LF someone that owns a bar, restaurant or franchise - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

terminator · 03-03-2014, 03:48 PM

Hey Guys,

I've always found CP to be the best resource when trying to collect information that needs a "personal" touch, hence my topic.

I have recently thought of buying a running bar or franchise restaurant and was wondering if anyone on CP has done as such before or currently. I am just looking to have a chat with someone about the daily life of a restaurant operator.

Also, as for a random inquiry what do you guys look for in your establishments that attract you as patrons? Do you visit the same place as a regular or are you a bar hopper?

Regards,

Terminator

troutman · 03-03-2014, 04:20 PM

Sponsoring sports teams would seem to be a good idea.

undercoverbrother · 03-03-2014, 04:31 PM

Ranch Dressing and lots of it!

btimbit · 03-03-2014, 04:45 PM

Message springs1, I'm pretty sure she knows everything there is.

undercoverbrother · 03-03-2014, 04:47 PM

DO NOT ALLOW DOGS

Spoiler!

Cuz · 03-03-2014, 05:29 PM

Watch Bar Rescue (basically a version of Kitchen Nightmares for bars/nightclubs), and don't do what the owners of the bars did before the rescue.

terminator · 03-03-2014, 05:37 PM

Would you guys be interested in a cp "corner" for meet ups?

btimbit · 03-03-2014, 05:53 PM

I can't speak as an an owner, or much on the bar side, but if you have any questions about running restaurants or kitchens feel free to pm me

Nage Waza · 03-03-2014, 05:56 PM

My best friend purchased a bar, renovated it (spending hundreds of thousands) and wound up doing very well

The big issues he had were he acted like he owned it and acted like the best customer...not a good mix. He would make his friends pay for everything, but gave them a bit of a break. Once in a while he would host a poker game on a night he knew he was closing early, he would lock the doors and comp all the booze and food.

Burninator · 03-03-2014, 06:00 PM

I know someone that owns and runs a bar but I hardly ever see him because he literally has almost no free time.

btimbit · 03-03-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

I know someone that owns and runs a bar but I hardly ever see him because he literally has almost no free time.

Sounds about right.

speede5 · 03-03-2014, 06:12 PM

Take a business course, there are some good night courses available that will really open your eyes to what you need to run a business.

Franchises are expensive, and you have little control, but they tend to do well if you don't mind doing what your told (usually that's the opposite reason people start there own business').

Bars are very lucrative, but they tend to be hot for a while and then the crowd moves on. Lot's of money made by starting a bar, and selling it while it's still hot. The crowd is fickle though, and not very loyal. I worked the bar scene for years and I still don't know the magic formula.

If you are really interested in a franchise, try and find one that has room for expansion in your area, and try and partner with an existing owner/franchisee. Contact the franchise office and they can put you in touch with opportunities.

Oh ya, and have lots of cash.

Calgary14 · 03-04-2014, 08:14 PM

In my experience franchises are geared to people who are able to follow a proven system and want to be part of tot rather than reinventing the wheel. No creativity and all decisions made by head office. Not a bad thing necessarily just a difference. If you open up your own place you have more freedom (again could be good or bad)

V · 03-04-2014, 08:24 PM

I've always wanted to own a bar because they make it look like a lot of fun in It's Always Sunny. Doesn't look like a lot of work at all.

zyzz · 03-04-2014, 09:03 PM

I've worked in the bar industry for years. What sort of direction are you thinking of going? Beer Halls seem to be all the rage these days. Would you do something like Hudson's that's restaurant by day and club by night (on weekends). Just asking for curiosity sake.

The biggest thing I can add for advice is make sure you have a solid liquor system in place, bartenders are the greasiest bunch of people and will rob bars blind if they have the chance. Location is obviously also very important, I've seen the nicest interiors that fail because of ignorance to a good location.

Winsor_Pilates · 03-04-2014, 09:50 PM

As a customer, one thing I've often hated about new bars is the owners friends & off duty staff all hanging around too much.

I'm sure new bars need friend/family support to get going & fill the room but don't make customers feel secondary.

When the working staff attends to you every 10 minutes & goes to talk to the friend/co workers off shift table the whole time in between its an issue.

Make the place a comfort zone for your new customers & they'll become regulars.

Sample00 · 03-05-2014, 07:35 AM

if you are interested, feel free to PM me. I have a friend that owns a Sports Bar in Calgary. He's kept me in the loop of trials and tribulations of owning an establishment such as this.

It can certainly have its challenges but he seems to be enjoying it.

Derek Sutton · 03-05-2014, 08:55 AM

If it is a sports bar, make sure the staff know the channels and are able to opertate the system which changes the channels. I use to get really pissed when I would go into the local place and and all the channels are on Cornation Street, and the staff couldn't firgue out how to put golf on one, football on another and the hockey game on two others, I just go behind the bar and change them myself now, I know how to work there system better then anyone who works there.

Any thing you could do to offer rides (shuttle/ chits) and or get cars home would be a huge plus.

Mentioned earlier but all the "hang arounders" be it off duty staff or friends really drive me nuts, I don't get it

Closing but serving freinds and regulars after hours, though very cool can really hurt your business. You will get more "freinds and regulars" as time goes on and they will want you to close earlier and earlier every weekend so they can drink for free..

Im also a fan of loyaty cards, buy nine jugs get your tenth free.

Calgary14 · 03-05-2014, 09:07 PM

Speaking of pubs - Anyone been to Kildares in Silverado?

flames_fan_down_under · 03-05-2014, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

If it is a sports bar, make sure the staff know the channels and are able to opertate the system which changes the channels. I use to get really pissed when I would go into the local place and and all the channels are on Cornation Street, and the staff couldn't firgue out how to put golf on one, football on another and the hockey game on two others, I just go behind the bar and change them myself now, I know how to work there system better then anyone who works there.

Any thing you could do to offer rides (shuttle/ chits) and or get cars home would be a huge plus.

Mentioned earlier but all the "hang arounders" be it off duty staff or friends really drive me nuts, I don't get it

Closing but serving freinds and regulars after hours, though very cool can really hurt your business. You will get more "freinds and regulars" as time goes on and they will want you to close earlier and earlier every weekend so they can drink for free..

Im also a fan of loyaty cards, buy nine jugs get your tenth free.

I have managed restaurants for a number of years, and if you want any loyalty from your staff, as well as a somewhat engaged staff that doesn't resent its management, staff hanging out after shift and having a couple drinks isn't a bad thing. They often form good relationships with their co-workers which helps with less turnover. Major issues with restaurants is high turnover. Often employees have to pay for their drinks and food, they get a discount, but it's not as if they are eating for free.

Also if my friends want to come visit me at a bar I own/run then they are more than welcome to come, how else is the manager of a restaurant going to see their nine to five friends if they shouldn't come in and enjoy a couple beers.

I have never in a million years had any of my friends hassle me to close earlier, let alone regulars, if anything they are the ones I am shoving out the door so I can close the place down, nor have they ever expected anything for free. I would hope most friends understand that you are running a business.

I would recommend doing a lot of work before going into the restaurant industry. It is a 7 days a week non stop grind. You need good managers that believe in you that can manage personalities. Turnover is high so you will need a good training strategy. Atmosphere, Service, and Quality are you three pillars that drive any restaurant. Margins are extremely small so you need to have something that separates you somehow and is also profitable, for example I managed an oyster bar where we bought our oysters wholesale at 50 to 80 cents a piece and sold them at 2.50 to 3.50 a piece, and would often sell about 2000 a day. And yes a lot of the time your staff is trying to steal from you, which is why you need a good system of checks and balances for everything, and I mean everything. Everything costs money, straws, knives, toilet paper, shelves, plumbing, internet, do don't go into this thinking it will be cheap.