Thinking about opening a bar in Austin - need input

DD, firecat has an excellent point. The homeless shelter is RIGHT THERE, and while it was brute stupidity by the city to allow it to be at that location, it ain't going anywhere anytime soon. Like Cohen asked, is it close to Waller Creek? They are planning some major redevelopment there, now that a huge flood bypass has finally been approved. While they're building it (who knows how long that'll take... we're talkin' about Austin! Remember the endless construction on Barton Springs Road?) there might be quite a mess. The end result, though, is supposed to be similar to the SA Riverwalk, with mucho landscaping, constant level water flowing in the creek, the whole area being built up. When they complete that, I suspect they'll finally find a new home for the shelter. (thank god)

DD, you DO realize that this is a labor intensive line of work. The owner has to fill in when people are sick, make sure all the supplies are there, and that the prices are what you expect. If you serve food, there is a hell of a lot of prep you have to do long before you open. One of my best friends opened the Five Star Smokehouse in Westlake Hills, because he was burnt out from the financial game, and thought it would be fun. He figured he'd have a good manager to do all the dirty work, and he'd keep the books, meet and greet, and round up catering business through people he knew in that area. He built a very nice outdoor stage for live music, with a beautiful tree covered deck. Had some excellent people play there, until the "neighbors" complained about how "loud" it was. (it wasn't that loud, and they weren't that close... they were just being A-holes, but A-holes with influence)

After about a year of sinking well into 6 figures fixing up the place, he had to sell it. He couldn't get a sign on Bee Caves bigger than a post box, he couldn't play much in the way of live music, because of the idiots that harassed him, and on and on. And he for sure put far more hours into running the place than he ever dreamed possible. Finally pulled the plug and went back to IPO's and the like. His place DID have damn fine BBQ, though, while it lasted. He used nothing but the best... another one of his problems. Doing that is expensive.

If you really jump into this deal, DD, try to keep it simple, at least until you're known and have a good, steady business. Excellent HD TVs showing the Rockets just might get a Blade Runner or two out to have some Cuba Libres. Just be sure to carry Myers.

 

I had a buddy that wanted to open a billiards bar in Austin but he said getting the required licenses their was a b****. The city is very political and the folks that already have bars don't want any more.

From my limited experience I would also have to say, in a cash business, it's almost impossible to keep your employees from stealing from you. It's just too easy and the type of itinerant staff you'll have to hire will have questionable ethics. They are not there for a career, the pay is low, the hours are lousy, if they get caught all you can really do is fire them and they will get another job the next day. Most people get in to the food and beverage services because it is the last refuge of the unmotivated, My buddy who is a food and beverage manager says you can count on about 1 in 10 of the people you hire (and even they will steal from you)

Ask Strack.

 

do you already have a location / theme or type of bar in mind? if you own a house financial shouldn't be a problem..

 

definitely add a few months on to your projected opening date merely for having to deal with the City of Austin. They are notorious for taking for ever with permits.

 

i just graduated this spring. i'd say it's a horrible location. no go.

if i know exactly where you're looking, you get no foot traffic. you're next to the homeless shelter and the police station, two places nobody wants to be. and i think that the one thing that keeps bars afloat in austin is the fact that they're near other bars - you get foot traffic from curious people or people looking for a very close refuge from the crowds.

unless you're willing to really pull out the cash and make it a "destination" bar and deal with the homeless people harassing patrons and making the front look intimidating... i'd say look elsewhere. it sounds like you don't want to attract the cheap drinks/reggaeton/wifebeaters/crooked baseball cap crowd - your target crowd might be 4th street.

in my opinion, if you can attract women to a bar, you are doing well. guys will go, hang out, and enjoy a game or two at most any bar. but if you make it nice enough for women, guys will bring dates/hookups there, women will group up together, and guys will go to the bar looking for women. not many women i know are interested in getting cat-calls or feeling vulnerable when confronted by unknown homeless people.

i fully agree with leroy420. sherlock's in north austin is the only place to go for any decent place, and they're packed. i'd suggest nowhere near I-35. try 2nd or 4th (it's getting crowded) or even further west on 6th, away from the college crowd. north wouldn't be so bad either, if you wanted a big theme place.

good luck

 

Here's a tip: don't hang a sign that says, "WHITES ONLY." That would be BAD news.

 

Unfortunately, I have to agree with those having issue with the panhandlers and drug dealers who harass people walking through that area.

It's like walking a gauntlet.

However, many establishments have had success by playing classical music from speakers.

http://tspweb02.tsp.utexas.edu/webarchive/07-09-01/2001070903_s06_Police.html
http://www.siue.edu/SOCIOLOGY/journal/v2hernandez2002.htm

 

Thanks for sharing, I always wondered what happened to that place. That was a favorite of mine, what a shame. Mighty fine chopped beef sandwiches.

And good luck, DD!