Bar/ Pub idea

[RedCon-ONE]

So I was sitting around the other day with some other unemployed friends trying to come up with a business venture. Like all unemployed guys sitting around drinking a beer the fantasy of "Hey, we should start a bar" eventually came up. Thing is, an old bar nearby has finally closed up and is for sale. Only thing is we'd need theme that would separate us from all the other sports bars and stuff in the area.

So I came up with this idea. Call it "GAMERS" or something. The theme would be like a LAN game place but with a license to sell alcohol. 10 PS3s, 10 Xboxes, and a couple Wii's to start with big bandwidth Internet access. Of course have the typical pool table and couple dart boards on the side along with a big projection screen for sports. Idea that it would cater to the 21 and over gamer crowd like us that's a little geeky but still like to go out and drink and party. The lure of playing at a place that you could kick back with like minded friends and BS about the guy you just fragged online or sitting across right across from with a beer vs playing alone at home.

My thought is that gamers may not drink as much since they're playing but they play for hours so essentially they would spend just as much in a couple hours as someone would in one hour at a typical sports bar. Overhead would be a little higher do to the cost of an on-site network guy and upkeep of the consoles and controllers but....

Anyway, been working on this for a few days and I thought I'd get your guys' opinion. Would you go to a bar like this?

[Timmy_2_Tones]

Hell Yeah I would got to a bar like this. i actually found this one quite a while ago that they opened in Australia. It is called the Mana Bar (http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/01/11/australia-opening-first-video-game-pub-mana-bar.aspx) I was thinking I should open one up here in Utah. I think it is a great idea and a Field yet to be exploited and it only makes sense for someone to start.

[jack]

it sounds good but the issue would be foot traffic,you have to keeping them moving and you can't let em get abusive with the equipment. otherwise any overhead you make will go back in to replacing the equipment.... and resupplying the boose ( which if your in the alcohol industry that's is a given if you want to stay in business). but the majority of your overhead it shouldn't constantly, go back in to replacing the equipment because if it does you'll go broke. if you can keep a handle on that type, then you should be pretty successful .

[David_3033]

Yes, I would definitely go to one of these bars. I don't know how much I would though. Since playing at home is free minus the beer. If I had more buddies that play I think I would want to go more often.

[saviger]

I would go to a place like this, If I it was a social thing, and I had some friends there.

[RedCon-ONE]

So, doing the due diligence and ran across our first, and likely, biggest hurdle. The End User License Agreement. From what I found so far, there is no "commercial use" blockade on the PS3 or Wii systems themselves (may be one on the Xbox though) but there definitely are on the Software titles. Roughly stated, in many game EULAs, there's a clause in there that allows "purchasers" for "personal" use only and that one cannot make money off of or use to to advertise or entice patrons with the intent of making money off of their titles without paying royalties. It's grey area but probably a tricky one and one no one wants to tackle which is why we haven't seen a bar like this in the states as of yet. There's still loop holes such as allowing patrons to bring in their personally owned software but this is a downsell for me personally. Still I plan on looking more into this if nothing more than my own curiosity.

[David_3033]

What about if the gaming was free and they just pay for entry and booze?

[MaximusR3]

i was thinking of this too as it's only for personal use and that would be more of a commercial use. Perhaps get in contact with Sony and see what kind of options they say are available. Who knows, maybe they'll like the idea and even want to sponsor it lol

[RedCon-ONE]

Even if playing the games in the establishment were free, which is what we intend, it's still would be our main theme and an "allure" for the bar which entitles the game makers to royalties. I'm currently trying to chase down the law or agreement that allows games to be "rented" like through blockbuster. Loophole being, that if we "rented" the games to the players for zero dollars with the agreement that they would only be played on the premises, I wonder if that would work.

The due diligence continues... maybe I should have volunteered to be the one to look into the liquor license and facilities. LOL

[Timmy_2_Tones]

Here is a similar operations that the main "Allure" is gaming.
You might be able to find some info about how they do it through e-mail's.
Game Truck (http://gametruckparty.com/)

[RedCon-ONE]

COOL. Thanks Timmy'.

This may be a better idea than the bar. If the Bar turns out to be too difficult, I wonder what it would cost to franchise one of these in Washington State. You know, I'll have to seriously look into this. Lotta upsides to it.

[Simmion_1]

I see a lot of bars around pittsburgh have Guitar Hero nights, i dont know if theyre paying royalties or anything like that..

as far as loopholes, i guess if you never mentioned specific titles, or brand names, you might be alright.. or if you wanted to charge for gaming, charge people to rent controllers, and if they happen to find a game console to play it on then it wasnt your doing. (seriously)

Ive seen it done in businesses that didnt want to get a liquor license or permit to throw a party, they sell cups, and if you happen to find a keg in there and put beer in your cup, they didnt sell you the beer so its all gravy

[RedCon-ONE]

Hehehe. True. I remember being stationed at Ft. Polk years ago and taking a trip with some friends to Daytona Beach, FL. One of the coolest things I saw was a few bars they called "After hours" clubs. The couldn't sell beer after 2am so they closed at 1:30am (I suppose you have time to run to the store)and reopened at 2:05am. At that point you had to bring in your own case of beer which you hand over to them and they hand you a drink ticket for each can you brought in. Then they charged you 25 cents to get your beer back (price of keeping it on ice. Bar still had to make money I guess). But that way, they weren't selling beer, they were just keeping the beer you brought with you cold. We partied until sunrise. I wonder if they still do that there?

[Simmion_1]

Hehehe. True. I remember being stationed at Ft. Polk years ago and taking a trip with some friends to Daytona Beach, FL. One of the coolest things I saw was a few bars they called "After hours" clubs. The couldn't sell beer after 2am so they closed at 1:30am (I suppose you have time to run to the store)and reopened at 2:05am. At that point you had to bring in your own case of beer which you hand over to them and they hand you a drink ticket for each can you brought in. Then they charged you 25 cents to get your beer back (price of keeping it on ice. Bar still had to make money I guess). But that way, they weren't selling beer, they were just keeping the beer you brought with you cold. We partied until sunrise. I wonder if they still do that there?

there were some similar places up here in pittsburgh, now i just go to the strip club.. well not THE strip club but one of the less appealing ones, $10 at the door, free beer. and nekkid chicks. really i was friends with one of the bouncers, so i was able to evade tipping any of them. hehe, it was a sweet deal.

[hot_karl]

sounds like today's version of an arcade but with booze. i like it!

[A-25TH-ID-VET]

So I was sitting around the other day with some other unemployed friends trying to come up with a business venture. Like all unemployed guys sitting around drinking a beer the fantasy of "Hey, we should start a bar" eventually came up. Thing is, an old bar nearby has finally closed up and is for sale. Only thing is we'd need theme that would separate us from all the other sports bars and stuff in the area.

So I came up with this idea. Call it "GAMERS" or something. The theme would be like a LAN game place but with a license to sell alcohol. 10 PS3s, 10 Xboxes, and a couple Wii's to start with big bandwidth Internet access. Of course have the typical pool table and couple dart boards on the side along with a big projection screen for sports. Idea that it would cater to the 21 and over gamer crowd like us that's a little geeky but still like to go out and drink and party. The lure of playing at a place that you could kick back with like minded friends and BS about the guy you just fragged online or sitting across right across from with a beer vs playing alone at home.

My thought is that gamers may not drink as much since they're playing but they play for hours so essentially they would spend just as much in a couple hours as someone would in one hour at a typical sports bar. Overhead would be a little higher do to the cost of an on-site network guy and upkeep of the consoles and controllers but....

Anyway, been working on this for a few days and I thought I'd get your guys' opinion. Would you go to a bar like this?
Hell yeah, I would go there. If it has got beer i'm there... I would actually practically live there :D

[MaximusR3]

sounds like today's version of an arcade but with booze. i like it!


Dave & Busters is a pretty sweet "big kid" arcade; full bar with big screens, restaurant, billiards, arcade games, tickets and prizes, it's everything anyone could need :)

[hot_karl]

Yeah, but the closest Dave & Busters is in Chicago which is about 3 hours away.

[MaximusR3]

i guess i'm pretty lucky to have one about an hour and 15 minutes away :D


i'd recommend anyone that has one nearby to check it out sometime though, it is a pretty good time

[RedCon-ONE]

Wish I had one near us. We have an old GameWorks in Seattle. Rumor had it that Dave n Busters were gonna buy it but never panned out.

[ASignorelli]

Good idea, but you can prolly get away with 5 of each and 4 controllers for all of them. plus you need to get headsets for everyone or the place would sound INSANE! Great idea though

[jack]

well you could get in touch with, some local business majors and entertainment attorneys at your local college. they usally offer help with things like this, just for the experience. :mrgreen: