Customizing your bar means maximizing your profits, experts say
2019 brought in a rush of new, trendy bar industry developments shaped by millennial customer preferences. According to brandongaille.com, bars and nightclubs in the U.S. generate about $24 billion in revenue each year. Beer and ale make up about 42% of those sales and distilled spirits make up about 30%. The average bar earns about $25,000 to $30,000 per week, but also spends an average of $24,000 per month on staffing, food and alcohol inventory, and rent or mortgage costs.
According to Investopedia.com, while established bars are reportedly doing well right now with revenue increasing, newer businesses entering the industry face the challenges that come with establishing any foodservice business. A bar that purchases its location has an average startup cost between $175,000 and $850,000. What investors won’t tell you, however, is that it takes a well-designed bar with a proper layout to really see a return on your investment.
There is more pressure than ever to dazzle guests with hand-crafted cocktails and entertaining preparation. Behind the scenes, the real workhorses determining the success or failure of any bar are the underbar equipment. Krowne Metal Equipment is one brand that is pulling its weight in providing bar operators with tools to help them maximize their space and quality equipment that will last through the years, as well as save time and money.
The first thing that bar equipment professionals recommend for designing a bar station or remodeling/upgrading a bar is to think about every step the bartenders must take and build a strategy from there. It is said that a well-designed underbar will pay for itself. The easier the workflow for the bartenders, the quicker drinks are made, and sales completed. Better workflow leads to a larger profit margin. Here is an example of steps that any bartender would take during a typical transaction, and the basic strategy that would support it.
Drink prep steps (general):
- Obtain clean glass
- Add ice to glass
- Add liquor ingredients
- Add mix ingredients
- Garnish cocktail
- Document sale
- Serve cocktail
After sale (general):
- Dispose of dry waste in garbage
- Dispose of wet waste in dump sink
- Return soiled glass to glass washer or sink
- Wash soiled glass
Strategy:
- Allow bartender to face customer for the entire drink preparation process
- Reduce the number of steps required to prepare a drink
- Provide individual workstations for bartenders to eliminate congestion
Having individual workstations is not only a great idea to eliminate congestion and confusion behind the bar, it is almost a necessity for resident mixologists. Krowne’s Barflex3d tool allows users to build a customized 3D virtual workstation for their specific environment, so the mixologist can have all the tools he or she needs, right at his or her fingertips.
View it here: https://krowne.com/barflex3d
Once operators know how they want to design or remodel their bar and the equipment they want to buy, our sale reps can help with finding these items at the right price and can provide a quote free of charge. ACityDiscount offers CAD design services (computer aided design) for an additional charge.
Krowne has focused on manufacturing high-quality equipment for their customers for more than 70 years. They are leaders in underbar and back bar refrigeration because most of their innovative products and offerings come directly from the field — as a result of constant communication with bartenders and consultants around the world.
Krowne underbar equipment vs. other brands
| Krowne | Other Brands |
|---|---|
| Krowne’s fronts and backsplashes are high-quality (300 grade) stainless-steel | Other brands use 440 grade or less stainless-steel materials |
| Proven reliability and a strong warranty (5 years for compressor on refrigeration) | Other brands’ warranties offer 3-year or less on refrigerator compressor |
| Krowne offers modular die bar configuration | Other brands do not offer different bar configurations |
| Krowne manufactures all refrigeration and back bar equipment in the U.S. | Other brands source parts from other countries |
| Same day shipping with competitive free freight program | Other brands do not offer same day for free freight |
Bar ergonomics
Designing an underbar that reduces the amount of movement by bartenders and makes a bar more profitable takes answering a few questions:
- How many bartenders do you plan to keep per shift?
- Are your bartenders using multiple workstations?
- What are you serving at your bar? (Wine, spirits, beer, or a combination)
These questions determine how any bar should be laid out. The bar ergonomists at Krowne offer standard underbar equipment options to build out your bar as well as a more streamlined, modular bar die option, which many restaurants and bars are using today.
Krowne Royal series underbar options include:
- 7” high backsplash
- High quality Royal series faucets with cartridge valves
- Stainless steel sides and legs
- Built-in sound deadened speedrails
- Built-in soda chase
- Units pre-assembled at the factory
- Optional built-in high volume 10 circuit cold plate
- Option to upgrade to modular, with all underbar equipment mounted to bar die wall to eliminate legs.
*Lead time is 3-4 weeks for modular upgrade
Royal series modular bar die option:
Krowne also offers a single, modular bar with no legs. The stainless-steel frame works like a pedestal, onto which the equipment is mounted. Although higher in price, this option makes for a more upscale look that is easier to clean…and keep clean. Think about anytime you’ve been to a bar that smelled like rotten beer and had sticky drinks that weren’t cleaned off the floor. The bar staff tries to clean, but must mop around the bar legs, and, well, who really has the time to be thorough?
The modular option eliminates those hard-to-reach places and the whole bar can be washed down with a hose. The frame has built-in chaseways to hide plumbing, fountain and tap lines, which makes for a very clean and attractive look.
Choosing the right equipment for your bar
Like all refrigeration equipment, back bar coolers can be costly to run and knowing which one is going to serve your bar the best can be a difficult task. Luckily, Krowne has great standard feature and additional options to consider for refrigeration.
Krowne back bar cooler features and options:
- Integrated air channel ensures even flow of product
- High powered turbo fan draws circulated air back in to be cooled by condenser
- Stainless steel, rounded-corner interior prevents liquid from seeping into insulation and extends lifespan
- Digital LED thermostat and optional dual temperature units
- Built-in LED interior lighting options
- Optional pass thru units and frosted glass doors
Another area where Krowne has set itself apart from a sea of competition is in the craftsmanship they put in their commercial sink faucets and pre-rinse faucets. We all know that a leaky faucet equals money going down the drain. Krowne has replaced all the traditional rubber compression valves with cartridge valves on both the Royal and Standard series faucets, which last longer than the traditional valves and fix this issue.
Krowne Royal and Standard faucet series:
Royal series:
- Heavy duty faucet body, built for high volume
- 3-year warranty
- Handles have ¼ turn ceramic cartridge valves
- The full range swing spout features a water-saving aerator that uses 1.8 gallons of water per minute, which means that it is highly efficient and doesn’t overuse water to get the job done!
- More economical choice, thinner faucet body
- Also contains ¼ turn ceramic valves (2019 upgrade)
- Lighter duty, built for medium volume
- 1-year warranty
Pro tip: If you are just opening a foodservice business and are on a tight budget, the Silver Series may be a better option. If you have been in the industry for some time and know you’re going to be around for even longer (more than 10 years), the Royal Series is the better option because it will give you greater longevity.
While we’re on the topic of water conservation, the best pre-rinse faucet to use with your sink is the Krowne Royal heavy-duty series. Using 1.2 gallons of water per minute, along with a high-pressure water head that has a “knife blade” spray pattern, this series makes for better energy savings and efficient pre-washing and rinsing.
Need help building a bar or upgrading bar equipment? Our pros are here to help. Give us a call at 404-752-6715 (ext. 2 for sales) or stop by our showroom in the Atlanta suburb of Norcross at 6286 Dawson Blvd NE to speak with one of our experts today.