Location, Location, Location!

Its all about the Location, Location, Location!

So in between busy shifts working and spending some QT with the family and whiskey fueled nights with friends I have been searching for the place to open my first bar. I know I don't want anything too big and I don't want to open a restaurant. I want a small space somewhere near my old stomping grounds in Silver Spring, MD. So where do I begin?

I started the good old way and hit Google. I have found tons of places that say profitable bar with hundreds of thousands in revenue and cash flow each year. At first glance I got excited but then the old "you cant believe anything on the internet" started rattling in my brain. Why would you sell your business that is making you so much money. How do I wade through the bullshit and figure out what is true and not true? After a few weeks of searching I am right back at the beginning again. Where do I begin? How do I know what is true? This process has proven to provide more questions than answers. I think the purchase of a turn key business is not the way to go about it. A turn key sounds good but it comes with all of the previous owners ideas and regulars. If I piss off the regulars and locals with changes that they do not agree with I will tank the bar. So the focus must be placed on is it better to build to suite or to find a closed location and relaunch? I feel this cuts the truth factor out, knowing that the only figures and information I have to take into account are concrete and ones that I have found necessary.

Hopefully I can figure out these issues a bit easier when I relocate to the east coast in July. Until then I will continue to focus on my concept and service ideas.

Any ideas and comments are welcome, let me know whats on your mind and if you have any ideas you want to contribute. I could you all the input possible to find a way to make the perfect place for all to come have a drink and unwind.

Here's to chasing the first Pint! Bottoms Up!