Ever get mad at your local?

**CDNSushi** · 23rd February 10, 06:02 PM

I had quite the experience with mine. Over a month ago, I walked in with a friend at about midnight on a Friday night, the place was packed. The owner came to the door and apologized, saying the whole place was booked for a private party and that he wasn't in fact open to the public.

Well, this was not the first time this had happened. Actually, it had become a bit of a nasty habit. So I stopped coming for a month. Went back yesterday with my wife for supper and some drinks, and the owner, as friendly as ever, said, "long time no see." I decided to play it cool and not let on that I was really p****d off at him, so I just said, "Well, you know -- you've had so many private parties in here, I didn't think we were welcome any more." He was a bit surprised at that, so I elaborated and told him the last few times I tried to come and got turned away at the door.

He said, "Yeah, I know" and showed me a calendar with all the dozens of private party bookings on it. "I've been getting really busy with that."

So I explained to him, that he might want to consider limiting his private bookings to a certain time (like until 9pm or 10pm) because when people try to come later in the evening for a drink and he's turning people away, it doesn't make people want to come to his establishment.

I further explained to him that it's very difficult to come with my friends because they get turned off by the fact that the place is unavailable all the time and then they don't want to come.

Owner's wife was sitting there, and then she chimed in: "Well, next time you should call ahead."

Call ahead? Umm, I don't think so, lady. I'm out with friends for a few beers -- I'm not looking to reserve a private party room here. If I have to call ahead to my local before I go, I would much rather just find a new local then.

Funny thing is, we've been going there for almost eight years, and in that time we've brought them LOTS and LOTS of business... And quite often, when we come for our regular Friday night drinks, we attract fairly large groups who join us.

I really don't feel like frequenting this establishment anymore. Which is a pity because I like the environment and they have good food. But it angers me when the owner and his wife act like that. Grrrrrrrrr!!!

**bigdad1** · 23rd February 10, 06:13 PM

I think you are justifiably angered. It is very poor business to turn away your regulars for private booking who may or may not come by again. I think your owner needs a few business lessons. Common sense isn't really common.

**beloitpiper** · 23rd February 10, 06:36 PM

Luckily (one of) my local favorites has a room in the back fro just such occasions. Too bad yours can't accommodate.

**CDNSushi** · 23rd February 10, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

Luckily (one of) my local favorites has a room in the back fro just such occasions. Too bad yours can't accommodate.

Actually, funny you should mention that, because they DO and they COULD. This place is on the 2nd floor of a 2-story bldg, and the owner also runs a disco downstairs... But the disco runs only a couple times a month. The rest of the time it's locked up and unused. It would TOTALLY be do-able to have private parties down there and assign one of his hired staff to serve food and drinks.

I've known for years that this guy wasn't the best businessman, but his dumb blunders have not affected me directly in the past. For the record, I've given him various advice before, but he is very stubborn and has only heeded what I've advised maybe 1 time out of 10... But IF I'm not too torqued to go back, the next time I see him I may suggest he try using the downstairs facility for private parties.

Again, it's not like I expect him to give up booking private parties. But if I were a bar owner I would make it clear to those who were making bookings, that I have a business to run, and that they would be welcome to have the place to themselves until (oh, say, 9pm or 10pm for example) after which, they would be welcome to stay as long as they wished but I would be opening the doors to the regular public too.

**Scotland Forever** · 23rd February 10, 07:14 PM

I'd boycott the place for 6 months. I'd also spread the word to all the people you've brought to the place to see if they feel like joining in said boycotting.

Find a new place to go to with all your friends and after the 6 months if the old place is still open, take a large group of the boycotters there (call ahead to make sure it open to the public) and make a big impression as to the enormity of this guy's mistake.

Or do nothing - up to you.

(I've boycotted places before for *years* and I still have one on the list)

**beloitpiper** · 23rd February 10, 07:22 PM

If my favorite bar was closing all the time for private parties, I wouldn't even bother to try going there anymore. I don't know what it's like in Kofu (literally, I know nothing about Kofu) but here in Madison, Wisconsin there are plenty of great bars.

**bricelythgoe** · 23rd February 10, 07:41 PM

Seems pretty simple to me: Stop going. I have always believed in the power of the consumer. Spend your hard earned money else where.

**gordontaos** · 23rd February 10, 08:12 PM

I have a similiar situation here in Taos. We have a B&B and send about 4 dinner reservations out every evening.
A pretty good restaurant that is close to us has started having private parties about once a month. I was able to live with that.
Then, they started charging a $5 cover on some music nights. Now there is a $5 cover at least 3 nights a week. Well, they have not seen a reservation from us in about 2 months.
Hope its working out well for them.

**Jock Scot** · 24th February 10, 12:57 AM

Just coolly and calmly take yourself,your friends and your business elsewhere. You might know the expression "never complain and never explain"----- think about it. It is better for your blood pressure if you remember it.

**thescot** · 24th February 10, 04:26 AM

Like Jock says, vote with your feet.

A local place opened here a few years back, and we were all excited about it. On Friday nights--at first--there would only be a handful of us who would frequent the place. Then we brought more, and personally got quite a few folks interested.

Then, at the height of success when they were getting several dozen regulars on Friday nights, they started the same stuff you're talking about. I showed up on Friday night, and it was shut down for a private event. "No regulars wanted" is how I read the sign.

It was near to Christmas, so they had the opportunity to host several private parties--and did--so it turned out that this was only the first of many such occurances. And they even have a separate room where they could either host private parties or allow the regulars to gather.

Instead, they ran off their regulars--who never came back--and did not regain the once busy trade. They're only open for special events now because they don't have enough business to maintain regular hours.

What I heard from them was, "We want to turn the folks away on the nights we can hit the big bucks, but we want you to come back when we don't have bigger events going.

I just took my trade elsewhere, and the Pub I frequent is very happy to have my business.