Buying an existing bar

[pdx13]

I have been approached by an acquaintance, a friend of my sister, if I was interested in buying his bar. I have never worked at a bar and it has been many years since my waiter days. I have long had a dream of owning a bar/club. The bar is basically a neighborhood variety with a pool table, darts, vidio poker, and juke box. There is sufficient room for bands, which play there on occation. I have been there on nights when it has been packeted and on other when it was nearly empty (last Saturday).

What information should I request from the seller? Does it make sense to buy a bar without experience in the industry?

[Kansas City]

Answer to 2nd question: NO NO NO

[Bogey]

Dont let the fact that you have no experience scare you off. I too had no experience in running a business, let alone a bar when I bought a small ****tail lounge from my friend 2 1/2 years ago. There was a nice existing customer base, I made a few tweeks here and there and now sales are up over 15% from when I bought the place.