New Bar Owner Here....

[jehallett]

Hello everyone,

I have recently made an offer on a bar/building here in Lincoln, Nebraska and will be closing on it in the next week. I am working with two other partners, 1 is a friend and the other is my mother. The building that we purchased has 2 other Retail/Commercail rental spots that we will be renting out. The bar has been closed for the last year and we plan to reopen it.

I have been learning alot from reading everyones posts and I appreciate everyones great responces to the questions that have been asked.

The bar is in a large college town and is off the strip a few blocks so I am looking for a goor promo to run to get the customers of the the main strip to my bar. Any good ideas out there? Also, are there any other good forums out there that relate to the bar business?

[housemusicnyc]

College kids don't mind walking a couple of blocks off of a main st if there is something happening.
(like cheap drinks, and lots of girls)
Get a good idea and stick to it, look at what everyone else is doing and do it better. College kids like beer, try to get in with a good distributer that will give you some good beers for your opening party. That way you can sell them at two for one for an hour or so.
And the number one thing to keep in mind with college kids is "They Will Try To Use Fake IDs"
Some towns will put up with it and some don't, know the cops in your area really well.

Good Luck

[mix]

keep your cover low. 5 bucks is usually the norm.

they dont drink mixed drinks because they cant afford them. and they tip like crap. just observations...

so invest in a keg-erator. talk it up with your liquor guys. tell them you will have 1 and only 1 kind of beer on tap for your 7$ pitcher promo. if you carry others, make them a little higher priced to steer the kids toward the choice brand. clubs i have managed have had great luck with coors light. they provided neons, a custom tap, t shirts, etc.

they will serve you stuff on a platter to be the exclusive.

check your pms.

[sully]

I would recommend avoiding a cover charge. We're talking about college kids, a new bar, and off the main center of action. A cheap cover is still a cover and it's easy to find bars without a cover charge.

The first thing you want to do is attact your customers.


The second thing you want to do is retain your customers.

There are many things you can do to attract, but you must know your market. College kids don't have a lot of money to spend, and they like to eat. Offer free pizza your opening weekend and maybe even one hour every evening from that point on, to draw a crowed.

Hire a couple kids to pass out flyers around campus.

Hire some local college bands to play at your bar.

I have a million suggestions, let me know if you would like to see more.

[clubdesign]

for college kids you may consider buying an old school bus or even better a used limo and offer free pick up and delivery back to the campus, this eliminates drunk driving and then distance is not a factor. We have done this at several locations and it has been very successful, good luck

[Securitygeek]

Don't forget about security, especially if your catering to college age people! early twenties like to fight. Hire a good security manager/head bouncer and make sure the sec staff is TRAINED. Training is key. Any questions? Just holla at me. i have been gone for awhile, but i am back now.

[jprokschl]

Congratulations,
Welcome to being a bar owner.
In the bar business it seems the more things change the more they stay the same. Many years ago the person who trained me gave me some advise that I would like to pass along:
Know your customers names
Know what they drink
When the drink gets down to the last 1/3 it is empty
A clean ashtray is a thing of beauty
A drink is naked if there is no garnish
A glass never sits directly on the bar (that is why God made ****tail napkins)

Keep it very simple and easy to run and it will be fun.
John