Quote Originally Posted by casabar View Post
Do you own the property or renting? 1000 question arise.

What is budget and what are your financial expectations? Is this a marathon or sprint business? 1001 questions arise.

How much to make the building operational ( being very simple and this is not so simple or cheap )and how much to achieve your vision? Again remember to keep in mind having 6 - 8 months minimum operating cost stashed away. 1002 questions arise.

What is your background? OK OK you have great " Idears", but do you ( not your friend or a family member who will most likely call out Uncle and bail ) have hands on experience doing a build-out from ground up? Again a 1003 questions arise.

My advice though it would be ideal IMO to take something that was nothing and create something spectacular. That is not realistic for a small operation and only for guys with last names that start with INC. or III. Meaning deep pockets and not a care in the world.. Bars are more complicated than night clubs and cost less in big cash, but more in sacrifice, time and life. Nightclubs are not called "Rich mans toys ( or sons/daughters of rich kids )" for nothing.

I say unless it is a Turn-key or where I am at a Ready bar ( meaning it was a bar w/ all the bells and whistles needed to move the train once you climb on board ) then forget it.

If you can buy the property and then get it coded for a commercial bar then you have options. The landlord wins in the end.

Good luck!

FYI - Response to one poster

Previous staff means nothing unless they are in the rental lease i guess. Start fresh always!
Location is everything as they say. Past history of the business this all depends on what that is. If it was a Speakeasy that is cool yet if it was Jeffrey Dalmers favorite pub and he still holds high score on the antiquated Space Invaders video machines then that might not be so good. Again look at the advantages as well as the disadvantages. In the end they are dollar signs and not astrological ones.

Ideally owning the property or at least having some incredible lease agreement as in paying next to nothing then I would consider it.
I already did it. But it's an interesting conversation (started by another bar owner in my bar). I've been a small biz owner for over ten years (but no bar biz experience in any capacity). I planned for a marathon as opposed to a sprint. I bought the property, revitalized the property and went through the zoning process locking up stand alone bar status for 750' in all directions. I bought the 4COP liquor license (no restrictions). I did create something out of the ordinary (can't be specific cause then I'd identify myself). All told, $1 mil total. I'm curious and surprised that you think bars are more complicated than nightclubs. Why?

I've got 'rich guys' & 'big boys' (-read betwn the lines) nosing around.