Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey there Dakka...

So, with my time in the Army possibly coming to an end, I have been thinking of what to do after.. I've thought it would be cool to own/run a sports bar type joint, or other themed restaraunts... For instance, one themed entirely around baseball, with the barstools' legs made from baseball bats, etc. to a Viking themed restaraunt, where instead of tables, there are a couple of long bench trellis tables, so that guests would feel like they are in the Longhall of some chief, and so on...


But, one of my most recent ideas, was to start a "man cave" store... Think Best buy, Sears, Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. So basically, a department store for Men. In one giant space (as per my idea), I would sell Billiard supplies, poker tables and the like, an enormous selection of liquor from around the world, a very large walk-in humidor, as well as scale model/wargaming stuff.... Basically, I thought it'd be cool to have a store where people could go to get all of their hobby supplies in one space, spend some time.

I mean, the place would necessarily have to be huge, because I'd want demo games of pool, so customers could become acquainted with the quality of table they're looking at, run "broke-as-a-joke" Hold 'em tourmies, scotch whisky tasting (and other alcohol tasting) classes/booths.

Aside from the obvious nightmare of licensing and finding a space large enough to house the store, does this sound like a place you'd want to go?

What other crazy business ideas have you dakkaites had?

The biggest issue will be price. To get the best price, for consumer electronics, you need to buy in volume. The volume that you would need to give even a decent price would necessitate a national chain. There are buying collectives that you could become a part of, but they can be a bit on the shady side sometimes. Another option would becoming a "specialist" store. Sell custom man caves, have several set up, have designers on staff to go to the man's house, get to know him a bit, then come up with a personalized cave for him. "For you sir I would recommend hammocks for seating, an HD digital projector, making this wall a 14 foot tv, and super surround... Back here I would put the kegerators, right next to this regulation snooker table..." Then sell the service, act as the contractor to get it done. And the hobby shop too, would benefit from this as there would be plenty of gaming space.

Just my $0.18...

Starting capital? I know you didn't spend last 5 yrs strictly overseas

For you to kick this off how much would you need to actually...kick it off...don't forget the beer math to add in

Jihadin wrote:Starting capital? I know you didn't spend last 5 yrs strictly overseas

For you to kick this off how much would you need to actually...kick it off...don't forget the beer math to add in

obviously I haven't given this much though, but was more curious as to whether the idea had merit, and whether others have had similar sorts of "crazy" ideas.

Who knows it could be a super viable business, do not forget to sell neon beer signs and posters, as well as arcade and pinball games.


I figured if the full auto weapons ban ever lifts, I could open a "mafia" store. We would sell pin stripe suits, nice lids, cigars, booze, and of course thompson sub machineguns.

Ensis Ferrae wrote:

Jihadin wrote:Starting capital? I know you didn't spend last 5 yrs strictly overseas

For you to kick this off how much would you need to actually...kick it off...don't forget the beer math to add in

obviously I haven't given this much though, but was more curious as to whether the idea had merit, and whether others have had similar sorts of "crazy" ideas.

Maybe this isn't the route your were thinking of going but:
One of my joes joined purely for the purpose of raising money for a startup. His goal was to have 50k in the bank when he got out. He ended up getting a 4plex and leaving the Army with nearly 250k. He told me tha of you do your research and you can MAKE money at 4-50% occupancy or more; multiple unit single family housing is a solid way to make money. I don't know how good you think you might be at property management but it's worth taking a look to at least fund a different business.

Ensis Ferrae wrote:Basically, I thought it'd be cool to have a store where people could go to get all of their hobby supplies in one space, spend some time.

I mean, the place would necessarily have to be huge, because I'd want demo games of pool, so customers could become acquainted with the quality of table they're looking at, run "broke-as-a-joke" Hold 'em tourmies, scotch whisky tasting (and other alcohol tasting) classes/booths.

Aside from the obvious nightmare of licensing and finding a space large enough to house the store, does this sound like a place you'd want to go?

What other crazy business ideas have you dakkaites had?

I've seen places like this before, or something like them. My thought would be that your gaming stock (pool tables, Foosball, pinball, etc.) would eat up a lot of capital on your end while also selling poorly at this time. Pool tables especially are a bear to move and install, at least the good ones.

I think a better idea might be to start a sort of quiet bar with a package license. You can have a cool place to hang out, and still sell top-end spirits. Maybe keep a variety of different pool tables and the like (While developing contacts in the industry itself of course.) to give your customers a chance to try some out while not having to keep stock. And even then I think you run the risk of going too much towards "cool" and not enough towards "profitable."