Quick Ways to Update an Old Bar

You might be running a bar for years and years, seemingly doing everything right only to suddenly find that your business has been supplanted by newer, trendier bars in the area. While bars don’t have to shed their entire identity to stay current, they do have to update themselves, bring in new technology, implement new ideas and so on to stay fresh and vibrant in the eyes of customers.

A common trap operators fall into is keeping their bar the same to please a tiny group of regulars who they fear will complain or leave if changes are made. This short-sightedness can end up costing bar owners dearly as they alienate a new, younger crowd who would gladly become their new regulars for years to come if only the place would just refresh itself a bit.

Here are some ways that such updates can happen:

1. Upgrade the Technology

There can be some retro, kitschy value in bars that make use of older-looking technology, but mostly it’s just a hindrance. Old registers from the 1990s and early 2000s aren’t kitschy, they’re just loud, slow and inefficient, lending no vibe or personality to a place whatever. Upgrade your bar tech by taking a look for bar POS management systems, beer and liquor flow monitoring systems, bar trivia technology, new audio systems, new TVs for sports, and so on.

2. New Bar Furniture

Tired and ripped upholstery on bar seats, or wobbly wooden bar stools, not to mention worn-looking and discoloured booths and banquette seating all contribute to a tired look that people just don’t want to go to. Too many bar owners think that seats are basically fine until they break. Until then they don’t really want the added expense of getting new seating.

Granted, all-new bar seating won’t come cheap, but it’s an investment into a better and more appealing environment in your bar that will attract more business. If money really is too tight, then consider at least reupholstering your existing seating and making repairs on wobbly or unstable seats. You might at least be able to bring enough of a refresh doing this that it will bring back lost business.

3. New Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important elements that really makes the ambience of a bar what it is. The lights that you first picked probably looked great when they were first installed, but over time lighting can become tired and dated. The fashions for lighting can change pretty quickly! On top of that, they’re usually on all day and through the evening, making them hot, which takes its toll on the glass or other casing quite soon. You’ll be amazed what new bar lights and lamps can do for the atmosphere of your place.

4. Update the Beer Taps

When people walk into a bar, one of the first things they’ll see is the look of your bar and its draft beer taps. When did you last have these updated? Do you clean them regularly, at least? Breweries and other beer brands often create fancy new decorative taps for bars to use. Ensure that you’ve got the best-looking taps and your bar will really stand out from the crowd. Australia is a beer-loving nation, so there’s always a lot of attention on those taps.

5. Refresh the Facade and Flooring

Finally, two more things to consider doing are a refresh of the exterior facade with a new coat of paint, a new sign, new awnings perhaps, and even new windows. Inside the bar, consider getting some new flooring put in. Both can be fairly expensive, and a bit disruptive, to do at the same time, but the effect on business should be extremely noticeable.

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