What costs are associated with commercial bar construction?
In this blog post, Rick Uzubell from Cabaret Design Group discusses bar equipment design and the list of costs associated with commercial bar design and construction to complete the buildout of a successful bar design.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUILD A BAR?
From our previous post (referenced below), we priced a single bartender station (about 18’ 6”) of underbar equipment, shown here, at $6,075. That breaks down to about $328 per lineal foot. But remember, this represents the necessary capital to purchase a single bartender station – and that there are additional equipment costs that need to be included. To further extrapolate, let’s say that we’re going to add four beer bottle coolers ($2,600 ea.). For clarification, I’m pricing the Glastender BB60 stainless steel coolers with glass doors, as shown in this photo and described in the previous Vlog (referenced below). We always want to place beer coolers on the backbar, so as to not interrupt the efficient production of alcohol-based drinks on the front bar, and, besides, this provides the added advantage of visual merchandising. Friends, your bar should be treated as an attractive billboard! Make your patrons excited to be brought into your experience and your brand.
HOW MUCH DOES BAR EQUIPMENT COST?
WHAT BAR EQUIPMENT IS CONSIDERED TO BE OPTIONAL?
Back to the budget, our investment has now climbed to $16,475, or $890 per lineal foot, for a single bartender station. However, we still need an ice machine, and what about other big-ticket items? Ice machines are more of a necessity, but don’t worry, because there’s Easy Ice, a great service for bar owners that enables them to save their precious operating capital, which I covered in a previous post, referenced below. Glass washing equipment is great, but would be considered as “optional equipment,” for single-station bars, but becomes more of a necessity when multiple bartender stations are involved. Draft beer equipment is also another option that can be handled in a number of ways. Adding a draft beer system can add another $3,000 - $12,000, which could potentially double the investment used in this example; because of their complexity, draft beer systems are covered in another Vlog, listed below.
A LIST OF COSTS RELATED TO BAR CONSTRUCTION
What are the other costs related to bar construction? Beyond the basic investment illustrated above, the following is the likely list of costs that will also be incurred when constructing a commercial bar:
• Plumbing – installation of drains and vents, water lines and equipment hook-up.
• Electrical – such as wiring, switches and outlets, and lighting.
• Equipment installation – the bar equipment itself.
• Bar die – the construction of the bar itself.
• Finish bar design – which is discussed in another Vlog post.
A good budget to construct a basic bar that encompasses all of the above related construction costs $2,000 per lineal foot. This includes 10% for contingency, which is a necessary fund to include in every construction project. This budget would also include a granite bar top and a moderately-priced material to finish the bar facing, such as the one shown in this photo.