bar can be a real headache. Lots of rules/codes/laws you have to deal with. All your 'buddies' think you'll 'take care of them', inventory control, insurance, lots of little things I can't really think of at the moment. But then I'm not really a businessman type either.
Electronic darts are good. Every bar should have pool table or 2 if ya got the room. Might want to think about a Shuffleboard table if you have the room, they're sometimes hard to find and are lots of fun. Good luck

 

[MorgaineLaFay]

Consistency, is the number one key to holding a clientele.

I've never owned a bar, but I have managed one in the past. As well as bartended in more then I care to name over the years.

When owners get antsy, and keeping changing the air about a place, customers often won't return.

 

[Azwed]

Bumping for other people.

Pstt Draco.