Opening a Bar - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ironpham · 10-12-2009, 01:43 PM

Hey guys,

I've been coming up with an idea for opening a bar. Before I go any further, I know there are how-to's on the internet for this kind of stuff, but I am posting here to get to get more personal information.

Anyways, I've been coming up with this idea of a bar. This bar is the combination of a hookah bar and regular bar. As in, it serves alcohol and hookah. Of course, it is targeted to college students. This leads me to my first question: does this even sound like a good idea? I've never seen this combination before. The closest I've seen is a bar in downtown Wilmington, NC that does both but stops all hookah services at 9PM.

To me, this seems like a profitable idea because bars in college cities tend to be extremely loud and uncomfortable. In order to talk to anyone, you have to yell and scream directly into their ears. This is where my bar would differ. Of course there's the regular bar portion where you'll still hear the loud music (possibly live) and all, but if you want to sit down in a comfortable area and talk to someone or some people, you can walk over to the hookah section where it will be a little bit quieter. The hookah section won't be completely split off from the regular bar section, but it will be far enough away and have enough border to eliminate some sound and keep the smoke from getting to the bar area.

So, if you guys find this idea to be a good one, any helpful tips on the best way to start this would be awesome.

FuglyStick · 10-12-2009, 02:19 PM

Can't help; I like my bars loud. If I wanted quiet, I'd go to the library.

pomeranian · 10-12-2009, 02:30 PM

What's good Pham? Just my take on the college bar thing, i'd recommend attempting to serve house brews made by anyone you can find who is a licensed brewmaster. It's something i've been watching in the Philadelphia scene where those type bars are far from a loud environment, but more towards the enjoyment of the art of the brew. Just an idea to throw out here. I can't speak on the hookah thingy...lol, but the college youth would be sure to go for that. Best of luck matey.

ironpham · 10-12-2009, 04:49 PM

Thanks, pomeranian. I actually already know a good amount of people who just got into brewing and are working toward becoming a licensed brewmaster. I probably won't contact them until I start getting the project under way.

Fugly, the bar will be loud. The hookah area is for those who want to be in a less loud area. There will also be couches and those nice cushiony seats.

Redlemon · 10-13-2009, 06:47 AM

That wouldn't work in Connecticut; you can't smoke in a bar. Probably different in NC. A hookah lounge tried to open here recently, but the town health inspector shut it down just based on the smoking.

ironpham · 10-13-2009, 07:12 AM

Hookah lounges are in the clear here. I haven't really found a good one here yet which makes me want to try this idea.

FuglyStick · 10-13-2009, 07:51 AM

It's not necessarily a bad idea, but I haven't seen many hookah bars succeed for one reason--no one spends any money. The problem with the laid back, "lounge" type bars is that they don't move enough product to cover their overhead. The square footage in a bar is real estate, and in a "lounge" type atmosphere, you have a lot of freeloaders--people who will park their butts in a nice comfy sofa, buy one drink, and occupy that seat for hours, denying other customers the opportunity to come in and spend money at your establishment. Some places will offset that loss of patron turnover by raising drink prices, but there comes a point where people are not willing to pay way what you are asking for a drink; I wouldn't pay 8-10 bucks for a martini, I suppose some people would.

10-12-2009, 01:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
ironpham DOOMTRAIN Location: NC	Opening a Bar Hey guys, I've been coming up with an idea for opening a bar. Before I go any further, I know there are how-to's on the internet for this kind of stuff, but I am posting here to get to get more personal information. Anyways, I've been coming up with this idea of a bar. This bar is the combination of a hookah bar and regular bar. As in, it serves alcohol and hookah. Of course, it is targeted to college students. This leads me to my first question: does this even sound like a good idea? I've never seen this combination before. The closest I've seen is a bar in downtown Wilmington, NC that does both but stops all hookah services at 9PM. To me, this seems like a profitable idea because bars in college cities tend to be extremely loud and uncomfortable. In order to talk to anyone, you have to yell and scream directly into their ears. This is where my bar would differ. Of course there's the regular bar portion where you'll still hear the loud music (possibly live) and all, but if you want to sit down in a comfortable area and talk to someone or some people, you can walk over to the hookah section where it will be a little bit quieter. The hookah section won't be completely split off from the regular bar section, but it will be far enough away and have enough border to eliminate some sound and keep the smoke from getting to the bar area. So, if you guys find this idea to be a good one, any helpful tips on the best way to start this would be awesome. __________________ SIGNATURE.

10-12-2009, 02:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
FuglyStick WHEEEE! Whee! Whee! WHEEEE! Location: Southern Illinois	Can't help; I like my bars loud. If I wanted quiet, I'd go to the library. __________________ AZIZ! LIGHT!

10-12-2009, 04:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
ironpham DOOMTRAIN Location: NC	Thanks, pomeranian. I actually already know a good amount of people who just got into brewing and are working toward becoming a licensed brewmaster. I probably won't contact them until I start getting the project under way. Fugly, the bar will be loud. The hookah area is for those who want to be in a less loud area. There will also be couches and those nice cushiony seats. __________________ SIGNATURE.

10-13-2009, 06:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	That wouldn't work in Connecticut; you can't smoke in a bar. Probably different in NC. A hookah lounge tried to open here recently, but the town health inspector shut it down just based on the smoking. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

10-13-2009, 07:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
ironpham DOOMTRAIN Location: NC	Hookah lounges are in the clear here. I haven't really found a good one here yet which makes me want to try this idea. __________________ SIGNATURE.

10-12-2009, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
pomeranian Tilted Location: Philadelphia, PA	What's good Pham? Just my take on the college bar thing, i'd recommend attempting to serve house brews made by anyone you can find who is a licensed brewmaster. It's something i've been watching in the Philadelphia scene where those type bars are far from a loud environment, but more towards the enjoyment of the art of the brew. Just an idea to throw out here. I can't speak on the hookah thingy...lol, but the college youth would be sure to go for that. Best of luck matey.

10-13-2009, 07:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
FuglyStick WHEEEE! Whee! Whee! WHEEEE! Location: Southern Illinois	It's not necessarily a bad idea, but I haven't seen many hookah bars succeed for one reason--no one spends any money. The problem with the laid back, "lounge" type bars is that they don't move enough product to cover their overhead. The square footage in a bar is real estate, and in a "lounge" type atmosphere, you have a lot of freeloaders--people who will park their butts in a nice comfy sofa, buy one drink, and occupy that seat for hours, denying other customers the opportunity to come in and spend money at your establishment. Some places will offset that loss of patron turnover by raising drink prices, but there comes a point where people are not willing to pay way what you are asking for a drink; I wouldn't pay 8-10 bucks for a martini, I suppose some people would. __________________ AZIZ! LIGHT!