Pat’s Cocktails is a failing bar in Los Angeles, California. Owner Ray nearly quadrupled the bar’s revenue within the first couple years. After Ray turned 70, he pursued game hunting and gave the reigns to a bar veteran, Jimmy. Jim took over the business and fell in love at the same time with his current wife. As their love blossomed, Jim began to neglect his managerial duties. Pat’s Cocktails is now losing $4,000 a month due to its absentee owner and neglecting manager.
The exterior of Pat’s Cocktails is simply unnoticeable; there is no light and the lit up restaurant next door makes Pat’s more camouflaged than it already is. Jim sits at the bar drinking on a nightly basis with his wife kissing and acting completely unprofessional. He does not notice any problems and acts like a patron at the bar. Ray is completely absent and doesn’t provide the funds to fix essential problems such as the air conditioning or the credit card machine. The bartenders are not well trained but they are very willing to learn.
Taffer brings in experts to train the staff behind the bar and in the kitchen. Jim and Ray learn through experience how to be an operating manager and owner. Ray ends up giving Jim full access to the bar; he now can write checks to purchase essential things for bartenders, such as lemons.
After the remodel, Taffer kept the same name, Pat’s Cocktails Mixology Bar. He went with a full mixology concept and got rid of the pool tables. A POS system, an extra work station and an actual food menu were implemented into the bar. After the relaunch, the bartenders’ tips went up by 35% and Ray continued to supply the bar with resources.