Pour one out for the sports bar.

[Bob Dole]

https://www.si.com/more-sports/2020/...19-daily-cover

Sobering. No pun intended.

[dj56dt58]

Fortunately I live in a Republican state where we are still free to live our lives

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

Fortunately I live in a Republican state where we are still free to live our lives

It’s just amazing how many iconic places have been forced out of business.

[KCUnited]

In addition to sports bars, the neighborhood joints on every other corner here are dropping like flies. Feel its always been inevitable due to the younger generation having different drinking habits and a desire to play bocce ball rather than pool or darts. Covid, and the response to it, has definitely helped expedite the extinction though.

Lot of these places here are, I mean were, pre-prohibition.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

In addition to sports bars, the neighborhood joints on every other corner here are dropping like flies. Feel its always been inevitable due to the younger generation having different drinking habits and a desire to play bocce ball rather than pool or darts. Covid, and the response to it, has definitely helped expedite the extinction though.



Lot of these places here are, I mean were, pre-prohibition.

I'm not sure if I qualify as "younger" anymore, but I've probably been in a true sports bar fewer than 5 times in my life (unless you count Buffalo Wild Wings). I've done it a couple times to catch a game when I'm on the road, but otherwise, I'd much rather watch at home where the beer is cheap and I can control the TV and audio.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'm not sure if I qualify as "younger" anymore, but I've probably been in a true sports bar fewer than 5 times in my life (unless you count Buffalo Wild Wings). I've done it a couple times to catch a game when I'm on the road, but otherwise, I'd much rather watch at home where the beer is cheap and I can control the TV and audio.

It's the only time I've been to Sports Bars in the last 10 years - when I'm travelling. The model was drastically changing well before COVID struck.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'm not sure if I qualify as "younger" anymore, but I've probably been in a true sports bar fewer than 5 times in my life (unless you count Buffalo Wild Wings). I've done it a couple times to catch a game when I'm on the road, but otherwise, I'd much rather watch at home where the beer is cheap and I can control the TV and audio.

You're older than me. We don't count as "younger". You missed the memo. Check your inbox.

Hopefully I don't meander like the last post, but I think in general, you've been to a "hangout" type place a fair bit, no? Maybe not, but the larger point is we as evolutionary beings need socialization. I mean, sure zoom and whatever, but I know periodically I need to see PEOPLE. And I'm about the last dude that does, but even my crochety old ass needs to see people (that I like) some. And in point of fact, I've broke some rules to do it.

This is neither here nor there, but I talked to the husband of a high school English teacher who was making her students journal or whatever during the shutdown. Takeaway was that some of those journals got pretty damned dark. I mean there's always going to be the kids that struggle socially in school, but this was different. I'd like to think most adults are more well-adjusted than high school kids, but we still need to be able to socialize.

And without hangout type outfits, that just becomes harder, and we as a society won't do it, because we never do the hard thing. And it's not for the better.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

It’s just amazing how many iconic places have been forced out of business.

It's not just the iconic, newsworthy ones, but a whole bunch of unknown neighborhood joints - and not just bars, but restaurants, delis, all manner of one off shops. If there were any real shutdowns.

I have no idea of any on-the-ground experiences, other than I know one guy that used to run bars in Manhattan (KS) that still has friends out there and it's bad is all he'll ever tell me. I can't imagine what any of the outfits in places that had harsher shutdowns look like. I don't have any first hand knowledge other than what it takes to run my business, but between rent, and labor alone, I can't imagine they're margins are that great pre-COVID. I don't see any way they're not ****ed. I mean, I guess they could call a rent moratorium or some similar shit, but that would equally **** the landlord and I'd guess wreck the real estate market real nice. Then who knows what happens if the building sells?

IMO, ripping the small business backbone out of communities is a worst case scenario kind of thing.

Interestingly, what about office buildings? I haven't done a ton of research or anything, but I know a bunch of accounting firms are pushing to continue WFH, Microsoft put some permanency in their policy. I'm guessing any shrewd business is going to try to reduce their rent costs and blame COVID. Think about if you owned a bunch of big ass office buildings and can't fill them up in NYC or Chicago or something and they're 10% full. And you're leveraged. Woof.

The shocking thing about all that is there is a real chance that iconic downtown buildings in major cities might be bankrupt or some such nonsense.

I'd be interested in some in depth research on that front.

I didn't intend to meander into a rant here - and hopefully I kept the DC out of it - but the effects of this deal are going to be far reaching to say the least. My position has always been to not wreck commerce. That's the foundation of our economy. But they did it so now we get to see what happens.

*Pours one out for my dead homies.

[Prison Bitch]

Have a friend who is a business broker. Has like 7 restaurants now that are free to anyone just taking over the lease. So: like $200k In leasehold improvements are free to you if you just assume his 3-4 years or whatever left at $3k/mo.


All of these places are 10+ years running. All are 50-60 year old men throwing in the towel. It’s really frustrating to hear.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Have a friend who is a business broker. Has like 7 restaurants now that are free to anyone just taking over the lease. So: like $200k In leasehold improvements are free to you if you just assume his 3-4 years or whatever left at $3k/mo.


All of these places are 10+ years running. All are 50-60 year old men throwing in the towel. It’s really frustrating to hear.

Ouch.

Failing at my business is something that I've gamed out in my head every which way I can think of. I can't even imagine.

[tooge]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

It's not just the iconic, newsworthy ones, but a whole bunch of unknown neighborhood joints - and not just bars, but restaurants, delis, all manner of one off shops. If there were any real shutdowns.

I have no idea of any on-the-ground experiences, other than I know one guy that used to run bars in Manhattan (KS) that still has friends out there and it's bad is all he'll ever tell me. I can't imagine what any of the outfits in places that had harsher shutdowns look like. I don't have any first hand knowledge other than what it takes to run my business, but between rent, and labor alone, I can't imagine they're margins are that great pre-COVID. I don't see any way they're not ****ed. I mean, I guess they could call a rent moratorium or some similar shit, but that would equally **** the landlord and I'd guess wreck the real estate market real nice. Then who knows what happens if the building sells?

IMO, ripping the small business backbone out of communities is a worst case scenario kind of thing.

Interestingly, what about office buildings? I haven't done a ton of research or anything, but I know a bunch of accounting firms are pushing to continue WFH, Microsoft put some permanency in their policy. I'm guessing any shrewd business is going to try to reduce their rent costs and blame COVID. Think about if you owned a bunch of big ass office buildings and can't fill them up in NYC or Chicago or something and they're 10% full. And you're leveraged. Woof.

The shocking thing about all that is there is a real chance that iconic downtown buildings in major cities might be bankrupt or some such nonsense.

I'd be interested in some in depth research on that front.

I didn't intend to meander into a rant here - and hopefully I kept the DC out of it - but the effects of this deal are going to be far reaching to say the least. My position has always been to not wreck commerce. That's the foundation of our economy. But they did it so now we get to see what happens.

*Pours one out for my dead homies.

I wonder if some of those swank office buildings that will be mostly or partially vacant as large companies implement more WFH polices could be turned into housing? Sort of like the urban renewal with the old buildings being turned into lofts and such in the city.

[bdj23]

We'll have Neighborhood Pubs by Amazon in no time to fill the void

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by BDj23

We'll have Neighborhood Pubs by Amazon in no time to fill the void

Will there be more bathrooms, TV volume that's wont make you go deaf, and a good air filter so when the douchebag drinking budlight all day sharts you wont be able to smell it? If so I'm here for it.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Bob Dole

It’s just amazing how many iconic places have been forced out of business.

I went to McGreevy's in Boston last spring, it was a cool place.

[RedRaider56]

Originally Posted by dj56dt58

Fortunately I live in a Republican state where we are still free to live our lives

I do too but unfortunately, the local mayors, judges and health officials can still modify the rules businesses operate under within their local jurisdictions.