Tales of the Cocktail 2015

The past decade has seen a seismic shift in the bar business, with changes unrivaled for generations--but the challenges of owning and running a bar are more complicated than ever, and change remains the only constant. This seminar will bring together the owners of several of the country’s most enduring and successful bars—Employees Only in New York, Elixir in San Francisco, and Teardrop Lounge in Portland—along with the executive editor of Imbibe, who will share a decade’s worth of experiences, strategies, observations and insights with those looking to open their own bars, or who are charting a fresh course forward. We’ll cover the expected challenges of bar ownership as they relate to finances, management and business basics, but we’ll also delve into ways to prepare for unexpected challenges such as global financial upheaval, the cocktail boom and its many fluctuations, and the ever-changing media landscape. And ten years is just the beginning—how are these owners preparing their own bars for the next decade of business? Come learn from those who've built their bars into legacies, as you plan your own path for long-term success.