Need advice: opening a craft beer bar

I'm a database admin, so I have NO experience in the line of business you are considering. But I am a huge fan of craft beer, and so I'd like to share my thoughts on the business model of what a craft beer bar has done with great success in my neck of the woods. In regards to their beers, they are very good at keeping their customers informed on their current inventory - what's on tap, and what they have in bottles. They keep a huge board behind the bar that lists all of their daily specials. They offer a variety of flights priced very reasonably to encourage expanding your palate. They pay special attention to local brewers, and showcase their offerings all the time. They maintain a "club-membership" that, when joined, provides an immediate discount on your purchases. They also keep track of all of the beers you try, and offer additional specials as the number of beers you try increases. They have live entertainment provided by local bands on the weekends. They also maintain an FB page, and leverage social media to keep their followers well informed about seasonal arrivals, specials, and the entertainment for the coming weekend. When it comes to food, they've strategically located their facility within walking distance of about 5 or 6 food retailers. I believe they have an agreement with these retailers, as this business carries the menu's of all of these food retailers at all of the tables within their facility. And when you order food from these menu's, the food retailers are allowed to come into the craft food bar and deliver your order right to your table - pretty cool stuff right there, and works very well for all parties. I know that they are very successful because the place is always packed.

If you decide to accept this new opportunity, I hope that my post can give you and your friends a few ideas to consider as you finalize a business plan. Whatever you decide, I wish you and your growing family nothing but happiness and success. Cheers, and good luck!

 

I wouldn't say that partnerships are to be avoided at all costs, the thing is you would need to strictly define roles and decision making procedures at the start.

There are plenty of places that don't offer AALs and are successful, and plenty that don't and aren't.
I would think that the clientele demand should really drive the products. As much as I and we on this site dislike them, the reality is that AALs are still something like 85+% of the beer sales in the US. I would think that having bottles of Bud/Coors and Bud / Coors light would be enough to keep those guys happy, and save the taps for the craft offerings. (This presumes that people are coming in, wanting those, and leaving if they don't have them. Some of the BMC types might be open to a lighter pils style (like FSW Pivo, Victory's Pils etc) but others won't be. )
Having maybe 20 - 30 taps should be enough, as long as they're well chosen - and maybe 2/3rds regular offerings, and 1/3 rotating, with limited brews coming as they can get them - and if they are successful, they'd eventually be able to get some.

 

Yeah as someone who has danced around with the idea of opening a bottle shop/tap house the main thing a lot of people I talked to who work in beer in some way emphasized the relationships with distributors almost as much as anything to ensure they're taking care of you with the upper tier product. My one buddy who is a distributor rep also flat out told me the best way to build a relationship with such people is to maybe get off on the right foot paying in cash, not credit, which I took to heart and built into a bigger business loan to get things started when I was kicking around numbers on paper.

 

10+ taps and unique food .. dont just have people come for the beer make it both. Come for the food and have a beer or come for the beers and of course eat later. Must have monster screens for the football season .. if not no one will be there for 6 months of the year. Say what you want its true.

 

It is something for the future if you decide to go in on this venture. Make sure you always clean your taps. I cant tell you how many bars I have gone to and never went back because of dirty tap lines.

 

This is not true at all. As much as I love football, I've yet to be at a craft beer bar with monster TVs if any.

 

I thought the same thing, then I saw he was from Texas.

 

To me, this statement is a huge red flag (unless your current salary is really low). As others said, a "start-up" will burn capital, promising someone a high salary from the get-go doesn't seem like something a good business person would do. Keep in mind, the MBA isn't magic.

 

This is your wife's cousin? If things go poorly (which is a possibility with any business), how will that affect your relationship with your wife?

Going into a business with a spouse is one thing, but with a member of your spouse's family? That would be a tough one for me.

 

Have a nice atmosphere with good food. Set up shop in a busy location in an area that isn't already saturated with craft beer bars. Offer special events like weekly tastings and giveaways. Offer wine as well. Unopened bottles of wine never go bad, yet most importantly you'll need to appeal to the girlfriends and wives of your potential customers if you expect them to come to your shop. Yes I know more and more women are getting into craft these days, which is awesome, yet the fact remains most would rather just have a glass wine (my significant other included). So instead of getting NO customers you now have the opportunity for two. Don't beer snob yourself out of business. And good luck if you go for it!

 

Someone is going to say it (probably before this post) but you do NOT, repeat do NOT, have to carry BMC to succeed. It also wont kill you if you do.

 

How can she promise a salary on what is a very risky venture? You have a kid on the way? I would be leary. You got health insurance for your little man/gal? If not, don't expect it from this new job. That said, if your current job is shit and you feel like rolling the dice, shoot. I personally would not. Being a 1/3 partner on new establishment is not going to bring home the bacon. And you could you bet your bottom dollar you are first on the chopping block when sales don't meet the expectations.

 

Maybe .... but why not spend the relative small amount of money just for the attraction .. there are A LOT of people that will not visit you on a Sunday if the game is not on .. To me its like insurance or at least take that one strike away from the place. Its not like televisions are even remotely expensive anymore... a few 60" tvs can be had for a small amount of money. Sundays are some bars biggest days during the season .. make absolute zero sense to take that potential crowd away from your place of business.

 

Well some BAs on here have actually expressed that they would not visit a bar with large TVs, so while not totally indicative of the entire population, you would gain a certain demographic while losing another. I'm a huge sports fan and I can probably count the number of times I've gone to a bar to watch sports on one hand. I'd say 90% of the beer bars I've been to don't have any TVs and I know I've never been to one that has even one 60 inch TV. Unless the OP wanted to open a sports bar, I don't see the need for large TVs.

 

Guess you didn't read my post. Hurt my feelings...

 

I realize that you getting inundated with comments, mostly "did you think about this?, what about that?". Since you and your wife are educated I will spare you the obvious and well meaning business points being made and instead point out that you have to be somewhat selfish, here.
I refer to a 401k, to medical, dental, vision insurance. To the inevitable time off you will need for when your child gets sick, etc. I realize that these folks have offered you more than your current salary. Have they included the cost of all the benefits that you now have, or might want, to truly surpass your current pay package?
Food for thought.

 

Contact Chris at The Beer Temple. He went through this exercise about 2 or 3 years ago. I imagine he would have some helpful pointers for you (guy went as far as to install lighting that wouldn't skunk the beer in the coolers). He's got one of the best bottle shops (if not the best) in chicago. I'm sure he's happy i'm volunteering him, but he's always been approachable at his shop.

http://craftbeertemple.com/videoblog/

 

Don't forget to put a large neon sign in the window that says... "THIS IS A BMC FREE ZONE"

 

You found a thread discussing this already but it was mostly negative comments, so you started a new one.

Why did you do this?

Because you want to hear positive comments.

Why do you want this?

Because you want to take this job.