OT: any club/bar owners on here?, thinking about taking over a club ... Options

[SirAndy]

so i've been thinking about opening a bar/club here in oakland for a while now and yesterday i was offered what i would consider the ideal venue.

the club has been at the current place for 25 years, comes with full inventory, liquor license, venue license, got a large outside patio where people can smoke & drink, full bar, full kitchen (!), large stage for shows. about 3000 sf of inside space.
the current owner has simply been burned out and wants to retire.

now i have run my own bar back in germany and i'm friends with several club owners back home, so i know the business side of it, but it would be great if i could pick someone's brain who has run a bar/club here in the US.
i'm sure there'll be quite a few differences.

if you know anything about the club/bar business, please PM me so i can annoy you with lots of questions!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Andy

[Danny_Ocean]

Last time I checked, a liquor license in CA cost more than the most expensive Porsche...is the liquor license included in the sale/transfer?

[SirAndy]

Last time I checked, a liquor license in CA cost more than the most expensive Porsche...is the liquor license included in the sale/transfer?

yes! all included ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

wouldn't touch it otherwise as oakland does not issue any new liquor licenses anymore. the only way to get one is to take an existing one over or if one goes back to the pool after a place closed down.
and the waiting list for that is looooong ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy

[TeenerTim]

I lived in Fremont and Milpitas for about 8 years and I would NEVER go to Oakland for anything. Especially at night.