I was reading a recent article in Nightclub & Bar Magazine and it definitely made me think a little bit about how the "coffee shop" era has evolved our way of going out. Have you noticed the crowds through the night staying the same lately? More often than not, consumers are starting to “bar hop” less and less, and are beginning to treat their venue of choice much like a coffee shop.
The Starbucks and Tully’s of the world have “trained” the new generation of party goers by changing the way bar customers view going out. People want a place to sit and talk, and it’s becoming more evident with the lush establishments with big sofas and circle style furniture; they are setting the scene for people to get comfortable and stay with their friends all night. This is a great time to think about your décor and see what you can do to make it more inviting for patrons to stay longer.
The numbers prove that venues based solely around dance floors are taking a hit with the economy. The establishments that have one or two smaller, low-key dance floors are achieving higher sales-per-square-foot.
Current customer research shows that “lack of seating” is a large factor today; it was a nearly nonexistent comment 5 years ago. This all goes back to the preconditioning from the coffee shops. Teens start to hang out at these venues at an early age, getting them use to this type of interaction. In turn, this affects their adult behavior and preference in bars…they have been groomed to enjoy the calmer, more conversation driven environment.
The research and tracking conducted by Nightclub & Bar Magazine shows that guests are now staying longer at venues compared to 5 years ago. It’s not that patrons are more concerned about more stringent DUI/DWI laws, but more that this trend is based on a new social behavior. They believe it fits into the new “let’s sit, talk and have coffee” mentality of the new younger bar customer.
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