According to the most recent food expenditure data from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, spending on food and alcohol in restaurants across the nation was approximately 5 million in 2008. With spending like this, it is no surprise people who possess an entrepreneurial spirit often desire to own and operate a restaurant in order to reap the benefits of not only food but also beer, wine, and liquor consumption. However, before profits can flow, there are various factors the new restaurant owner must consider to make the watering hole a success.
"Americans enjoy eating out, and the pace of development of the modern lifestyle indicates that they will continue to eat out more in the future," said Douglas Brown, author of the best-selling The Restaurant Manager's Handbook. "...Four out of five consumers agree that going out to a restaurant is a better way to use their leisure time than cooking and cleaning up."
One of the most important tasks to prep your restaurant for success is to survey the existing bar environment where your business is located.
According to Valerie Mellema, professional bartender and author of The Professional Bartender's Handbook, an effective way to research location must-haves for your restaurant is to talk with others in the area to find out about their typical clientele and what types of food and alcohol are popular. For example, in Florida, Land Shark beer is a local favorite, but in Pennsylvania, Yuengling is a staple of any flourishing establishment.
"If certain types of beer are popular, be sure to offer these beers by the bottle and on draft," Mellema said. "For a large after-work martini crowd, stock the bar with a variety of vodkas and gins, along with the usual liquors."
Creating something to be accommodating, comfortable, and entertaining is one of the initial steps of any successful bar or restaurant business - a well-organized establishment with visible stock will not only attract guests, but will also make the ordering process flow. Optimal bar organization can be achieved through the following steps:
1. Install proper refrigeration. Refrigeration is essential for a bar because many drinks require refrigerated mixers, garnishes, and even eggs.
2. Furnish your bar with an appropriate amount of cabinets and sinks. Cabinets should be easily accessible and should contain alcohol and extra necessities, like straws and napkins. Cleaning supplies are essential and there should also be a hand washing sink, a triple sink setup, and an all-purpose sink.
3. Keep a variety of drink-specific glasses in stock. Most guests will be impressed if specialized glasses are used. Various glass types included wine glasses, pints, beer mugs, highballs, cocktail glasses, martini, and rocks glasses. Back-ups of glassware should also be stored somewhere easily accessible.
4. Set up an accommodating bar top. Bar mats for jiggers and mixing glasses, as well as holders for napkins and straws, are essential. Bartenders will appreciate a mixing area with a grate and drain so the excess liquor and mixers will easily drain.
5. Supply necessary liquors. These include: Brandy, Cognac, Gin, Light Rum, Anejo Rum, Blended Scotch, Whiskey (Blended or Irish), Canadian Whiskey, White Tequila, Gold Tequila,,Vodka, Citrus Vodka, Bourbon.
6. Include a variety of cordials. Cordials can be used as mixers, after dinner drinks, or as floaters. Popular cordials include, Amaretto, Contra or Triple Sec, Crème de Cassis, Grand Marnier, Crème de Cacao (White & Dark), Kahlua, Sambuca (White), Crème de Menthe (White & Green), Bailey's Irish Cream, B & B, Curacao (White & Blue), Chambord, Frangelico, Schnapps (Peach & Peppermint), Tuaca, Melon Liqueur, Southern Comfort, Tia Maria.
7. Include wells in bar construction. Wells, which allow frequently used liquors and liqueurs to be easily accessed, are a necessity in public bars.
8. Include a plethora of beers. Make sure to have different types of beer like lagers, ales, porters, and stouts available in draft and bottles.
9. Make beer kegs and taps easily accessible for staff. Beer taps should be located in an area that allows bartenders to easily access the kegs. Kegs are very heavy, but the staff should be able to change them out on their own. Once empty, kegs can usually be returned to the vendor for refilling.
10. Be knowledgeable about storing wine. Reds should not be stored
in the refrigerator, nor should they be stored in an area that will expose them to light. White wine should be stored in a temperature-controlled refrigerator. Necessary wines include: Red Wine, Blush Wine, Sherry (Cream & Dry), Port (Tawny & Ruby), Vermouth (Sweet & Dry), Rose Wine.
11. Use popular brand names when setting up a bar. Guests will request specific liquors and will be impressed if they are available. To make ordering easy, determine how much of each different type of liquor is sold. These numbers are used so there is not an excess of inventory and everything will be fresh. Always keep at least one back-up bottle of every liquor.
12. Stock up on required mixers, garnishes and other Necessities: Cocktails should have the appropriate mixers and garnishes. Most guests look forward to eating the olives in their martinis or the cherries in their Amaretto Sours. Examples of garnish necessities include Ginger Ale, Grenadine, various types of juice, lemon-lime soda, lime and lemon wedges, pineapple, cocktail onions, fresh mint, Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper, sugar, whipped cream.
13. Determine the tools and equipment needed to run a bar. There are various tools necessary in a bar. Some tools are necessary for making specific types of drinks, while others are used in many different drink recipes. Examples include a long bar spoon, a covered cocktail shaker, wine keys, muddlers for making drinks like a mojito, and jiggers for measuring out cocktails.
14. Create an inviting atmosphere. Having a bar setup that guests will enjoy is important. Many small bars do not look like much, but the servers and bartenders are friendly, therefore, the atmosphere and the staff of a bar will essentially make it or break it. Effective ways to create a fun atmosphere include plenty of bar top space, televisions, and jukeboxes, as well as games like darts or pool.
Make Your Restaurant Boom - Organizational Tips For a Successful Business
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