Starting a tiny Brewpub/Craft Beer Bar

I hope to become a growler filling station for college students going to parties, tailgates, etc. But I want that in and out traffic AND consistent seated traffic.

 

Well this is becoming a trying venture. Me and the landlord(yeah the one I said was great, blah, blah, blah) are having some trouble getting together. End of yesterday he said to send my proposals. I sent them and no response. I texted him today because I need to get final measurements because 4 departments need my floorplan. He said he was really busy today with work and would have to do it tomorrow. I explained that I need to get these so I can get plan finalized and to everyone by Friday to begin getting everyone's approval. Could he leave me a key like he did before. No response. I will fully admit my shortcoming is my laser focus on getting a project done on my time frame. I know the guy is busy but he answered my text to meet but ignored the one about getting a key sent 3 minutes later. This is becoming that girl you went on a date with and really liked who you freaked out and contacted too early. This is like that scene in Rounders...

 

Ok, he won't install the heater. He won't make the repairs to the floor. He won't give me sole access to common space. To which I restated my purpose which wasn't to have the space all to my own but to be able to have constant access to it. Essentially I do not want someone to "reserve" it for Saturday night from 7-11 pm and me not be able to get anyone on the patio.(Make sense?) He is allowing seating out front of the store fronts(so long as transportation dept approves) and is letting me have the space in front of his office as well. This could be 6-8 additional spaces during the warm months and could be huge. He is pushing me to sign the lease on the other store front asap. While it is definitely a space I need I just didn't want to eat the cost of it while I wait for the abc approval. But its something that I will just have to swallow. I'm probably looking at another $1600 in additional expenses on the low end. I know that isn't much but I know there are going to be other costs and I don't want it to spiral. So $1600 is a lot to me because this will happen 3-4 more times.

 

Honestly I almost told him to go *&$% himself but pulled back after talking to someone. I see his point. If your are renting two spaces for $590 a month you don't exactly have the money to pour into $1600 worth of repairs. And it is quite normal for landlords to allow the tenant to fit the station up to their needs or do it for them and charge them. It would be very difficult to find something this similar that offers both the price and potential patio/common area that this place affords. Again, at this price. I've told him I would look at making the repairs myself once I investigate more and we would discuss deferred compensation and/or locking a long term lease in at a low price once I have a better standing in the place.

 

I completely understand I'm gonna be at the back of the pecking order for cool stuff. I get that. If I think a brewer has their stuff together and consistently produces a great product I'll back them. But I know the larger bars that push more of their product will get dibs.

I would love for you to give advice and help me in any way. You are on the brewer side. What could I do better on the retail side?

 

Well, I had one foot out the door today before my level headed lady friend walked me through all my "beefs" with the landlord. To paraphrase: she goes, "so you may have to do another 1k in repairs? that place is dirt cheap. the options are endless for that amount. what are you worried about? are you afraid that the business itself isn't viable?" me: "no" Her: "then why are you letting 1k hold you up?"

He completely understand my position. But he is also frank about the fact that he doesn't have the margins to make many repairs. He is willing for me to submit a list of repairs and see if we can figure out a way to make it work for both of us. He has agreed with my new "its a common space that everyone can use but I don't want to EVER be excluded from" stance. I'm literally sitting and waiting for him to bring the keys so I can measure my sink areas and the second space to get my floor plan which will be generated and sent to the multiple entities that need it.

 

ote="jeff52, post: 1770520, member: 256062"]With all due respect, I'm really troubled with the fact that you decided to address your questions about this situation on a forum with people who discuss and review beer; which in no way is meant to imply or insinuate the members of this forum are not nice people with good intentions and motives. Of course the advantages are it costs you nothing and you will receive many opinions and lots of advice, but at the same time the disadvantages are you have no input from an attorney, accountant, financial advisor, etc. I trust you are receiving additional input and advice from the patrons of the local coffee shop, your neighbors, customers of the local bowling alley and participants in other internet forums. In any event, good luck with your endeavor.[/quote]
Ive been trying to real time involve people in this endeavor because most people don't see the trials and tribulations of what really goes on behind the scenes. Thanks for your input. I opened my first retail establishment at 21. I've been self employed for more years than I've been employed by another establishment. 2 1/2 years vs 14. I appreciate your input but you could have at least read through the post to get a semblance of what I'm doing and have done.

 

I hope to have the floor plan for both areas tonight. I gave final dimensions. Now that I know I am starting with the second store front as well as the first instead of adding it on, I am rethinking how I want to do the layout in the first store front(fyi they are connected by a 32" swinging door that may have to be romoved). I'm contemplating keeping the first room standing room only and seating in the second one. But, I may do a mix. I hope when I get this floor plan together it will spur some conversation. And since I have a mix of brewers, owners, distributors, and most importantly the drinking public, I think I can get some fun ideas.

I have to now work on finalizing the cooling system, number of taps(probably six based on initial feedback), glassware, and logo.

 

I won't have it immediately but I will have TV's. We have such a strong college sports following here that it needs to be here.