Pizza Today - April 2020 - 28

Designing a bar that allows your staff
to work efficiently will also resonate
with your guests, according to Mary
King, restaurant and hospitality analyst
of FitSmallBusiness.com.
"Part of the guest experience of sitting at your restaurant's bar is watching
the bartenders go about their work. The
more functional your bar's layout, the
more impressive your team will look. It
may sound like a small thing, but it can
really instill confidence in your products," King says.
ADA compliancy is also important to
your bar design, adds King, as is proper
task lighting so your bartenders and
staff can work effectively. Too bright
lighting, though, she cautions can make
your bar feel less inviting and cool.
DETERMINE YOUR BAR'S PURPOSE

Every inch of your restaurant is your
vision come to life. From the décor
and ambiance to the menu options
and signature drinks, everything works
together to support your brand and celebrate your hospitality. Your bar design
is part of that vision, too, which means
you need to determine how your bar fits
in or will serve your restaurant.
"Is it going to be a focal point, with
large screen TVs that play sports and
20 craft beers on tap, or is it going to
play more of a supportive role to act as
a reception area for patrons, or will its
primary function be as a service bar for
the waitstaff ?" asks Cardamone.
Once you figure out how the bar
will function in your space, you need
to account for the nuts and bolts of
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the design, such as smart placement of
your electrical outlets to power your
POS system and credit card processing
system, notes King. And, don't forget
about places to keep bar tools handy
but out of sight when not in use. King
suggests slim under counter drawers to
banish the clutter.
"A well-designed bar allows the bartender to reach glassware, tools, spirits
and ice without moving; everything
should be within arm's reach. Speed
rails for spirits hung below ice bins help
here, as well as shelving for glassware
along the back bar," King says.
Since the role a bar plays in a
restaurant is so unique to its establishment, its size is contingent on your
needs. There is no "one size fits all"
requirement for a bar, which allows you
significant wiggle room and autonomy
over your bar design. Designing the bar
around how your staff operates and how
it serves your restaurant will allow you
a customized look your customers will
enjoy and your staff will appreciate.
"At American Gonzo, we want our
bars to be an important part of the
guest experience and drive energy in
the restaurant, so we dedicate a significant amount of space for that," Goodman says.
DECIDE HOW TO DISPLAY SPIRITS

To showcase or to hide alcohol
bottles and beer in your bar is a question only you can answer. No matter
what you decide, though, your decision
should align with the role your bar
plays in your operation and its overall

style. And often, showing what you
have to offer is a great way to get customers to indulge.
"We like for guests to be able to see
the products we have curated, both on
the back bar and what's on tap," Goodman says.
Cardamone advises showing off your
top-shelf or high-quality products to
customers.
King notes that these more expensive
liquors should reside on the back of
the bar, while popular bottles are better
positioned in a speed rail under the bar.
"Placing your bar taps behind the
bar facing customers is good for a lot of
reasons," King says. "It allows customers
to readily see what is on offer while also
ensuring that your bartenders can see
what they are pouring."
CONSIDER TRENDS FOR YOUR
BAR DESIGN

Bars are subject to design trends
just like any aspect of your restaurant's
layout and décor. One trend, according
to King, is all about your neighbors.
"Farm to table has become farm-toglass. Increasingly, bars are featuring
locally produced spirits and a rotating
supply of local beers, ciders and even
non-alcoholic draft options like kombucha and cold brew coffee," King says.
Another trend in bar design is swapping out beer tap handles so that all the
taps match, she adds.
"This is an elegant look, but it should
be paired with consistent training and
communication to ensure that your staff
knows which beer is assigned to which
taps," King warns.
RAISE A GLASS TO YOUR
CUSTOMERS

The design of your restaurant should
inform the look, function and importance of your bar. Whether you make it
the star or a supporting character, good
bar design rests best on a functional
mindset. n
DEANN OWENS is a freelance journalist
living in Dayton, Ohio. She specializes in
features and human-interest stories.
http://www.FitSmallBusiness.com http://www.PIZZATODAY.COM
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