Cincinnati: A Cheap Friday Night

A few new(ish) bars have opened in downtown Cincinnati and have been running various promotions to get rears through the door, so if you get on the right mailing lists, you can cash in. It used to be that they wanted an email address, but now they have taken to texting. (Two of these bars are in other cities, so you might check out their web sites.)

Before I go on, I realize that people running bars have a background in...well, something other than PR so it is not surprising to hear the restaurants/bar failure rate is something like 50-60%. It's one thing to run a special and bring people in, but it takes more to keep them there spending money (and telling others and/or writing positively about it on their blog!).

Friday afternoon, Lodge Bar sent one saying:

$1.50 mini pitchers and well drinks until 9pm; free cover when you show this text at the door.

I forwarded it to my friends. We agreed to check it out and if it was lame, we could move on. Since it was a new happy hour for this bar, I asked for the manager to come out and verify the text I received was legit since the bartenders claimed ignorance when my friends who arrived ahead me inquired about it. I never know if the bartenders are truly clueless or don't pay attention to their supervisors when given direction, you know? The manager said it was legit and while the bartenders were getting situated, the manager chatted with me about their specials. A good way to turn me off of your product/service is to act like I am not worth your time because suddenly you may not be worthy of my money :)

Each mini pitcher served about 3 pints. The bar doesn't serve food, which could hinder it for an after work spot since the other bars do offer full menus. We thought of suggesting they contract the neighboring bar's kitchen for a limited menu. They said we could bring in food, so we ordered a pizza, which set us back 5 bucks each. I got the bonus of have having garlic butter spilled on my lap. No vampires were going to get me but then again no person was going to stand within 5 feet of me, either!

Sully's sent a text saying:

Show this text at the door for no cover and $1 drafts, $2 wells $3 calls and $4 bombs. First 15 through the door drink for FREE from 9-11pm.

This was forwarded to all my friends and once I got through the door, I heard the the door girl say to the other they're forwarding it to each other. True. But what does it matter? We all on the mailing lists, yet, do not get all the same messages.

It was after 9pm and still 15 people had not shown that text so we cashed in, free cover and free drinks for 2 hours. Otherwise, we would have used our zipscene cards for free cover.

We've been to this bar before several times and except for one time (and that bartender has not been there since) the service is somewhat on the unfriendly side. The first bartender seemed completely unhappy to see us drinking for free, not sure if it was us in particular or that people were drinking for free. Maybe she was not aware of (or did not pay attention to the promotion)? Maybe the bartenders think free drinkers = poor tippers? (not the case, here) Whatever.

At 10:58pm, we went up to the bar for one last drink, we were denied after being ignored so instead of sticking around and paying for drinks, we took off for another bar. Maybe it was wrong to take advantage of the free drinks and then not stay long enough to start buying them? But there are plenty of friendly bars that would enjoy having our business, so why stay there?!

My friends laugh about another time at this bar when it was a $10 all you can drink of a certain beer from 9-11pm. The beer ran out mid-way through the event, so I asked the floor manager if they might substitute another beer. He snapped and said just buy your next beer. I said we already bought the beer special and if we have to buy beer, we will buy it at Cadillac Ranch. I started to walk away and turned back and said by the way, can you tell me what street it is on?! (ha!). He said, good luck getting in. I said, oh shall I call you once we're in?!

We not only got in, we did not pay cover!