Oct 22, Burr..
Last night's Make A Wish Benefit Show was a hit. Totals aren't in yet, but I think we raised between $6,000 - $7,000 -- should be enough to grant one wish. It's funny with the silent auction.. over 100 items (our community is amazing)... most people realize we are raising money for charity, some though think of it as a garage sale.. I want something as cheap as possible.. over bidding people by a $1.. it's funny at the end of the night when you look at ta couple of the bid sheets: $10.00, $20.00... $$22.00, $23.00, $25.00, $26.00 -- for a Restaurant Gift card worth $50! An OH MY! Moment.
Today is Bingo, and 1/2 of the money raised goes to West Shore Aware, the 1/2 half goes to the winner of each game. It has proved to be a great weekly fund raiser for aware.
It's beginning to get quiet here. Last Monday I wanted to take some friends to dinner.. and it's freaky how many places are closed during the week. I totally get it, and I know people complain. But there just isn't enough people here to support some of the businesses in the "off season." We had a customer comment about 3 weeks ago that basically said that "beyond any doubt they were 100% positive that if we had a restaurant on property that served breakfast, lunch and dinner year round it would be profitable. " That's not exactly how it said, but the year round and 100% were in the letter. My response would be I wish that was the case! First it takes a long time for a restaurant to be profitable. Second, after Halloween we have days where the bar rings less than $10 total for the day. Weeks go by when there is no one staying on property -- even at $69 per night. It's sometimes hard to keep the staff we have all year - I can't image adding a 3 meals a day, 7 days a week kitchen crew.
Lots (and Lots) of people come up for the July 4th and Labor Day holiday.. and they are amazed that there isn't another gay bar in town. I try to remind them that most of the year is not like July and August (we all wish it was). Though this years summer was cool, it was a good summer for us. And we have groups every weekend in September, so that was a good month. However October, which is typically the 5th best month of the year (June being #4) for us has been terribly slow -- and we know how the year started out. I love this town! But it really is, do as best as you can May - October and hope that's enough to get you through the year. I get why every year a business or two either goes out of business or is sold. Tourist town business is not for the faint at heart!
One more weekend, and then most of the bar staff is officially done. Most of the Housekeepers were "done" last week. For the winter, it will be Jeff and newbie Jackson.. plus Richard. Mama Sharon is taking the winter off (November - March) so Jeramiah and Cookie will handle all the daily cleaning, spring cleaning, shoveling, maintenance, etc. From a staff of 35 to a staff of 5 (and non get 40 hours). We are so great full for our loyal and devoted staff. They are the best, and the Dunes would not be what they are with them.
Summer bartender Aaron & Mikey are back at the Casino, Ben is studying abroad in Spain, Todd is headed to California for the winter, Keller is spinning in GR, Charlie is back in school as is Breydon, & Spencer. Kevin moved to Chicago, DW is busy with Pre-Med, Steve is back at his job at Rockwell's and Tyler is back at Sanchez. Food runner Brian is in Grad School in Wisconsin. And our late summer arrival Dan is in school, bartending and helping us out when we need him as he awaits the birth of his first little one. Was a great crew and we'd be happy to have any of them back!
We are doing some "funky" hours this winter. We want to provide a year round gay venue to our customers, but again it's a long, slow winter. So beginning Monday November 3 we'll go to Winter Hours.. Monday - Thursday the bar will be open 2pm - 10pm - with $1 off all drinks. Thursday night's will continue our Euchre/Pot Luck at 6pm (if you like Euchre you should be here). Friday and Saturday hours we'll be open 9a - 2a. Friday will be Karaoke at 9pm, and Saturday will be either Music Videos, a DJ or Men of Manwatch -- there will be no cover charge whenever there is "Music Videos." Be sure to get the Calendar of events! Sunday hours will be 9a - 10p and we'll be doing Bingo 4-7p with drink specials 4-6p.
It's 52 degrees and windy, I'm in a hoody and hat. BURRR! Time to go set up Bingo. As Kevin would say "Bye Now!"
Today is Bingo, and 1/2 of the money raised goes to West Shore Aware, the 1/2 half goes to the winner of each game. It has proved to be a great weekly fund raiser for aware.
It's beginning to get quiet here. Last Monday I wanted to take some friends to dinner.. and it's freaky how many places are closed during the week. I totally get it, and I know people complain. But there just isn't enough people here to support some of the businesses in the "off season." We had a customer comment about 3 weeks ago that basically said that "beyond any doubt they were 100% positive that if we had a restaurant on property that served breakfast, lunch and dinner year round it would be profitable. " That's not exactly how it said, but the year round and 100% were in the letter. My response would be I wish that was the case! First it takes a long time for a restaurant to be profitable. Second, after Halloween we have days where the bar rings less than $10 total for the day. Weeks go by when there is no one staying on property -- even at $69 per night. It's sometimes hard to keep the staff we have all year - I can't image adding a 3 meals a day, 7 days a week kitchen crew.
Lots (and Lots) of people come up for the July 4th and Labor Day holiday.. and they are amazed that there isn't another gay bar in town. I try to remind them that most of the year is not like July and August (we all wish it was). Though this years summer was cool, it was a good summer for us. And we have groups every weekend in September, so that was a good month. However October, which is typically the 5th best month of the year (June being #4) for us has been terribly slow -- and we know how the year started out. I love this town! But it really is, do as best as you can May - October and hope that's enough to get you through the year. I get why every year a business or two either goes out of business or is sold. Tourist town business is not for the faint at heart!
One more weekend, and then most of the bar staff is officially done. Most of the Housekeepers were "done" last week. For the winter, it will be Jeff and newbie Jackson.. plus Richard. Mama Sharon is taking the winter off (November - March) so Jeramiah and Cookie will handle all the daily cleaning, spring cleaning, shoveling, maintenance, etc. From a staff of 35 to a staff of 5 (and non get 40 hours). We are so great full for our loyal and devoted staff. They are the best, and the Dunes would not be what they are with them.
Summer bartender Aaron & Mikey are back at the Casino, Ben is studying abroad in Spain, Todd is headed to California for the winter, Keller is spinning in GR, Charlie is back in school as is Breydon, & Spencer. Kevin moved to Chicago, DW is busy with Pre-Med, Steve is back at his job at Rockwell's and Tyler is back at Sanchez. Food runner Brian is in Grad School in Wisconsin. And our late summer arrival Dan is in school, bartending and helping us out when we need him as he awaits the birth of his first little one. Was a great crew and we'd be happy to have any of them back!
We are doing some "funky" hours this winter. We want to provide a year round gay venue to our customers, but again it's a long, slow winter. So beginning Monday November 3 we'll go to Winter Hours.. Monday - Thursday the bar will be open 2pm - 10pm - with $1 off all drinks. Thursday night's will continue our Euchre/Pot Luck at 6pm (if you like Euchre you should be here). Friday and Saturday hours we'll be open 9a - 2a. Friday will be Karaoke at 9pm, and Saturday will be either Music Videos, a DJ or Men of Manwatch -- there will be no cover charge whenever there is "Music Videos." Be sure to get the Calendar of events! Sunday hours will be 9a - 10p and we'll be doing Bingo 4-7p with drink specials 4-6p.
It's 52 degrees and windy, I'm in a hoody and hat. BURRR! Time to go set up Bingo. As Kevin would say "Bye Now!"
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