BarMechanics

ALL AROUND THE UNDERGROUND NEWS: Hospitality Industry’s Summertime Shuffle is ON!

The People, the Products and Promotions that shape the Buyer’s Decisions and Consumer’s purchases….

It’s slow in spots…and downright dead in others… but there is always plenty of change, hope and this year even more

HOT BRAND UPDATE: ADVERTISING, SPONSORSHIP, AND NEW FLAVORS KEY TO PINNACLE #1 GROWTH RANKING

White Rock Distilleries and Pinnacle Vodka are STILL on fire. Pinnacle reached the milestone of 1million cases last year, with a 2010 projection of 1.5 million cases. First half sales are in line to top those projections and their 80 proof vodka is selling strong, as are their proprietary flavors such as Cotton Candy,

Beverage Underground Pro2Know: BEATA ZOLADZ

Beata Zoladz
PURE Urban Oasis
Mercato North Naples

Beata is a well respected Pro2Know who is a big part of the great staff at PURE. Beata is an award winning bartender who has been a sales and service leader as well as a team player on a talented bar staff. Go see Beata at PURE who has discounts for Bar Pros after 10 during the week and all day Sunday

Beverage Underground Radio Show to Grow from The Keys to Tampa Bay

Connect to show archives and listen to this weeks show NOW

The Beverage Underground network is planning expansion as the weekly one hour show targeting the spirits, wine, beer and the entire beverage industry looks to move up and down Florida’s Gulf Coast as early as June. Currently the show airs in the Naples and Fort Myers radio markets on the tandem AM stations 1410/1660 that is known as ‘The Avenue’ every Saturday Morning at 10 am.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Scores Big at World Spirits Competition

Buffalo Trace Bourbon has performed extremely well in international spirits ratings competitions since the brand launched in 1999. Coming off a Double Gold Rating at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009, this year Buffalo Trace was awarded a silver medal and the Distillery again proved to be favorite of judges as they piled up awards

Big House with Big Overhead: Hospitality Community Shocked As Icabod’s Closes Mid-Season

Word has been flying around the Underground that Rob De Gennaro has decided to close the doors on Ichabod’s. This was only the second season for the business that opened in the Irish Castle formerly built and operated by the Dwyers.

Beverage Underground Pro2Know

JAY MC AULEY
BISTRO 41
BELL TOWER SHOPS
FT. MYERS, FL

Jay is the guy that makes every visit to the Bell Tower worth stopping by ‘The Bistro’ to have an adult beverage. he knows his wines, mixes great cocktails and always has a smile and a good word…and there must be a reason that Cindie Barker calls Jay “the Sexiest Bartender in SWFL”….

BarMechanic Johnny Creus’ Tips: Selling and Buying Gift Cards is Key to Holiday Hospitality

GIFT CARDS MAKE THE HOLIDAY BETTER FROM BOTH SIDES

The 2009 Hospitality season is nearly upon us.  Weather you believe it starts around Thanksgiving or it has already started, those of us in the “Biz” are grateful for its…

Closed for Remodeling? Bourbon Street Goes Dark

Six Months. Open in time for Mardi Gras…closed before Labor Day. When Bourbon Street opened in the Estero Ridge Plaza the place was jumping…the area really needed a place to go and Bourbon Street was opened with welcome arms. But after just six months of operation Bourbon Street quietly and unceremoniously hung a sheet of paper on the doors with the news that they were remodeling.

Perhaps it should have said rethinking.

Our Recovery Starts With Hospitality and Service

Our Recovery Starts With Hospitality and Service

smokey@BeverageUnderground.com

You won’t need statistics to know that our area is the poster child for ‘It’s bad out there’. Recent closings and layoffs this early in the off-season are indications that more establishments will be throwing in the towel before this hurricane season is over. Some of the closings are truly sad and unwarranted and even shocking, but let’s face it…some of them just had to go.