I plan on opening a sports lounge?!
I plan on opening a sports lounge?
AM PLANNING ON OPENING A SPORTS LOUNGE FOR TEENAGERS. THIS MEANS NO (<-KEY WORD) ALCOHOLIC DRINKS OF ANY KIND WILL BE SERVED AT THIS FACILITY. I;M PLANNING ON SERVING FOOD, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A COMPLEX MENU. I DON'T WANT THIS "LOUNGE" MISINTERPRETED AS A "CLUB" THIS IS JUST A HANGOUT WHERE TEENAGERS AND THOSE OF AGE CAN COME AFTER SCHOOL AND RELAX, LISTEN TO MUSIC AT MEET FRIENDS. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A BAR IN THIS LOUNGE TO GIVE TEENAGERS THE "GROWN-UP" EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER, AS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED, THE CAN ORDER DRINKS BUT NON ALCOHOLIC. THE CAN ORDER MIXED DRINKS SUCH AS FRUIT PUNCH MIXED WITH SPRITE, ETC. THE WILL BE SERVED IN A SHOT GLASS TO ONCE AGAIN GIVE THEM THAT "GROWN UP" EXPERIENCE. I STATED THE ABOVE TO STATE MY QUESTION: IS THERE ANY BUSINESSES LIKE THE ONE I JUST MENTIONED THAT I CAN CONTACT (VIA INTERNET). DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS OF WHAT I CAN INCORPORATE TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS A SUCCESS AND MORE APPEALING THE PUBLIC? ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!
Answers:
Well, on the whole, this sounds like a great idea. I do have a few suggestions. First, don't serve drinks in shot glasses, teenagers do not like to play pretend. And also, if this is going to be a lounge, do not plan on making money: teenagers simply don't have it. When they do have it they spend it on clothing or on dates, not on drinks and bar food. I suggest you try to get a government grant or community tax break because this seems like it would great for the community.
I would stress the sports and minimize the "lounge". What activities will be available for the kids? Will you have billiards, video games, exercise classes, sports clinics, things like that? If food is not going to be your big draw, you need to offer a service of value to both teens and their families. Just having a safe, fun environment where kids can hang out may be enough -- but if you were able to offer different activities you may be more likely to get people through the door. Maybe even partner with area organizations like the Red Cross to offer classes about first aid or local experts to offer exercise classes, self defense, or crafts or things like that. Stress safety. Make it more of a club, and you could even sell memberships. Lots of folks would like to find a safe, supervised place for teens to spend time together while their folks are working.
Just some off the top of my head ideas...