How to Give Your Bar that “Speakeasy” Vibe

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Secrets are exciting. Whether customers are getting a special bargain that few are privy to or just the sense of excitement that comes with finding a hidden gem on a remote corner of town, patrons like to think they’re members of a small, elite club.

Prohibition was a relatively short period of time that ended decades ago, and yet many Americans cling to the thrilling idea of the so-called “speakeasy.” It seems that creating the illusion that a bar is difficult to find or get into means that patrons are willing to fight their way in and pay a premium for cocktails with old fashioned names and ingredients.

So what exactly makes a bar a speakeasy in an age when alcohol is perfectly legal? Technically speaking, nothing. What creates a convincing impression that an establishment is this particular type of forbidden fruit? Well, the answer to that is a bit more complicated. Read more

Keep Cafe Patrons Interested: Add Alcohol to Your Menu

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 Years ago, I had a New York City teacher friend who knew the perfect East Village bar for grading papers at 3:30 in the afternoon. As soon as she put her red pen away, she could reward herself right on the spot with something cold and refreshing. Teachers, freelancers, and aspiring novelists often have an eye out for a destination where they can get work done without all the distractions and temptations of home. When work needs to get done, it doesn’t matter what time or day of the week it is; sometimes it helps to have a pick-me-up like coffee to get through that pile of work – or, when the time is right, an adult beverage to transition out of a long day of putting your nose to the grindstone.

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How to Make Your Own Infused Alcohols

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With the slow food revolution and the ever-increasing trend toward artisan / small batch / made-from-scratch consumables, craft alcohols such as infused vodkas are only continuing to rise in status. In fact, unique mixology that capitalizes on the craft alcohol trend is the hottest customer draw out there right now, so why isn’t your bar cashing in? Perhaps it’s because you don’t know where or how to start introducing more artisan items into your menu. Since I always want to help bars make more money, I’m here to get you on the right path. This is your quick and easy guide to making infused alcohols. Read more

Why You Should Become the Barfly on the Wall

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Of course you want your bar to become the next big thing in your town—but standing out from all the other bars can be quite a challenge. When your bar sales just aren’t reaching the levels you think they should, you can learn to improve by following the methods of a dedicated scientist: Jeff Goldblum’s character in The Fly. (The character’s name is Seth Brundle, but who remembers that?)

No, I’m not speaking crazy talk here, I just think that to transform your bar into the greatest bar in your town, you should become the barFLY on the wall. Here are five ways to do that. Read more