I've driven past this place nearly every day. It's been open for a couple years now. There are never any cars there. It always looks dead but it's a nice looking place from the outside so the other night I was driving by and thought I'd stop in for a drink.
No surprise, it was dead. 2 guys at the bar watching the hockey game on the big screen. It's nice and clean inside, maybe a bit sterile looking, so I saddled up to the bar a couple stools down from the 2 guys.
Since it's an "Ale House" I asked the bartender (who was very pleasant) if they had any special Ale, maybe a local craft Ale. Nope. Turns out they have the same stuff you can get anywhere. Ok, I got a pint. Can't even remember what now, probably a Bud.
One of the guys turns and sees me and incredulously asks me "What the hell are you doing in this place?" so I tell them I was just driving by. Then he's all "Why are you dressed like that?" I had a business casual button down and khakis on. I felt a bit weird already. These guys were blue collar, jeans and a t shirt, mullet head hockey dudes, so I didn't really know what to say. Were they looking to start with the nicely dressed fat guy? Who knows.
So anyway, now both of them are focused on me. Asking if I like hockey and brining up my clothes again. So I'm starting to realize they aren't curious, they are looking to f with me.
I stare at the TV screen and they turn back to each other. I want to see what goes on in this place so I asked the bartender if it's ok if I vape. She says I'd have to ask the owner and points at the guy that was just talking to me. And I'm like "him" and she nods yes and I asked his name and she says Rick.
So I said "Hey Rick, mind if I vape" he says something like "Yeah go ahead, there's no body here anyway" and I'm starting to get the picture why as this now turns into a grill session about why do I vape, does it help me quit smoking, isn't it illegal and to that I was like "you tell me, some bars I go to are fine and others aren't and no one seems to know what the law is." He says he doesn't know or care.
At this point I'm about 1/4 done my pint and ready to go already. So I start drinking faster.
And as I look around I start to realize that this place has no identity. It's the 3rd or 4th failing bar that's been opened in that building in the last 15 years. And then I thought of bar rescue when the owner likes to get wasted with his buddies and they make people feel uncomfortable. And the poor bartender. She was so nice and professional but I can tell her hands are tied.
Finally I got to about 3/4 of my beer and had enough. I wanted to make sure my exit was noticed so I asked the bartender "Am I all paid up" and she said yep, so I thanked her and left.
Won't be back to that place. So Rick, to answer your original question, people come in cause it looks nice and they are curious. Then they meet you and your drunk buddies and never come back. If you bought a bar thinking you don't have to kiss any butt any more, you are wrong, but now instead of the boss, it's your customers. Learn that, then learn to drink at home. If your bar is your personal living room, trust me, you aren't cool enough to have friends over every night. Gonna have to do better than slapping a big tv on the wall and serving generic beer. read more