[Pistol Pete]

Hey guys just started looking into opening a bar here in San Antonio Texas. I love sports and gambling and I know you guys do, so I thought you guys could help me with some ideas.

I have been in the bar industry for about 6 years now and have alot of connections and would open something where on Friday and Sat nights you could come drink and dance, those would be my busy nights but the rest of the week are where creative promotions are needed.

So what would you guys like in a bar? What would u creat it like? The licences would be about 7 Grand, and then other big costs are furniture, tv's, bar supplies, and audio equip. I am roughly planning on having 40,000 to start up, so obviously I cant afford alot of expensive things i may want. It is a small space so I am not looking to bring in that many people but 200 on busy nights would be awesome.

Some of my ideas are poker 2 nights a week where winner wins $25 bar tab and 25 cash, free to enter. Others i was thinking were squares every cowboys game and monday night football 1 sq per person $25 bar tab per qt. These type of promotions in my head seem like they would work b/c you keep them there all night almost. Please share your thought on any of my ideas and share any of your own, I appreciate any opinions, thanks guys.

[imgv94]

I think u should have a gimmick for every night, Like $1.50 beer on Tuesdays.
$2.50 Margarita Mondays,etc. And get some plasma TV's. And Good Luck
Bro!!

[the boss]

Watch out on those squares and give aways involving alcohol and the perception of gambling. The ALE came to my buddies bar when he did free poker night. They were there frequently until he quit doing it just looking for any infractions. You do not want these imperial pencil pushers sniffing around your establishment on a regular basis because it increases your odds of losing your expensive licenses. The best way to get people in there is providing live entertainment. That gets the alcohol flowing rapidly.

[Illusion]

If you are gonna do poker have it one night a week (have a cheap draft special that night) and award the top three finishers in the tourny with entry into a grand champions tourny where first place would be a trip to Vegas. This will keep people coming back who don't qualify. Run the tourny for 3-4 months and have the final right afterwords. I would run the regular tourny on what you think may be your slowest night.

[bookie]

Not all sports bars are really sports betting bars, and if that's going to be your theme I think you can do some targeted marketing to guys in San Antonio who bet. You might be able to put together a mailing list from poker magazines or even offshore sports book lists that you could send notices to about your promotions. It might only be 500 names, but if the message was hey come and hang out with other bettors and not just with Cowboy or Texan fans I think that would be appealing.

Also you could consider theming it sports betting in the way you decorate. Those half barrel chairs sometimes used at poker clubs, and maybe banners from Las Vegas and even offshore spots. Even a wipe board that had current spreads on it would give the place a vegas sportsbook feel.

Of course you're going to have to tip-toe through all this legally, but I think it could all be done without breaking any laws.

[SBR_John]

Go check out Firehouse Grill & Pub on Walzem road. They have a cool concept with poker and good easy food, of course TV's and the place gets cooking. The manager is a long time friend names Sammy the Shark, ask for him, tell John sent you. You will get some great ideas I think.

[bigboydan]

the first thing you gotta do is pay off the cops to keep those undercover narcs out of there to arrest your customers when trying to drive home

all joking aside though, heres a few ideas:

you might wanna consider having a ladies nights every week.

find a way to cut your audio and video costs down to as much as you can. (most satellite providers charge per seating capasity.)

weekly pool, darts and fooseball tourneys.

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks everyone for your help, some really good ideas hopefully I can get this idea off the ground.

[pags11]

gotta have Direct TV with the sports packages...hot waitresses...one really good manager, a guy you can trust when you're out of town that you are willing to pay well (trust me on this, I run a business myself)...good food...put a lot into your bathrooms as well, very important...GL pete...

[shady610]

multi tv's with and option to listen to the PBP of whichever game you choose

[bookie]

Shady that's an interesting idea...I've never seen that in a bar...has anybody?

[The Prick]

man, Pete, I spent a day or two in the bar racket, so hear me out. All ya need to make a fortune is chicks with big cans, a couple of brass poles, and a buncha horny dudes who'd rather drink beer than pay their rent.

[Willie Bee]

How 'bout Willie Bee Drinks Free Night

Seriously, not sure where you're thinking of putting the place, but keep me posted and I'll drive down from my humble abode in the New Braunfels area and give you some biz.

You thinking of live music? Mentioned it was a small place, so not sure if you're going to have a stage. But as you know, there's plenty of live acts in this area to pick from.

See if you can get Shiner Beer in there for a promotional stint or two. Saturday afternoon college football. MNF Squares sounds like a good idea.

Best o' luck

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by The Prick

man, Pete, I spent a day or two in the bar racket, so hear me out. All ya need to make a fortune is chicks with big cans, a couple of brass poles, and a buncha horny dudes who'd rather drink beer than pay their rent.

Thats very true. take advantage of the poor white trash effect right now in America. Ugly guys have to go to places likes this because it is the onlty way they can talk to some hot skanks.

If you make it too nice, smart people will have a couple drinks then leave, cater to the white trash and homeboys. They love white skanks running around with no clothes on and flirting with them. Some will pay a girl $100 just to talk to him. SAD

[bigboydan]

do you really wanna make some serious coin in the bar biz, here what you do. you put a ton of poker machines in the back, and cut a side deal with the cops

[compaqDikk]

petey's bar filed chapter 13 yesterday

[wild willy]

Have a big screen that shows all the lines from diff books including 1st half and 2nd half.
so instead of sitting at my computer .
I can sit at your bar

[Willie Bee]

Willy, think you missed the part about the bar going teats up. God bless.

[wild willy]

It would be nice though

[wild willy]

Oh and lots of phones so calling a book is just a few steps away,yes and I have heard of cell phones