Starting Up a Bar in Oxford; Here Are Some Things to Consider

The Round Table, a new restaurant and bar on the historic downtown Oxford, Miss. square.

Opening up a bar or restaurant on the historic downtown square in Oxford, Miss. may seem like a great idea, but there are many trials and tribulations that you will have to overcome before you can turn that idea into a reality.

First off you are going to have to find a location for your place. This can be tough because the square doesn't offer a whole lot of options for vacancies and many of the buildings for lease on the square are older buildings, that might not be able to take the wear and tear a bar and restaurant bring.

George Hammons, a local Oxford lawyer and Pi Kappa Alpha chapter advisor, feels that there are a lot of great locations that would be perfect for a bar or a restaurant.

“There are so many potential spots to start a bar or restaurant on the square, Hammons said, it’s just a matter of finding the right building to lease unless you have the capital to buy the property.”

Once you have found a great location for your restaurant or bar it’s time to start thinking about start up costs. Unless the location you have found is already set up for a bar or restaurant, you are going to be looking at some high start up costs.

You will most definitely need a liquor license. In order to cook food you will need a fryer, ovens, grills, freezers and a vent hood. You will need to construct a bar to serve alcohol and buy beer coolers for your beer and sinks so you can clean out your glassware. You will also need to pay for furniture and decorations. All these costs come before you have even paid for your first month’s liquor and food inventory.

John Garlock, former restaurant and bar owner on the square, says there are some ways you can lower your start up costs.

“For me when I opened the Blue Pan Bar and Grille I knew there were going to be some expensive start up costs I couldn’t avoid like a $15,000 vent hood for the kitchen, but when it came time to purchase all of my coolers and kitchen equipment I bought all used equipment, Garlock said.”

If you are willing to put in the time and money to start up your own bar or restaurant on the square in Oxford, Miss. the risk can turn out very rewarding for you.