From Bartender to Bar Owner: How Steve Lewis Turned a Biker Bar into a Community Favorite
Owning a bar hits different when it’s all on you.You’re not just pouring drinks anymore, you’re the plumber, the promoter, the peacekeeper, and the one who signs the checks when the fridge breaks.Steve Lewis bought a local biker bar and quickly realized bartending didn’t prep him for licenses, reputation cleanup, or figuring out how to order just enough without running out.In this episode, Steve talks about what actually changes when you go from behind the bar to running the whole place, where every decision, mistake, and win lands on you.They get into the hard stuff, like getting the old regulars on board, fixing up the space, and making your bar feel like somewhere people want to come back to.If you're trying to grow your bar without burning out, you’ll get something out of this.🍺 Connect with Steve Lewishttps://www.facebook.com/steve.lewis.98🍻 Check out The Bridge Pubhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561138077627📽️ Watch The Bridge Pub promo pinned in Bar Business Nationhttps://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BhGnEfEgy/🔴 Learn More: 🔴 📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan?Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture?Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now→ https://barbusinesspodcast.com📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation🚀 Snag my book "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!"Learn 75+ strategies to run it more profitably→ https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/ Our Partners: QuixSpec Bar and Restaurant IntelligenceBusiness intelligence that actually works! Make confident, data-driven decisions that directly impact your bottom line. https://www.quixspec.com Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program.https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant
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10‑Minute Thanksgiving Week Staff Briefing That Prevents Service Meltdowns
The night before Thanksgiving? You already know it's gonna be chaos. Servers stressed, kitchen buried, and everyone's moving a little too slow for the volume about to hit. But if you’ve got 10 minutes before doors open, I’ll show you exactly what to say to keep the shift tight and the team moving like they actually trained for this. No rambling meetings, no last-minute guesswork, just a quick briefing that keeps guests happy and the wheels from falling off. Let’s get to it. What You’ll Learn:🌟 Why most pre-shift meetings backfire during peak nights like Thanksgiving Eve🌟 The 3-minute setup that helps your team move like they actually trained🌟 How the 'one-touch rule' cuts chaos and speeds up table turns🌟 What to say when the kitchen's slammed but you still need guests to be is calm🌟 The trick to handling 86s without letting it kill your sales🌟 A simple timing move that quietly boosts tips and efficiency🌟 The one thing your team needs to say when they’re about to drown🔴 Learn More: 🔴 📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan?Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture?Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now→ https://barbusinesspodcast.com📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation🚀 Snag my book "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!"Learn 75+ strategies to run it more profitably→ https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/ Our Partners: QuixSpec Bar and Restaurant IntelligenceBusiness intelligence that actually works! Make confident, data-driven decisions that directly impact your bottom line. https://www.quixspec.com Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program.https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant
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Why Discounts Don’t Work: The Secret Customer Retention Strategy That Boosts Bar Profits by 40%
Getting people through the door is hard, but getting them to keep coming back? That’s where most bar owners drop the ball. Discounts might feel like the move, but they’re quietly killing your margins and not building real loyalty. This episode breaks down a smarter, cheaper way to lock in regulars by actually making them feel seen, no gimmicks, no stamp cards. We’re talking real talk on recognition, retention, and how to use your POS data to turn first-timers into lifers.If you want your bar to feel like their bar, this is the one to listen to.What You’ll Learn:🌟 Why discounts quietly cost more than they bring in🌟 How to make regulars feel VIP without spending more🌟 The one phrase that keeps bar customers coming back🌟 About the hidden profit leak in your check averages🌟 How to spot who’s really funding your bar through POS data🌟 Why first-timers need 3 visits to become loyal🌟 How to build emotional loyalty without being awkward🔴 Learn More: 🔴 📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan?Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture?Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now→ https://barbusinesspodcast.com📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation🚀 Snag my book "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!"Learn 75+ strategies to run it more profitably→ https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/ Our Partners: QuixSpec Bar and Restaurant IntelligenceBusiness intelligence that actually works! Make confident, data-driven decisions that directly impact your bottom line. https://www.quixspec.com Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program.https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant
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The 5-Minute Daily Habit for Restaurant Owners to Find Their Most Profitable Hours
You can have a packed dining room and still be bleeding money, and most owners don’t realize it until it hurts. The real problem isn’t that you’re not busy, it’s that you’re guessing which hours actually pay the bills instead of looking at what the numbers are quietly trying to tell you. In this episode, I walk you through a simple 5-minute daily habit that shows you exactly which shifts are truly profitable and which ones are just keeping the lights on. You’ll see how to spot your strongest dayparts, where labor is quietly eating your margins, and where small adjustments in hours, staffing, or promos could pay off big. By the end, you won’t just feel busy, you’ll know, in black and white, when your restaurant actually makes money. What You’ll Learn 🌟 Why a packed shift can still quietly lose you money. 🌟 How to break your day into four useful time blocks. 🌟 The 5-minute habit to see which hours really pay. 🌟 How to spot when labor costs are eating your profit. 🌟 Why some slow hours matter more than busy ones. 🌟 How to tell what each seat is actually worth. 🌟 A simple way to choose between cutting hours, staff, or promos. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴 📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan?Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture?Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now→ https://barbusinesspodcast.com📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation🚀 Snag my book "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!"Learn 75+ strategies to run it more profitably→ https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/ Our Partners: QuixSpec Bar and Restaurant IntelligenceBusiness intelligence that actually works! Make confident, data-driven decisions that directly impact your bottom line. https://www.quixspec.com Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program.https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant
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Why Great Bars Still Go Broke with Bruce Nelson on Profit Pricing and Cost Mistakes
Think your bar’s doing okay just because you’re busy? Think again. A packed house means nothing if your menu is underpriced, your costs are off, and you're bleeding money in ways you don’t even see. In this episode, Bruce Nelson, a CFO who’s helped countless bars fix their financial chaos, breaks down the money traps most owners fall into. We’re talking real numbers, not fluff, and how to actually price things so your profit isn’t a mystery. If you’ve ever looked at your bank account and thought, where the hell did the money go? This one’s for you.What You’ll Learn 🌟 Why being busy still leaves most bars struggling to stay profitable 🌟 The one cost owners skip that silently kills their menu margins 🌟 How copying your competitor’s pricing can wreck your bottom line 🌟 The truth about overhead and how it eats your profit without warning 🌟 A smarter way to price that reflects your actual experience and brand 🌟 Why most “profitable” bars still feel broke at the end of the month 🌟 The key pricing shift that turns guesswork into sustainable cash flow📌Get Bruce Nelson’s Book 🔴Grab “Restaurant Management: Myth, Magic, and Math” on Amazon, Audible or Kindle. 🔴Want a signed copy? Order at brucelnelson.com, shipping available in the lower 48.📌Work With BruceLearn more or reach out at brucelnelson.com🔴 Learn More: 🔴 📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan?Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture?Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now→ https://barbusinesspodcast.com📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business→ https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation🚀 Snag my book "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!"Learn 75+ strategies to run it more profitably→ https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/ Our Partners: QuixSpec Bar and Restaurant IntelligenceBusiness intelligence that actually works! Make confident, data-driven decisions that directly impact your bottom line. https://www.quixspec.com Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program.https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant
About The Bar Business Podcast: Smart Hospitality & Marketing Secrets For Bar & Pub Owners
Are you spending more time stuck behind the bar than building a business that runs smoothly without you?If you're a bar owner who feels overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind of hospitality and is struggling to balance operations, marketing, and profits this show is for you. Chris Schneider, with over 20 years in the industry, created this podcast to help you overcome burnout, increase profits, and create a business you can enjoy—not just endure.Join us every Monday and Wednesday to:Get expert strategies to boost profits while attracting loyal customers.Learn bar marketing tactics, menu design hacks, and leadership tools that simplify operations.Build the bar or pub that you have always dreamt of owning.Ready to take control of your bar’s success? Start by tuning into the fan-favorite episode: 5 Strategies to Boost Bar Profits This Week: Quick Wins for Bar Owners.
Listen to The Bar Business Podcast: Smart Hospitality & Marketing Secrets For Bar & Pub Owners, Prof G Markets and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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