What's a nice way to tell a local craft bar they need to step up their game?

Ask the owner if he has ever watched Bar Rescue?

 

Oh damn. I didn't realize that we're in the same state. What's the bar you're talking about? Feel free to message me if you don't want to say it publicly, I'm just curious.

 

I run my own business. I would very much like to hear about why potential customers are taking their money elsewhere, if I am doing something they do not like. Maybe I have my reasons for what I do, but more info is always useful and it might change my decisions going forward. The OP is of course free to do what he wants, as are the bar owners in question.

 

You must be new around here.

 

Hahahahaha well of course we're all assholes on here, with the "privacy" the internet provides.

 

Who says they are in trouble? It seems quite plausible that they have settled into a niche that is comfortable for them, but just not the Op's cup of tea.

 

Would this establisment be anywhere near the west side of Spokane ?
If I am correct get in contact with the local distributor and have the distributor talk to the establishment... they are friends and will listen to the voice of reason.

 

Just level with them. "Hey, I'm no business man, and I don't want to be telling you folks what you should be doing with your business, but I gotta say....

 

either man up and talk to them face to face or do a google/yelp review. any business worth a shit reads those from time to time to see what people are saying about them.

 

Give em a smack up side de head.

 

Kick in the door wearing Shock swag, turn over tables, run in the cooler and switch the tavern heads around, steal the bartenders tip money and run out screaming "go Zags!"

 

Talk to them. I am completely shameless when it comes to bitching about/suggesting beers to local bar managers/owners. And it pays off. Two of the best beer bars around me have gotten beers at my request before, all because I was shameless in asking for them.

 

Like bcm75 said, most small business owners would appreciate direct feedback from their customers.

Voting with your $$ might work at McDonalds. But a bar owner might not understand why he's losing customers. Unless someone tells them. Just my 2 cents.

 

This.

I did it with a new place last summer. They did.

Your situation is different and you should have said something about the time you stopped going regularly, not now.

 

Yep. Now, I don't think he should mention the bar's selection in relation to others in the area, but he should just talk to them about beer, what he would like to see there, and maybe mention something like "such and such bar has beers x and y... it would be awesome if you could get those and maybe beer Z from that same brewery sometime too."

 

If its only the beer you're interested in just buy it at the store and bring it home, no reason to pay so much for a pint if the atmosphere/staff/food don't really mean much.

If you like the place but wish they carried beer x or y then just keep suggesting it to them, I'm sure they would appreciate customer feedback. When someone doesn't come back they don't know if it was because the hamburger was overcooked or the bartender cussed them out or something else.

 

I don't know if it's different where you live, but where I live the selections of what you can find around town on draft are far different from what you can find in bottles.

 

Same for me. Lots of stuff I drink on draft is only available on draft.

 

The easiest way would be to shoot the owner an email. Just mention that you enjoyed your visit the other night, but the reason you've been frequenting other pubs is their more diverse beer list (or whatever your reason is.) Give them a positive that you enjoy about their place (you like the bartenders, the mood is friendly, whatever) and then mention that you'd probably visit more often if they changed up their tap list with a higher frequency. Be polite and to the point. If the owner has any business sense, he will take your email seriously and be glad of the feedback. If he blows you off, just be glad that you have other options to spent your evenings at.

 

If they are loyal to the same breweries they have been carrying from day one maybe they should ask for the seasonal and special releases instead of the regular stuff. No reason they shouldn't be rewarded...