For this month’s Martini page, Nightclub & Bar turned to the South’s first and foremost lady of libations –– the city of New Orleans. Recently opened post-Katrina, the new Harrah’s Hotel, across from the already established casino, is wining and dining patrons in Todd English’s new restaurant, Riche, and offering them an after-spot for jazz and appetizers in the adjoining 528 Jazz club.

Arizona's Artery Assault
The Heart Attack Grill Ups the Calorie Count and the Competition

It is hard to deny the urge to call a friend and tell them about a restaurant/bar where cigarettes, surgical scrubs and full-sugar Coca-Cola imported from Mexico play into the mix. And the truth of it is, most customers aren’t resisting. The Heart Attack Grill: “home of the double bypass burger,” is a Tempe, Ariz., man’s answer to big profits.

Beverage News

Blueberry Hill
Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc., producers of Burnett’s Gin and Vodka franchise, have added Blueberry as the 14th flavor in the vodka portfolio. Burnett’s Blueberry is the newest addition to the popular flavors, which include Cherry, Citrus, Coconut, Cranberry, Grape, Lime, Mango, Orange, Peach, Raspberry, Sour Apple, Vanilla and Watermelon. “The Burnett’s flavors have been able to quickly capitalize on consumer trends in the flavored spirit arena,” said Reid Hafer, brand manager for Heaven Hill’s Burnett’s franchise. “The result is a successful line of flavored vodkas that continues to grow in volume and offerings annually.”
    For more information, visit www.burnettsvodka.com.

Child's Play
DJ Jonny Blaze Turns Kiddie Music Into Adult Dance Tracks

Children’s music can be annoying in its simplicity.

Embracing Change
Smoking Bans Have Everyone on Edge

For some owners and operators out there, it is a worst-nightmare looming just under the proverbial bed. And, for some, it is a painful reality they never imagined possible just a decade ago. The legislation for smoking bans is sweeping the country and, like all situations in which the government ‘bans’ something, there is outcry on both sides of the fence.

Stealing Home
The Crack of the Bat and the Ring of the Register

    Summer, baseball and beer. It’s hard to screw up the opportunity for profit with something so simple and so reliable. The key is keeping the on-premise formula simple too.

The On-Premise Oasis
Summer Presents Unique Opportunities For Sports Promotions

Football, basketball and hockey consistently all bring in the sports fans during the fall and winter months, and many bars focus all their promotional effort on only those sports. That’s fine, and it works well for many people, but don’t overlook summer sports.

The Immigration Boom of Latin Beer

    The market of Latin American brews in the states continues to grow, both in brand names and volume.

Chipotle’s Not Going Anywhere, Despite Naysayers

Oh, chipotle.
    The smoke-dried jalapeño chili peppers whose pods, powders, sauces and marinades have cranked up the heat in so many Mexican bar foods got the cold shoulder from some word aficionados earlier this year. “Chipotle” was added to an annual list of words to be “banished” from the Queen’s English for “mis-use, over-use and general uselessness.”

10 Ways to Better DJ Music Programming

    Whether you’re a veteran DJ or new to the profession, these tips will help improve performance in the booth.

Gamer's Delight
5 Tips for Increasing Revenue with Coin-Op Attractions

The University Area Hangout Bar in Tampa, Fla., is taking full advantage of its pool tables, video games and other coin-ops attractions. Having seen the success that comes from promoting the machines, the bar staff caters every new promotion around them. These five tips from The Hangout staff can increase revenue not only in coin-op proceeds but also receipts at the bar.

Cocktail Prestige
The Accomplished Drinks Acumen of The Gerber Group

The cocktail program across all our Whiskey bar locations and other concepts in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Mexico City and Madrid — really has become part of the experience we are offering. 

Keith McClendon Spared No Expense in Portion Control At the Rare Martini

    Although you may spend hours or days fretting over the confusing excess of technology designed to make your life easier, once implemented, the end result often is the same.

10 Ways to Kill a Club
Operational Errors to Avoid

In the quest for respectable nightclub and bar sales and profits, a well-stocked sports bar with a dozen high-definition TVs is as worthless as a glitzy dance floor surrounded by a well-configured sound system if those features don’t satisfy a particular market’s needs. Failing to properly seek out and anticipate a market’s needs and wants or neglecting to follow a clear mission statement are just a few of the crucial missteps that are bad for business. Industry veteran Garry P. Smyth helps avert disaster by sharing his top 10 critical operational errors and ways to avoid them.

Keyword: Success
Text Messaging Hooks On-Premise Patrons 

Almost overnight, Howl at the Moon’s management at its Louisville, Ky., location has found a way to get bar-goers howling at its door for events.

Tony Abou-Ganim Separates the True Spirits Values From the Wannabes

In spirits, as with any other commodity, value is ultimately in the eyes of the beholder.

Giving Them 51 Reasons to Stay
Lucy’s 51 is Toluca Lake, Calif.’s Foremost Taste of New York 

After only six months in business, Lucy’s 51 is accredited with being the place to get a taste of New York –– from drinks to conversation to atmosphere –– in sunny climes of Los Angeles, specifically the Valley’s Toluca Lake region. 

JukesDirect Cuts Right to the Owner 

What JukesDirect really brings to the industry is the ability of the locations themselves to purchase a downloadable jukebox,” says Simon Deith, who is in charge of sales and marketing for the company. 

New Products Review

HoResCon Wardrobe & Entrance System

HoResCon Wardrobe & Entrance System provides full control and security of a bar’s entrance fee and coat check area. It enables staff to insure client’s jackets for theft and reduce the risk for fraud and non-paid entrance to the establishment. The HoResCon Entrance Control Stamp helps increase revenue and safety by accurately monitoring customer entrance and exit stats. The Wardrobe Coat Check system provides ease in this sometimes complex process. Each patron receives a date, time and numbered receipt printed with the establishment name.
    For more information, visit www.horescon.com.

There’s More Post-Premium Variety in the Tequila Category

That’s your tequila IQ? If asked, could you explain the difference between an añejo and a reposado to a customer? And just what does the term blanco mean in the book of agave.

Concept brings Class Back to Bar

A many college bars in America would make a health inspector flinch. With floors like flypaper and crowds herded in and out in anonymity, designating your concept as a “college” bar sometimes, ultimately, is as unappealing as visiting one of them.     

Cîroc Vodka Refines its Positioning

With a vodka distilled from grapes,you’d think the unique nature of Cîroc would be self-evident. Perhaps it is, but Diageo aims to remove all doubt with its new campaign for the brand and take on-premise sales to a new phase.