[Stu from NYC]

Hooters anyone?

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

The title says it all.

To me a good bar...

Offers reasonably priced drinks, and likely has 2-4-1 or half off Happy Hour drink specials.
Has a half dozen beers on tap and a decent selection of bottled craft beers.
Offers patrons drinking at the bar something to nosh on while they drink....pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, something salty to keep me drinking. Chips and salsa for a couple of bucks??
Several large TV screens with pro/college football & basketball, MMA fights, extreme sports videos, TV poker games, funny/crazy youtube videos.
A couple billiard tables, dart boards, a ping pong table, some old school video games or pinball machines in the back.
Decent appetizers and bar food, a basic burger and fries for a tenner.
Friendly bartenders.
Outdoor seating with ideally H2O misting fans
Decent background music and/or a digital jukebox with a gazillion song choices.
Clean bathrooms.

Is the above so hard or asking too much??

Why is it / how is it that in an area with a such a large population of affluent active retirees, there isn't one decent bar in The Villages?

Besides your home or on The Squares listening to free music, where do you go to enjoy a few drinks, be social and meet people?

40 minutes away in Mt Dora:
BIG DOG SALOON - 13 Reviews - Sports Bars - 4060 N Hwy 19A, Mount Dora, FL - Phone Number

Leesburg:
FRANK’S PLACE - 12 Photos - Pool Halls - 201 N 1st St, Leesburg, FL - Phone Number

Taveres, 35 minutes:
IPINBALL - 30 Photos - Comfort Food - 223 E Main St, Tavares, FL - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number

I would never go to the sort of bar you mention, but you are right about there not being one nearby here, so far as I know. You would think that some place around here could do well being the only place open after 9 for people like you. There must be lots more like you.

Where I come from, VFW clubs offer all this at very low prices to vets and their others. Also, some volunteer fire companies paid for their equipment by having bars like this in the basement. You bought a yearly membership to get in, and there was no sign. You just have to know where the entrance is.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by MandoMan

(Laughing) I didn’t know Wally Cox could sing, much less yodel with amazing skill. That song came out in 1953, the year I was born.

I graduated High School in '57.

If you wait long enough you will be as old as I am. I have no idea how it happened.

[irishwonone]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Most of those are good points, but I would add a bar that stays open past 10.

Love it.👍🏻

[jmpalladino]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

Who said anything about free food? Did you think I was going to eat a bowl of popcorn or beer nuts as my entree??

Just an FYI, half priced or two for one drinks during Happy Hour is normal--lots of successful bars all over the country advertise their Happy Hour specials. Happy Hour is actually a thing, look it up.

Ever heard of a popular television show called "Bar Rescue"? The restaurant / bar expert Jon Taffer suggests advices that bars always offer free salty snacks to patrons as studies show it results in higher drink sales (you know, 'cause eating salty snacks make people drink more).

I didn't say anything in my post about "cheap meals", though I did mention a basic burger with fries for $10.00. Charge an extra $1.00 for each additional topping, i.e., cheese, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, bacon, advocado, etc. Now my go-to burger (grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon and cheese) costs $14.00. Is that cheap?? Seems pretty in-line with the prices at World of Beer, and that's definitely not a cheap dive bar.

Pool tables & juke box all are coin-activated, so they pay for themselves but give patrons something social to do besides drink. Ping pong paddles & balls cost $10/hour rental, leave your drivers license or credit card at the bar to get paddles, get your I.D. back when you return paddles.

Why anyone would take their wife to a bar for a quote "romantic dinner" I don't know, but if that's your idea of a good time, well, to each their own I always say.

Why not open one yourself if you think this is what is needed in TV? How long do you think it would be before you file for Bankruptcy?

[lmack]

Codys doesn’t check all your boxes but, last I checked, 2-4-1 was still from 11-7. But we have had to ask for the little bucket of peanuts since covid.

[Don5154]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

The title says it all.

To me a good bar...

Offers reasonably priced drinks, and likely has 2-4-1 or half off Happy Hour drink specials.
Has a half dozen beers on tap and a decent selection of bottled craft beers.
Offers patrons drinking at the bar something to nosh on while they drink....pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, something salty to keep me drinking. Chips and salsa for a couple of bucks??
Several large TV screens with pro/college football & basketball, MMA fights, extreme sports videos, TV poker games, funny/crazy youtube videos.
A couple billiard tables, dart boards, a ping pong table, some old school video games or pinball machines in the back.
Decent appetizers and bar food, a basic burger and fries for a tenner.
Friendly bartenders.
Outdoor seating with ideally H2O misting fans
Decent background music and/or a digital jukebox with a gazillion song choices.
Clean bathrooms.

Is the above so hard or asking too much??

Why is it / how is it that in an area with a such a large population of affluent active retirees, there isn't one decent bar in The Villages?

Besides your home or on The Squares listening to free music, where do you go to enjoy a few drinks, be social and meet people?

Sounds like the American Legion would work for you...biggest one in the country on Rt 466

[Rcolby7]

What you’re describing are bars everywhere in the US except retirement communities. Here our happy hours are late lunch hours at country club bars. I think the traditional bars could do well here for 60-75 guys.

[Chiphoneman]

Originally Posted by Velvet

No! At least not a cheap bar….

Not cheap and they don't pour decent drinks.

[leopfeiffer]

From a guy who has owned 2 bars, most of the bartenders in TV would never work for me. Instead of engaging your patrons, you would just go clean some already cleaned glasses, wipe a clean bar, or disappear. Then expect a nice tip. Just sayin'

[KRMACK55]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

The title says it all.

To me a good bar...

Offers reasonably priced drinks, and likely has 2-4-1 or half off Happy Hour drink specials.
Has a half dozen beers on tap and a decent selection of bottled craft beers.
Offers patrons drinking at the bar something to nosh on while they drink....pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, something salty to keep me drinking. Chips and salsa for a couple of bucks??
Several large TV screens with pro/college football & basketball, MMA fights, extreme sports videos, TV poker games, funny/crazy youtube videos.
A couple billiard tables, dart boards, a ping pong table, some old school video games or pinball machines in the back.
Decent appetizers and bar food, a basic burger and fries for a tenner.
Friendly bartenders.
Outdoor seating with ideally H2O misting fans
Decent background music and/or a digital jukebox with a gazillion song choices.
Clean bathrooms.

Is the above so hard or asking too much??

Why is it / how is it that in an area with a such a large population of affluent active retirees, there isn't one decent bar in The Villages?

Besides your home or on The Squares listening to free music, where do you go to enjoy a few drinks, be social and meet people?

There is no free anything here. The music on the squares is not free it’s paid for by the residents in the catch all of amenity fees or the year end maintenance fee. Everything that exists here was paid for by the residents in one form or another.

[yankygrl]

Originally Posted by Don5154

Sounds like the American Legion would work for you...biggest one in the country on Rt 466

But you must be a member of the legion to gain admittance AND at present only members of 347 are allowed in.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by KRMACK55

There is no free anything here. The music on the squares is not free it’s paid for by the residents in the catch all of amenity fees or the year end maintenance fee. Everything that exists here was paid for by the residents in one form or another.

Music at the Squares are not paid bthe amenity or mainyenance fees.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by DaddyD

The title says it all.

To me a good bar...

Offers reasonably priced drinks, and likely has 2-4-1 or half off Happy Hour drink specials.
Has a half dozen beers on tap and a decent selection of bottled craft beers.
Offers patrons drinking at the bar something to nosh on while they drink....pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, something salty to keep me drinking. Chips and salsa for a couple of bucks??
Several large TV screens with pro/college football & basketball, MMA fights, extreme sports videos, TV poker games, funny/crazy youtube videos.
A couple billiard tables, dart boards, a ping pong table, some old school video games or pinball machines in the back.
Decent appetizers and bar food, a basic burger and fries for a tenner.
Friendly bartenders.
Outdoor seating with ideally H2O misting fans
Decent background music and/or a digital jukebox with a gazillion song choices.
Clean bathrooms.

Is the above so hard or asking too much??

Why is it / how is it that in an area with a such a large population of affluent active retirees, there isn't one decent bar in The Villages?

Besides your home or on The Squares listening to free music, where do you go to enjoy a few drinks, be social and meet people?

DaddyD, I agree but remember where you’re at. Also didn’t you hear what the govt. raised prices in, yes alcohol is one of them! Go outside the bubble you might find some cheaper prices. I don’t live in TV anymore but I use to always go to to Sonny’s, a mug of beer there was only $1.00 all day. Now maybe that’s changed but that was the cheapest beer prices I know of unless you’re talking about mixed drinks, I don’t know!

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by Ptmckiou

Actually the Fenny Grill has two for one Happy Hours and free homemade chips. Plus food is decent prices and the surroundings beautiful. But… no billiards or games.

Personally I want ambiance with my drinks and a cheap bar as you described doesn’t sound appealing.

I love an old bar....kinda dark, chewed up wooden floors, stools don't necessarily match. Where a woman can sit down, have a drink, alone or not, and not get hit on. Just have some fun conversation, maybe order some food, even sing along to the song playing in the background.
We still have a few here up north, don't go that much anymore bc of covid, but I understand your desire. Let us know if you find that gem, we'll meet you there.