Pretend this bar opens up in your city. Would you go to it?

[rhyslloyd]

I would try any bar once, but knowing my own tendencies and preferences, I would be much more likely to come back if draft beers in pitchers were served and there was at least some type of menu with apps, sandwiches/burgers and wings. I feel like those are the bare necessities for a dedicated team bar. I can't describe how much I would love for someone to open a dedicated panthers bar. I'm born and raised in the Charlotte area, and I am absolutely sick of outsiders moving here, talking in their ridiculous accents, blowing their damn horns and having their own team bar.

[MadHatter]

9 out of 10 bars opened do not make it.

Sorry, but a tiny bar serving only bottle beer and wine with the only food being from other establishment's delivery would last 6 months at best.

 

[pstall]

Philly you can do it but you need to have a great game plan, cash flow to exceed 2 years, strong partners to spread the leverage around and some innovative ideas. I still say share some space with a start up. Especially one who's expertise you can capitalize on. Be open 3 or 4 days a week and use the other days to lease office space or let some cater from there. Do that for 6 months and analyze where things are going. Are you getting the volume you want? How is the demand? How is your supply chain coming along? Cash flow? Finally and im sure you know this. Surround yourself with people you know who have no problem disagreeing with you. They are the ones to trust.

[CarolinaKid704]

This bar sounds like Hooligans Charlotte. Which is great cuz Hooligans has really grown over the popularity of soccer and adult sports leagues around town. If you set up that kind of vibe, with Panthers on Sunday then you might have something going year round.

[the butch]

Floor layout is important for me. How will the chairs and tables be set up and how comfortable would they be? Something similar to the stadium seating at Manning's in New Orleans is missing around here.

Also, with the refined atmosphere, I would think an equivalently sophisticated food menu is necessary. Beers from different countries, then food from different countries.

[stirs]

Accountants and marketing research are going to be key to any new business.

 

Where you gonna locate?

What are the demographics there?  Who is your customer?

Affluent and craft beer types?  Will they also want whiskey? What type of music do they enjoy?

or

Young, less disposable income and looking for cheap beer and food, opposite sex hookups?

Bottom line, unless there are a lot of "you's" out there, don't just structure your business about what you like.  That goes for food, waitresses, selection of beer(s), sports vs music type bar.

For me, my perfect bar would have draft and craft, sports themes and plenty of TV's but also live (acoustic/blues) music nights for nights that there is nothing to watch.  It would have food for sure because if I am going to be there for an entire football game and maybe longer (NFL draft), then you don't want me to leave to find food.  A scaled down food menu would be fine, but it would need to be tasty, not necessarily cheap.

I would frequent this place about 2 times a week, maybe more during football season.

[TheRed]

If you have some quality local beers on draft, I'm in. Personally, if I'm at a bar, bottles are a last resort.

Regardless, if you opened a bar, I would try my best to give you some business.

[Goondal]

I can deal with the no food, it would probably be good for me. No draft beer though would be a big turn off. If it was the only Panthers bar in the area I would go a couple of times a season just to watch with Panther fans but it would still not be my top choice.

[PhillyB]

thanks everyone for the responses. i'm still doing legwork on this and looking at properties... i give it about a 20% chance of happening, primarily depending on what happens at my current job. i'm fully confident i could pull it off and run a profitable enterprise, but it's also a whole lot to load onto my plate.

i will definitely have discounted prices for huddlers :-)