2024 12 31
One of my many bar inspirations: Sportsman’s Club. Chicago, Illinois. July, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Becoming a Bar Owner in 2025
Today is New Years Eve — who wouldn’t want to own a bar on New Years Eve?!$!$?
This is slight sarcasm. I’m not a huge fan of crowded gatherings, and have mixed feelings on socializing generally, however, I love bars. I could spend every day in a bar (not necessarily drinking, I like the vibes and the human dynamic, mom!) and I’ve long wanted to own a bar, though had never made a serious effort to do so myself — until this year. While it’s true I did make an effort to re-open some kind of bar/restaurant concept in the former Orkenoy space inside the Kimball Arts Center (where my studio is located), the level of my effort was fairly minimal. It didn’t go far beyond talking to basically everyone I know about it. Thinking, talking, researching, talking, thinking. Enough time went by that the space got leased out to an office tenant and the dream died… sort of.
Now, there’s another bar on the market and available that checks most of my boxes and is already quite aligned on concept (at least one concept I’ve been stewing on). Still, this idea is quite a long shot at this point, but it’s one I’m seriously considering. Much like the photobook shop dream and having a family member in that business, I also have family on both sides of the bar business (ownership and alcoholism). The latter reality causes both of my parents to think this is a terrible idea, and their perspective needs to be considered.
Of course, owning a bar introduces a slew of other new challenges and life adjustments. It would be a 180-degree career pivot and I would realistically need to give up most, if not all, of my photography ambitions. This is the main reason I’ve mostly been stewing on the idea rather than acting on it. But with the commercial photo landscape being quite down from where it once was and its future also very much in question, the idea started to sound like it might actually make some sense (and, possibly, cents).
One of my biggest takeaways from the last three years of running a studio is how much I’ve enjoyed curating and hosting events. I’m going to dig more into this topic in a few days, however, there are quite a lot of parallels to what I’m already doing today with owning and operating a bar; I’m just currently doing it without a liquor license.
My two biggest takeaways from investigating the bar idea further were:
First, that I bring more to the table than I had realized! It was an ego-boost of sorts, hearing confidence from a number of people, including a partner at a big restaurant group, that I should open a bar and that I have more to offer than I gave myself credit for. My self-deprecating style had initially caused me to doubt the whole endeavor strictly because I have no experience running a bar myself.
Second, and even more reassuringly, was the amount of help, openness, and enthusiasm I received from existing bar owners and operators that I reached out to for advice. Initially, I was hesitant to even do so, thinking they would see me more as future competition. In reality, I had people sending me complicated documents filled with projections and numbers I would’ve never considered; I had people coming out to see the space and give me their honest, experienced opinions; I had people running numbers for me and giving me free consultation. It was a reassuring experience, and while I know running a bar would be wildly challenging and likely all-consuming, I love the idea that I wouldn’t be doing it alone.
On that note, back to stewing on it. Until then, if anyone wants to invest $10,000-$100,000 into an exciting new bar opportunity, you know where to find me!
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, see 2024 12 25.
