I like to open a bar

[Olddaddy]

I would love to open a bar in Jomtien complex 

It has to be double shophouse 

I don't ladyboy shows even though they seem to attract crowds I want proper man boys but that will cost money to pay wages but good idea

I want your ideas 

So a double shophouse I'm thinking 

Weekly bingo cash prizes 

Secondhand gay books for sale 

How can I attract even straight people?

Backpackers ? Visitors not just gay men

I want to break even on profit if I  can as I will retire and get my monthly income from my work so profit is not my goal , obviously I don't want to lose either 

I was surprised to see that double shophouse bar next to cocka2 close BC bar?

I don't know the rent there maybe too high I heard 80k a month 

 

What's the reason for failure of a bar ? High rents , no customers 

Many people say lack of boys ,

I disagree 

So I'm thinking , weekly bingo , secondhand books ,weekly shows but no ladyboy shows 

It needs to attract straight people too 

It needs to be open 24 hours 

24 hours who will come in for breakfast? 

 

 

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, Olddaddy said:

What's the reason for failure of a bar

Have you ever worked/owned/managed a restaurant or worked in hospitality??

Dealt with permits, labor and corruption in a third world county?

There are your reasons....

[reader]

You’ve broached this subject before. Maybe you should think I terms of western version of Thai gentlemen’s club model. 

Bit how do you make this work if you generally like to avoid other people?

[bkkmfj2648]

1 hour ago, Olddaddy said:

I want your ideas

@Olddaddy - you already discovered recently the way to success.

You told us that you were bored in BKK and that you were heading back to Pattaya.

Then I believe that you met a farang who took you to DJ Station to dance and you had the time of your life.

SO - the Jomtien Supertown Complex DESPERATELY needs a fun place to dance.  Yes there is already the Dragon Music Lounge but the music they play just does not get everyone very excited to dance.

And in your NEW double shophouse - you can use one side for dancing and the other side to be the bar, BINGO, book store, and whatever else would be fun and UNIQUE in the complex.

In my STRONG opinion, many of the bars do not last long because:

they INSIST on the same boring "farang sit and farang drink" kind of operating mantra - which is just so lethargic and unexciting.

There is so much potential with the right kind of FUN attitude.....

========================================================================

by the way, last night I was in the Jomtien Complex and they finally installed the 2nd NEW marquee at the secondary entrance to the complex - near the beach.

Note - NO reference to the identifier = Supertown  --> like there is on the primary entrance marquee near the Poseidon hotel/restaurant.

 

[Olddaddy]

Yes that music in Dragon Lounge ( fast trance)  did nothing for me ,so I chose the music in Cocka2 bar to dance every night 

[floridarob]

2 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Note - NO reference to the identifier = Supertown  --> like there is on the primary entrance marquee near the Poseidon hotel/restaurant.

Maybe  that's the side @gayinpattaya goes in and is why he's not familiar with the Supertown name 😇

[Keithambrose]

3 hours ago, reader said:

You’ve broached this subject before. Maybe you should think I terms of western version of Thai gentlemen’s club model. 

Bit how do you make this work if you generally like to avoid other people?

And don't talk to other people! Could interesting.  Sign language?

[Olddaddy]

I dont think I could be like Guido the owner of G's in Bangkok where he walks around saying he has "lost his pussy 😂

How he keeps being nice to people all I night I never know 

[BjornAgain]

Can't see the secondhand books idea being much of a success, as seem to remember from my youth, before digital media became the norm, condition greatly effected sales, as pages were often stuck together!

Music is key, if you want to play to your Australian heritage, then if you create an '80s Aussi Bar, you've got me as a regular, as that's my favorite music. 

If you go for a double unit, Bar and 2nd business. Then suggest as a double entendre, a hairdressers called "Blow & Go". 

As @floridarob said " Dealing with permits, labor and corruption in a third world county? " , is not for the novice. I would suggest having a face2face with some of the other Farang bar owners in Pattaya to gain a better understanding, that this isn't for the fainthearted.

Also, is Farang type customers a viable business model? Saw an interview with a bar owner in Soi Buakhao who's diversified to opening a Thai nightclub as that's where the money is.

Good luck.

 

[Londoner]

Remember Neal from Happy Place in Pattaya Soi 2?  Sorry to reminisce- yet again- but he was  a famous (to some notorious) regular in Boyztown until his untimely death a few years ago.  

A wealthy guy, with a successful business in the US, he did exactly what OD wants to do. The result was Happy Place.  The old venue ("Crystal Boys"?) was gutted and no expense was spared when fitting it out.

Not willing to work too hard he appointed one of his harem- he was invariably accompanied by a group of  cute guys -  as mamasan/manager.....

....who proceeded to run "private parties" after the bar had closed.  A rival alerted Neal at 0300 am who jumped in his car  and arrived as the party was in full swing.

The mamasan was summarily sacked. Allegedly, he was being paid 30,000 baht per month. Neal had told me that making money wasn't a concern; it was just a hobby.  

And it failed.

The lessons? for  a bar to work, the owner needs to put in the hours; but most importantly he must  be as rich as Neal. And even then....

[bkkmfj2648]

2 hours ago, BjornAgain said:

Music is key, if you want to play to your Australian heritage, then if you create an '80s Aussi Bar, you've got me as a regular, as that's my favorite music.

@Olddaddy I would also become one of your regular customers if the music is good.  

Please no trance, electronic trash, metal, etcetra.

Play music that us old farts can dance to = nostalgia high energy music.

Get us out of our bar chairs and seats and get us moving and expending energy = more thirst to buy more bar drinks. Plus we will get healthy and plow more money into the local economy and live a more interesting life.

The typical "farang sit and farang drink" type of bar that is everywhere  is killing us = a lethargic slow death.

[vaughn]

It's a wild ride of emotions coming back for a weekend to see what the latest news on GayGuides is and looking at the recent olddaddy posts. One minute, 5 weeks twice a year is too much time in thailand, next invest it all and open a 24/7 venue.

Good fortunes to you, I look forward to the postings of OldDaddy the Jomtien bar owner.

[10tazione]

4 hours ago, BjornAgain said:

Then suggest as a double entendre, a hairdressers called "Blow & Go". 

 

Or maybe "Double Blow" 

[ichigo]

All power to you - assuming that you are serious about this, and not just a passing thought. @BjornAgain gives some very good advice - speak to other bar owners, and also other (non-bar) farang business owners, do you research, perhaps speak with a lawyer and be very well-prepared, especially if you have not owned a business before. By all means, it is possible as there are numerous successful farang-owned businesses throughout Thailand but I'm sure there would be more red tape to cross compared to a Thai national, and it won't be a walk in the park. If it eventuates, I will happily patronise your bar.

[BjornAgain]

2 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

@Olddaddy

Play music that us old farts can dance to = nostalgia high energy music...

Who doesn't like a pogo!

[gayinpattaya]

9 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Note - NO reference to the identifier = Supertown  --> like there is on the primary entrance marquee near the Poseidon hotel/restaurant.

 

Yes, it appears the debate is finally over, and the whole supertown stupidity is over. 
Jomtien Complex - Walking Street is official now.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGfoB9z14rjSt2cGA
https://jomtiencomplex.com
https://www.facebook.com/jomtiencomplexwalkingstreet/

Great if you ask me!

[gayinpattaya]

12 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

I would love to open a bar in Jomtien complex 

It has to be double shophouse 

I don't ladyboy shows even though they seem to attract crowds I want proper man boys but that will cost money to pay wages but good idea

I want your ideas 

So a double shophouse I'm thinking 

Weekly bingo cash prizes 

Secondhand gay books for sale 

How can I attract even straight people?

Backpackers ? Visitors not just gay men

I want to break even on profit if I  can as I will retire and get my monthly income from my work so profit is not my goal , obviously I don't want to lose either 

I was surprised to see that double shophouse bar next to cocka2 close BC bar?

I don't know the rent there maybe too high I heard 80k a month 

 

What's the reason for failure of a bar ? High rents , no customers 

Many people say lack of boys ,

I disagree 

So I'm thinking , weekly bingo , secondhand books ,weekly shows but no ladyboy shows 

It needs to attract straight people too 

It needs to be open 24 hours 

24 hours who will come in for breakfast? 

 

 

While I have never owned a bar, just known owners of bars in Jomtien Complex for close to a decade now, I think you have a lot wrong here. 

Bingo? That's @home bar. Opening up shop on a small close-nit, mostly expat frequented street like that, and immediately stepping on toes is going to be devastating for you. The bars that have lasted years (farang owned ones), I can tell you all the owners are friends. They help each other. 

Second hand gay books? Backpackers don't buy books. Opening a bookstore in Jomtien might be a fantastic idea, and much more likely to succeed. 
Straight people? They already go to Jomtien Complex. The ones that don't are the homophobes, and you don't want them! I took my parents to the complex! 

Yeah, BC Bar shop-house, the rent was 75k. May have gone up. Your operating costs, before staff are going to be 120k a month, minimum.
I'm told the upper floors are near derelict, and the ground floor has been stripped. It would take a significant investment to even open. 2 or 3 million baht I would estimate. 
There is a lack of boys, because there is a lack of customers. Or at least high paying ones. Boys can make 4x the money in Bangkok or Phuket. 

Open 24 hours? Good luck. That's illegal. All bars have to be closed at 2am. The official rule is midnight, but ... well... we know how that works. 

If you do it, good luck! I hope it works out for you. 
But you know the old saying.. How can I have a million dollars in Thailand? Start out with 3 million....

[Keithambrose]

2 hours ago, ichigo said:

All power to you - assuming that you are serious about this, and not just a passing thought. @BjornAgain gives some very good advice - speak to other bar owners, and also other (non-bar) farang business owners, do you research, perhaps speak with a lawyer and be very well-prepared, especially if you have not owned a business before. By all means, it is possible as there are numerous successful farang-owned businesses throughout Thailand but I'm sure there would be more red tape to cross compared to a Thai national, and it won't be a walk in the park. If it eventuates, I will happily patronise your bar.

I don't think he is serious in the least! He just likes stirring  up debate!

[thaiophilus]

12 hours ago, floridarob said:

Have you ever worked/owned/managed a restaurant or worked in hospitality??

Dealt with permits, labor and corruption in a third world county?
 

... in a language you can neither speak nor read?

[gayinpattaya]

9 hours ago, floridarob said:

Maybe  that's the side @gayinpattaya goes in and is why he's not familiar with the Supertown name 😇

Maybe that's why Sunee Bar isn't in Sunee Plaza.... Nothing wrong with a bit of legacy, but it's now Jomtien Complex - Walking Street. 

[gayinpattaya]

8 minutes ago, thaiophilus said:

... in a language you can neither speak nor read?

I completely agree on this. Opening any business in Thailand without a grasp of the language is sheer stupidity. I have heard staff saying horrible shit about their farang bosses, and they have no idea. It's just asking for trouble.
How can you run a business when your staff don't have any respect for you? 

[Tantric]

Interesting idea, @Olddaddy!  

In March I‘ll be making my first trip to Pattaya, so take these suggestions with a fist full of salt:

1. Don‘t let naysayers who point out obvious language (and other) barriers discourage you.
2. Only invest after you have created a strong, comprehensive business plan.
3. Hire (a) an American (with experience and training) for your marketing, and (b) a local for your general management.
4. Generate online revenue streams from offline activities (eg, PPV or recurring fees for access to recorded shows).
5. Poach talent from BKK venues.
6. Use approximately 70% Asian talent, with a range of body types.
7. Use approximately 30% non-Asian talent (with athletic or muscular body types).
8. Disregard advice from anonymous posters on a message forum 😉

Good luck!

[colmx]

10 hours ago, Londoner said:

A wealthy guy, with a successful business in the US, he did exactly what OD wants to do

Something tells me that Neal was not half as rich as he like to pretend to be, smoke and mirrors

Given that he owned the main gay forum at the time it was very easy for him to manipulate a narrative

[colmx]

17 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

I would love to open a bar in Jomtien complex 

It has to be double shophouse 

I would go for the empty double unit next to BA/BN bar, across from "your bar", if you got your doormen/barkers right you could grab all the customers as they enter the complex from Agate side

[vinapu]

14 hours ago, Olddaddy said:

I dont think I could be like Guido the owner of G's in Bangkok where he walks around saying he has "lost his pussy 😂

And asks " how do you like my sausage? "