Bars and nightclubs can carry a stigma if the public’s image isn’t carefully curated or monitored. Making your alcohol-serving establishment a respected part of the community is beneficial for any bar or restaurant owner. Just take the word “dive bar,” for example. Its meaning is filled with negative connotations.
Some states have gone as far as establishing criteria for when and how an establishment becomes a nuisance, such as Pennsylvania. But there’s no reason why your establishment shouldn’t have a good reputation. Here are the top tips for ensuring your establishment is a respected part of the community.
Good Security
Maintaining a level of safety and security can help create a positive image. Increasing the level of comfort neighbors feel when your establishment is at peak capacity can mean fewer phone calls or issues. Having a well-lit parking lot and welcoming police can provide the boost of confidence your establishment needs.
Make sure no one is panhandling or loitering. Invest in security cameras and signs to let people passing by know that your establishment is closely watching what happens in and around your location.
Give Back
Utilize your community position to give back! Sponsoring charities and events can help your image. Examples that have come up in social media or news reports include:
Free food for the homeless
Collecting cans, coats, and school supplies
Offering cabs for those who can’t make it home safely.
One bar even received viral support after they started leaving free drink notes on customers’ windshields when they opted not to drive home. In Hamilton, Ohio, a community-driven initiative has revitalized and enhanced the city.
Open for Lunch
Operating at night can even be enough for some to question a business’s intentions. So open up your establishment for lunch. Opening earlier can attract crowds and get people talking about your food who may not have visited otherwise.
Ed Friedman is the former Instructional Designer and Marketing Strategist at Serving Alcohol, a national leader in responsible alcohol training and certification for bartenders, servers, and hospitality businesses. He created educational content, managed social media marketing, and designed engaging online alcohol certificate courses to meet state compliance standards. Ed also developed Spanish alcohol training for California and Florida, expanding access to state-approved alcohol server certification. His work helped keep Serving Alcohol ranked #1 for alcohol server permits, bartender certification, and alcohol compliance training.
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