Anyone ever convert an auto repair/tire facility into a bar?

[WhipEffect]

This is what is listed:

Previously used as an auto repair/tire facility. Showroom, covered area in front, roll up doors for bays. Owner will participate in renovation or build to suit.

How should I take this and has anyone actually converted such a building into a bar? How hard would it be? Also, when it lists build to suit, what exactly does that mean? Thanks in advance.

[Joe]

First of all, I have always wanted to build a bar/restaurant in an auto garage, seriously, it's on my list. However, the plumbing needs will be a good deal different for you than the garage, so you're likely to run into some costs there. As much as it might be easier to convert an old bar into the auto shop theme, the authenticity would be lost in my opinion.

As for build to suit, every land owners definition is different. The most ideal situation would be one where the landlord agrees to build you to a white box finish that you provide the layout for and let you go from there, this would be great, but extremely rare.

[David]

I wish that these guys had a website but they don't.

They were in the same situation that you are. They found a 1950's era Art Deco Buick garage that had been setting idle for years. The owner of the dealership had locked the building up in a trust. The trust stated that the building and the three acres had to be used exclusively as a car dealership until his death. He got sick and ended up in a Retirement Home minus his mind. None of his children wanted to be in the car business. The building was smack dab in the center of the business district downtown. Premium location and parking to boot. There are seven other bars, six restaurants and two clubs within walking distance of their location.

Once the old guy died, the children sold the building. The new owners gutted the building and developed it into a bar/restaurant.

I'll try and get a few pictures and post on the site.

[BARTENDER 54]

Hey Whip,

The "Famous Dave's BBQ" chain opened a store in Sioux Falls, S.D. in an old gas station. I think it turned out really cool the gas pumps are still in place and all the old signs and all that jazz are an added touch.
There's a place, "Gene's Steak House", in my home town, that converted an old "DX Service Station" into his third place after the first two burned down. I guess he figured it was a cement block building and it's the only thing his insurance co. would cover.
Anyway, the old hoist serves as the Salad Bar and the old tire service bay is one of the party rooms, again the old gas station stuff is intact for the decor.
The really cool thing is after sixty years you can still get gas there, just not for your car.
I don't know if you've ever heard of "Quaker Steak" but they are a chain that's based on a repair shop. Hell the one here even has an old "Vicki" up on a hoist in the Bar area and cycles hanging from the ceiling. It's just they build new from the ground up and again, very cool. There is just sooo many ideas and so much material there to work with.

As for "building to suit"....Just buy the damn place (if possible) and don't take a chance on getting stuck by a scrupulous landlord. That's just my perspective, I don't like the idea of someone else owning the property MY business is "in" or "on". If I'm going to be making payments every month, I'll be making payments on MY property not someone else's.
But that's just me.

Anyway, good luck
Rick

[David]

If they ever sold gas, you will have to make sure that the underground tanks have been removed and the soil remediation has been done. EPA says that this has to be done before you can reopen the business. Make sure that the current owner has taken care of this. If not, you are looking at a huge cost to have this done.

[monkee28]

Whip.
It has done very well here in Melbourne Australia. I will post pics. They didnt even keep the theme of the Auto Repair. It looks great inside. The only thing lacking was a proper dj booth but the place is beautiful.
Its always been my dream to do it aswell.

PM me your email address and i will send you photos.

[WhipEffect]

Thanks for all your feedback. I will try and upload a picture so that you all can tell me if it looks possible and hear some of your ideas. It was just a tire repair shop and sold tires. I'm thinking that such a place would be expensive to gut out and restore to a lounge/sportsbar setting.

[BostonDave]

Anythings possible! I agree that if its at all possible to buy the bldg/land that would be great. If lease is the only option make sure you have an attorney review the lease and make sure its solid as far as terms and renewals and with you having the right of first refusal.

I don't think it would be too bad if the structure is all good. Whats the square footage of the building?

[intensity]

From a health department standpoint I would imagine they would put you through the ringer. You are going from a non-food friendly, toxic, caustic environment to a food service business in the same building. I am sure it could be done but I would imagine the costs for clean-up would be high not to mention things that Admin mentioned. You won't know till you ask the right people.

A DJ that used to work for me had computer drawn plans once for an autoshop themed bar. It looked awesome on paper. It could be alot of fun.

[WhipEffect]

Thanks again. The building is like 5,500 square feet.

[David]

Well I took a picture of the building but it really doesn't say much. The day that I was there, they were closed. I asked the neighbors about the business and they didn't know much. I asked if they had a website and they didn't know.

[HYDDYN MAVURIK]

There is an old auto/ body shop business that went out of business near where I live. I would love to turn that place into a nice small nightclub. It is painted all white on the outside. It has three big garage doors with windows. That space would be the dance area.

[Rogue]

Thanks again. The building is like 5,500 square feet.

How much are they asking?

[clubdesign]

this has been done several times. In St. Paul the old dealerships are now an Italian restaurant in the old Studebaker dealership, a Haagen Dazz in another and a sports bar/lounge in the other. These are located on Grand Avenue and have been established for about 25 years now. Crobar nightclub in Chicago was previously a truck repair garage and the crane unit is still hanging from the ceiling

[Michael Black]

I agree, this nothing new, but still it could be a fun concept in a new market or at least taken to the next level and done a little differently.

[scott1988]

Hey Whip,

The "Famous Dave's BBQ" chain opened a store in Sioux Falls, S.D. in an old gas station. I think it turned out really cool the gas pumps are still in place and all the old signs and all that jazz are an added touch.
There's a place, "Gene's Steak House", in my home town, that converted an old "DX Service Station" into his third place after the first two burned down. I guess he figured it was a cement block building and it's the only thing his insurance co. would cover.
Anyway, the old hoist serves as the Salad Bar and the old tire service bay is one of the party rooms, again the old gas station stuff is intact for the decor.
The really cool thing is after sixty years you can still get gas there, just not for your car.
I don't know if you've ever heard of "Quaker Steak" but they are a chain that's based on a repair shop. Hell the one here even has an old "Vicki" up on a hoist in the Bar area and cycles hanging from the ceiling. It's just they build new from the ground up and again, very cool. There is just sooo many ideas and so much material there to work with.

As for "building to suit"....Just buy the damn place (if possible) and don't take a chance on getting stuck by a scrupulous landlord. That's just my perspective, I don't like the idea of someone else owning the property MY business is "in" or "on". If I'm going to be making payments every month, I'll be making payments on MY property not someone else's.
But that's just me.

Anyway, good luck
Rick

Rick,
Not to get off thread or anything but, the Famous Dave's you speak of in Sioux Falls did not come from an old gas station. They built it new the way it is. Plus, I think the building and/or business you're actually thinking of is Borrowed Bucks Roadhouse also known as "Bucks". It's a bar and it looks identical to an old gas station (sort of) and does have a couple of gas pumps outside as well as other decor to make it "appear" to have been a gas station at one time. But again, it was built that way 15 years ago. Sorry to burst your bubble but it's interesting how much trouble some businesses will go to to make it look like another that it fools just about anyone.

Back to the thread though........I thought that it was a cool thread because I was thinking of the same thing but sort of with a little different twist. Mine was going to revolve around the culmination (did I spell that right??) or inclusion of 2 seperate types of businesses rolled into one. I thought it would be sort of/kind of neat to actually own a car shop that had about 4 or 5 bays and actually did business as a repair facility but was also nice enough (and large enough) to have a really good sized waiting area and a bar/restaurant inside of it. Also, it would have a good amount of outdoor seating as well and would hopefully attract the gear heads as well as the upper class folk too.

It would actually be a repair place but serve lunch and dinner but focus a little more on the bar part of things and hopefully attract a happy hour/after work crowd and be a good place to go before late late night spots. Now granted, the crappy thing is that in a way, it's like promoting drinking and driving because your offering alcohol to people that would have their vehicles serviced their but the reality is that most people aren't drinking during the day and besides, it really is no different than if someone actually drove their car to the bar and then drove home. They just happen to be driving it to the repair shop.

Just a thought. There's much more to it but that's the basics.

Good idea though man. Good post.

[BARTENDER 54]

Scott....Now we're off the thread...I am 100+% sure it's a Famous Dave's, It's at 2700 S Minnesota Ave. sits on the East side of the street. The gas pumps are on the inside of the building, seeings how they enclosed the driveway. Winner of the Sioux Empire's Ribfest...Go check it out the place is painted yellow and red (God only knows why). But it is a real neat little place.

Hey...and it got 4 stars, lick your fingers to continue...

Nice to see you back, quit workin' so hard.

Talk to ya later,

Rick

OK, Now we're back on the thread.....carry on

[Michael Black]

Little off track , but worth mentioning. Years ago I did some work for a guy named Dave who had a little bbq rib and chicken place. He did not invest in marketing but had the best hot and bbq sauces you have ever tasted. Many never knew or knew he even existed. Around the corner they open a large Famous Dave's. At that time I was not familiar with the chain, but had tried their sauces from the grocery store and connected them with the chain. Personally, I thought they were one of the worse sauces I have ever tasted. But, eventually, Famous Dave with live music put the smaller Dave out of business. And later, Famous Dave closed as well. Location, product, or marketing? Or perhaps a sauce made famous for some with different taste buds?

[scott1988]

I've always felt I have different taste buds than everyone else.