Jonesy -
you really are full of shit. I will give you an example of a bar like that. It is still under the same name on the Riverfront.
The owner of a year ago made some money, but even he would admit he was lazy so didn't work at it. It had decent food. Good internet connection, A PC on the bar so you could choose music. A projector was in place where the occasional movie was played and there was also a TV. Many on this forum went there. The owner was there often and his staff were interactive fun.
He sold out to a couple of guy's about a year ago - for peanuts. The free internet went and is now the most expensive in town. The prices went up. The music moved upstairs. A big TV was installed as were a few new aircons. The prices went up again. Nearly all the staff left or were sacked. The new ones are shockers. One owner bought out another. They had tried to sell for three times what they paid for it.
The owner has now left and is trying to earn money offshore. The current manager has started a fried snack menu. The whole bar smells of rancid oil. The manager is blaming the fact there are few customers on the recession, the thai meltdown, the green wall etc. In fact anything but the fact the bar is shit in it's current incarnation. The bar next door is full most of the time, as is Metro, as is Bojangles and many other bars. The last three times I have gone past this bar nobody was in it, when others nearby were busy.
Funny when the bar was like Busacador described it worked. Why the hell do you think Sharky's works? That is the strange thing about PP. Many Barang come here and try to work a model that won't. Particularly in the Bar world.
Opening night!
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GM - exactly. Surprised you think you know the name of the bar - i thought I was being discreet!
The orther thing i find surprising about PP is the number of expats who deride you for not having a failed business venture behind you. I was lambasted (hope LJ likes that one) by an Aussie guy for coming over here investigating a few business opportunities and then deciding the risk and cost of entry had changed.
In the two years since my first visit to Cambodia it has changed dramatically. Where $30 to $50 k was a good amount to spend on a business it is now peanuts. Khmers have tied up JV's with multi nationals and it is not easy to compete. Rather than that risk i invested in a Riverfront wooden house. Just as risky as a business if my relationship falls flat. But hey good benefits.
I know of no property speculators who started in the last year who have made a cent. The Kampot Kep invasion is still to come.
The orther thing i find surprising about PP is the number of expats who deride you for not having a failed business venture behind you. I was lambasted (hope LJ likes that one) by an Aussie guy for coming over here investigating a few business opportunities and then deciding the risk and cost of entry had changed.
In the two years since my first visit to Cambodia it has changed dramatically. Where $30 to $50 k was a good amount to spend on a business it is now peanuts. Khmers have tied up JV's with multi nationals and it is not easy to compete. Rather than that risk i invested in a Riverfront wooden house. Just as risky as a business if my relationship falls flat. But hey good benefits.
I know of no property speculators who started in the last year who have made a cent. The Kampot Kep invasion is still to come.
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point of order barone..bar one wrote:
The owner o....... was lazy so didn't work at it.
he worked very hard at being lazy...
it was a good place and great value indeed!
Exactly!; I went in after the change over...the internet was crap .. the time it did work... I ordered a meal I didn't want so that I was playing the game ... sweating in the heat upstairsbar one wrote:He sold out to a couple of guy's about a year ago - for peanuts. The free internet went and is now the most expensive in town. The prices went up.
I couldn't believe it when the bill came and included the internet charge ..well I paid way more than I would at an a/c internet cafe... and for a crap connection
I walked out there bowlegged, such was the feeling of having been raped...
They lost my $5-$10 per day business forever then
I don't mind paying well for good service but that was just b/s.
I went back to the freebird after that .. even though I don't think much of the owner, the service and food and value are great and it is a/c as well.
I am not sorry to hear that the new owners of "anally rape you" bar are struggling ... it still hurts to write about it ... I feel sooo dirty..
cheers
LaudJohn
- Felgerkarb
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Heh, funny, LaudJohn, I think I was there with you upstairs the last time you were there.
The current owner of the bar is a friend of mine, and has had no luck with his former partner over the changes (which he HATED). Then, he bought the bar and ran out of money before he could change anything back to the better. He had to leave so he could make money, not just for the bar, but to live on. I hope when he gets back things will change back. I still go to the bar out of loyalty to him (I met Missy there when she was helping out as a temp for two weeks). I know two of the girls that work there (one of them used to work for me at Sugar as a bartender), and they are not hard on the eyes, so it is worth a few times a week. Heck, one of the day crew has been there for ages, and I like her, so again, I go, eat 10 bucks of food and brew, and give them a 20$. If that place shuts its doors, that may do it for me for the riverfront, as the other places I go to because I find a few of the board rogues in them...if they were NOT there, neither would I, because they have no soul, spirit or fun, they represent to me the neo-investor with the Euro style I despise. No amount of cheap drinks will keep me in a place like that....crazy maniacs like me look out of place in them anyway.
There was time, a very brief window, where I considered buying it off of him (at a more standard rate) and restoring it to its former glory, but my losses in the wasteland were too great this year, so I could not swing it.
As for Freebird, they do have some of the greatest service in town. I have known and been a friend of the owner for 20 years. He can be abrasive if you bother his crew, behave like a fucktard, try and be the know-it-all expat type, or are utterly full of shit (he can spot those when they come through the front door) -- not that you are any of those, but to witness him in action ON any of those, you may think he is a jerk. But, where else can you sit with senior CPP, royalty, local expats, businessmen, yours truly, and pretty local ladies all at the same time in an expat bar?
The current owner of the bar is a friend of mine, and has had no luck with his former partner over the changes (which he HATED). Then, he bought the bar and ran out of money before he could change anything back to the better. He had to leave so he could make money, not just for the bar, but to live on. I hope when he gets back things will change back. I still go to the bar out of loyalty to him (I met Missy there when she was helping out as a temp for two weeks). I know two of the girls that work there (one of them used to work for me at Sugar as a bartender), and they are not hard on the eyes, so it is worth a few times a week. Heck, one of the day crew has been there for ages, and I like her, so again, I go, eat 10 bucks of food and brew, and give them a 20$. If that place shuts its doors, that may do it for me for the riverfront, as the other places I go to because I find a few of the board rogues in them...if they were NOT there, neither would I, because they have no soul, spirit or fun, they represent to me the neo-investor with the Euro style I despise. No amount of cheap drinks will keep me in a place like that....crazy maniacs like me look out of place in them anyway.
There was time, a very brief window, where I considered buying it off of him (at a more standard rate) and restoring it to its former glory, but my losses in the wasteland were too great this year, so I could not swing it.
As for Freebird, they do have some of the greatest service in town. I have known and been a friend of the owner for 20 years. He can be abrasive if you bother his crew, behave like a fucktard, try and be the know-it-all expat type, or are utterly full of shit (he can spot those when they come through the front door) -- not that you are any of those, but to witness him in action ON any of those, you may think he is a jerk. But, where else can you sit with senior CPP, royalty, local expats, businessmen, yours truly, and pretty local ladies all at the same time in an expat bar?
====================
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
Wow, that reply was moronic in so many ways that I almost don't feel capable of enumerating them, but I will give it a shot. I'll probably miss a few, but here are the points that really stood out.:Jonesy wrote:Buscador wrote: You want all this and cheap drinks.
That doesnt add up and doesnt last long.
How many businesses have you owned/run that have lasted more than a few months? None Id bet.
Good staff, nice comfortable furnishings and above all a good location all cost money.
Youre just another stupid useless fuck in SE Asia who wants evrything your own way but obviously havent got the skill, nous or balls to do anything yourself.
1) I said competitively priced drinks were required, not that they had to be cheaper than average.
2) I know of a few bars in town that fit this description and have been around for awhile, so apparently it does add up and does last long.
3) I never claimed to be a business owner, nor was this a thread directed specifically at business owners. It asked what keeps forum members coming back to a bar.
4) I never disputed that good staff, comfort, and a good location cost money, but they do not necessarily cost more money than a crappy staff, uncomfortable furnishings and an inconvenient (for me) location--at least not in Cambodia.
5) The poster is apparently unable to spell or use a spell checker.
6) The poster insults another poster just because he does not like his opinion.
7) The poster makes assumptions about me without having any idea who I am or what my background is.
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[quote="jm]I sense the service has slipped a little from where it was two or three years ago (which still leaves it way ahead of most). [/quote]
I think the service slipped when they started letting the daytime staff wear T-shirts. They should be required to wear the black long sleeve button down shirts at all times, even if it's 90 degrees outside.
I think the service slipped when they started letting the daytime staff wear T-shirts. They should be required to wear the black long sleeve button down shirts at all times, even if it's 90 degrees outside.
Not having ever run a business, I don't feel qualified to take shots at the new owners of "that bar", however I agree the previous owner did a great job, and in subsequent trips to the bar, it does seem to have gone way down hill.
Bar One listed a number of positives about that bar which I agree with, but I think it comes down to having an owner with good taste and being able to apply that to running a bar. That, in turn, attacts a customer base that appreciates good taste, and it kind of perpetuates from there.
Or I'm all wrong about this.
I'm only a part timer in PP; most of the time I'm living on the west coast of the US. My absolute favorite piece of clothing I own was purchased at that bar. I had no idea how cool it was when I bought it, but I'm sure the bar owner (who I see posts here, but may not remember me) knew exactly how cool it was when he designed them.
I wear that T-shirt to Dengue Fever shows and it's a big hit with the local Khmers who know the significance of the images on the back.
Nice job "bar owner"!
Bar One listed a number of positives about that bar which I agree with, but I think it comes down to having an owner with good taste and being able to apply that to running a bar. That, in turn, attacts a customer base that appreciates good taste, and it kind of perpetuates from there.
Or I'm all wrong about this.
I'm only a part timer in PP; most of the time I'm living on the west coast of the US. My absolute favorite piece of clothing I own was purchased at that bar. I had no idea how cool it was when I bought it, but I'm sure the bar owner (who I see posts here, but may not remember me) knew exactly how cool it was when he designed them.
I wear that T-shirt to Dengue Fever shows and it's a big hit with the local Khmers who know the significance of the images on the back.
Nice job "bar owner"!
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It was a sort of joint effort between KIR, who had the idea first, JM who got moving on it , and me who put it together. I did a 3x3 version that was going to be a poster, but I didnt get it sorted out in time.I'm sure the bar owner (who I see posts here, but may not remember me) knew exactly how cool it was when he designed them.
I gave mine to a relation, it was worn out and used to wipe the floor way back.I wear that T-shirt to Dengue Fever shows and it's a big hit with the local Khmers who know the significance of the images on the back.
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I am so there. I take care of my shirt like it was an expensive silk shirt, it was a masterfully done piece of culture, a fusion of Khmer and Barang that I feel is very unifying.jm wrote:Yep, I always wanted to do a Sisamouth/Sothea shirt, but KiR came up with the Warhol concept and Hanky executed it masterfully. I did three printings of the shirts and it's always great to see them round town (especially on Khmers) or to hear from Ethan of Dengue Fever the places he goes on tour where he sees them.credit where credit was due
There will be another bar soon as I can find a location and hope y'all will enjoy it as much. It won't be a Jungle but Sothea and Sisamouth will fit in nonetheless.
As for being generous in my assessment of the new administrator of the establishment, perhaps. Perhaps even biased, I admit that, but I also like the other partner as well, but found myself in more agreement with the current owner due to some things I witnessed first hand (being there very often, even in the dark times).
====================
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
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Yes you are right Felgerkarb, you were there that last time I visited that bar for the last time.Felgerkarb wrote:Heh, funny, LaudJohn, I think I was there with you upstairs the last time you were there.
As for Freebird, .............., but to witness him in action ON any of those, you may think he is a jerk. But, where else can you sit with senior CPP, royalty, local expats, businessmen, yours truly, and pretty local ladies all at the same time in an expat bar?
Crap free internet service I can put up with, but crap internet service at about 10 times the rate I would pay in a local khmer run a/c internet cafe I cannot and will not put up with on principal..
They did their math all wrong... I play the game and download very little when the service is free... the maybe 1500 riel of internet useage I would use is huge compared with the profit on the food and coffee they would make from me... hell for coffee at that time i could get a bottomless cup at the CA2 for $1 .... then go nearby my home to use the a/c internet.
Plus the quality of the curry went downhill according to my wife...
As for the freebird ... your assessment of the owner is spot on...
I was sworn at under his breath one time because of some friends I was with who abused his free chilli and internet ... I myself never did that and didn't like his attitude .. hell if he thinks someone is taking the piss he should front them (nicely) not resent them being there ... that is the action a real man would take .. uttering curses under the breath and allowing people to take the piss is the actions of a ....... and based on the way I have seen him abuse his diminutive staff.. the actions of a bully .. neither are character traits I particularly like.
still that said.. his staff are excellent .. I tip them well .. his food is great and the services he offers such as free fast internet is top notch ...
I would just feel less dirty if I was paying someone who (IMHO) had a better character.
cheers
LaudJohn
PS The opinions about the owner of the freebird expressed in this post are my own and are not endorsed or sanctioned by the owners or administratiors of this site .. if he wants me to express them to his face then have him contact me and I will be happy to do so... I am not a ........ nor scared of him (like other diminutitive others I have observed) ... also these comments apply to the other un-named establishement
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