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

[Joe Bob]

Hey...a 914 Club House....

Food/Health Inspectors are the worst.....they can kill you with violations and if they are on the take, you need to find out immediately.

The ABC, Alcoholic Beverage Control will be all over you for the first six months, especially if you attract a young crowd. The wrist band thing used to work on 18 and over night if you serve food....not sure if that dodge still works. It's been 25+ years since I was a liquor wholesaler like my Dadz....

You'll need a dance permit most likely, which means you need to be nice nice with the local agenacy that handles it. Live music, same thing, you'll need to know if there are any noise ordinances, as well as signage...is anything Granfathered in? Will you taking over, require any changes? Maybe keeping him as 5% owner will negate that.

also, if you will own the building get an environmental assessment prior to taking over....Lead, Asbestos, mold, etc.....employee complaints in that area will bring the assholes from OSHA and the AQMD.

[Joe Bob]

Hey...a 914 Club House....

Food/Health Inspectors are the worst.....they can kill you with violations and if they are on the take, you need to find out immediately.

The ABC, Alcoholic Beverage Control will be all over you for the first six months, especially if you attract a young crowd. The wrist band thing used to work on 18 and over night if you serve food....not sure if that dodge still works. It's been 25+ years since I was a liquor wholesaler like my Dadz....

You'll need a dance permit most likely, which means you need to be nice nice with the local agenacy that handles it. Live music, same thing, you'll need to know if there are any noise ordinances, as well as signage...is anything Granfathered in? Will you taking over, require any changes? Maybe keeping him as 5% owner will negate that.

also, if you will own the building get an environmental assessment prior to taking over....Lead, Asbestos, mold, etc.....employee complaints in that area will bring the assholes from OSHA and the AQMD.

Ahem...said that on page one.....just because I'm a PITA, don't mean I'm ign'rnt....