Buying a bar...

Ken Light

Anyone done it? Thought about it? Thought better of it? I'm considering in it, but I was hoping maybe someone could give me a little rundown of the pitfalls and such.

Rail Jockey

My goal one day is to build a golf driving range, and have a bar and small grill in there with a cigar bar in one end of the building. I think that would be a great place to hang out and have a good time.

bandyt09

Ken Light:

Anyone done it? Thought about it? Thought better of it? I'm considering in it, but I was hoping maybe someone could give me a little rundown of the pitfalls and such.

Ken, I haven't "bought" one but I feel like I have damn near "paid" for one.........LOL

Krieg

bandyt09:

Ken Light:

Anyone done it? Thought about it? Thought better of it? I'm considering in it, but I was hoping maybe someone could give me a little rundown of the pitfalls and such.

Ken, I haven't "bought" one but I feel like I have damn near "paid" for one.........LOL

Same here! Whatever bar u decide on getting, make sure I post pics! I am thinking about getting a corner bar. Something to hold my liquor but not take up too much room in my cigar area.

JDH

Ken Light:

Anyone done it? Thought about it? Thought better of it? I'm considering in it, but I was hoping maybe someone could give me a little rundown of the pitfalls and such.

Don't know how much experience you have in that area, but I would advise that you approach the owners of your vavorite bar and work there for at least 6 months, and try to learn as much as you can about the operation, especially overhead expenses, labor costs, insurance, and regulatory concerns. Then you'll know if you really want to actually do it. Expect hard work and long hours, but good rewards if you're successful. Remember one thing: everyone who walks in is a customer, and no customer wants to go in to be offended, so politics should be avoided. Your customers will go to your establishment because they like you, and because they are comfortable in you bar. That's why they will come back.

Rob1110

jlmarta

Rob1110

I agree with JL, unless you're mixing a specific drink. A shot is a shot. A rum and coke needs no measuring. A hearty pour of a sipper is much appreciated. Don't pick up a jigger when pouring my Manhattan or Sazerac and I won't be ordering another one or returning to the bar. It's all in the application. Be generous where that will be seen as a positive thing but be accurate and consistent when that counts.

xmacro

Make sure you talk to an attorney about liability - you need the right insurance, and you need to structure the bar so that if something goes wrong, only the bar can be sued and not you. Even then, you may wanna look into having a contingency plan in case the corporate veil is pierced

bandyt09

Don't know much about the "bar business" but drinking is not a problem with me. You may want to check out Jon Taffer and/or the show called Bar Rescue. Maybe gleam a little bit of info from there. Also check out www.drinkingmadeeasy.com, love the website and the TV show.

Ken Light

JDH

xmacro

Rob1110

Ken Light

Rob1110

JDH

MVW67

kuzi16

Ken Light

MVW67

Gaetano7890

Well Ken I don't have a lot of personal experience with owning a bar but I do know something about the business. My grandparents owned a bar/resturant for many years. The money was good and has helped future generationsI have thought about it several times. The two things that I would think about if the business is successful is your life will be spent in the bar. My grandparents owned own one in a resort type town and they were open 6 months out of the year. For those 6 months they lived at the resturant. If your planning on having a family it can be hard because you will be at your business. Another issues is when you serve a product you tend to use it just kinda goes with the territory. I think that there r a lot of promising opportunities in owning a bar you just have to see what you want in your future and go with it. I think that a lot of other post I've seen that employees in general can not be trusted and that's why to have a really successful business you will probably have to live in the bar at least thats what my family did.

Ken Light

Wow, all of you have given me a tremendous amount of food for thought, some stuff I hadn't really considered, or at least didn't consider seriously enough. It seems like the next thing I really need to do is write up a business plan. Anyone know a good book or resource on that?