Why Any City Across the Country Is Ready for a Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar!
No matter which part of the country you call home, dive bars are a dime a dozen, so it’s not surprising that most of them go belly up within the first few years. Why? The reasons are many because you can sail off course pretty fast when opening up a new business. It boils down to a bar not giving the local market what they want: good food, good times, and a laid-back vibe that makes guests comfortable enough to stay a while.
It sounds easy at a glance, but much more planning goes into a successful bar franchise than you think, especially if it has a great seafood menu. The idea is always to open up in a location with little to no competition and give the community something new that they didn’t have before you came to town. So, a bar and restaurant like Shuckin’ Shack can succeed in any location, not only cities near bodies of water, and here’s why.
Eye-catching bars reel in the business
Never underestimate the “Cheers effect.” People are craving bars and restaurants they can call their own, where they can unwind after a hard day and take a break from the rat race. But the question is this: how do you grab their attention and make them come back for more? One way is to put the bar front and center like Shuckin’ Shack. Right when you go for the first time, the bar signals what kind of dining experience you can expect.
It’s always a rookie mistake to hide your bar or tuck it away around a corner. We’ve seen some places where the bar is in another part of the restaurant, so you wouldn’t even know the restaurant serves drinks until you ask. That’s why we put in the work to design an eye-catching bar that lets patrons know immediately that they’re in for something way more laid back than they thought. People are clamoring for new, relaxing experiences, so the business opportunity is clear.
Responsibly sourced seafood makes them come back for more
We started by mentioning the fact that dive bars come and go. If you have decent startup capital and a location lined up, getting the proper licensing to open a bar in any town is pretty straightforward. It’ll also be a snap to find staff if you’re opening in a place with plenty of restaurants. The talent pool can be pretty deep in suburban areas where the only entertainment is the bar and restaurant scene. You’ll probably sell a fair amount of alcohol in your first few months, too, but why does sales volume start to decline after that? Why does your staff quit the same week and work for the new Shuckin’ Shack down the road?
Typically, the answer is that your guests got bored and went elsewhere, and the staff followed them to follow the money. It’s that simple. If you can give people a unique experience, they won’t look for it elsewhere because they know they won’t find it. Shuckin’ Shack is a thriving restaurant and bar franchise because we strike a balance between a unique concept, high-quality seafood, and an energetic, fun atmosphere.
Seafood places are usually the hoity-toity type of establishments with white tablecloths, servers who can’t look you in the eye, and sky-high prices. So, when you can offer the same quality seafood at a way better price point and in a more entertaining environment, you’ll keep people coming back for more. You must keep people on the hook to operate successfully, which is why Shuckin’ Shack works in any town. We’re bringing something different to the table to stand out from the usual options.
Community partnerships and outreach
Another way we distinguish ourselves from the competition is through community partnerships and outreach. Our Shack-lete program is the newest of the bunch, and this year, local college athletes will finally have a chance to earn fair compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). None of our competitors is even trying to do the same thing with NIL promotions, so that’s another way we set ourselves apart. We genuinely care about young athletes at Shuckin’ Shack and ask that our Franchise Owners do the same.
Of course, there’s the sustainably-sourced seafood as well. We took the time to partner with many different foundations to lock in our commitment to sustainability. It’s more than just a value proposition for us; it’s a way of life! We believe in helping the environment and preserving it for generations to come. And once again, none of the competition even comes close to making the same commitment for the long haul. Your area might have a few small gourmet places with partnerships, but they can’t pull it off at the same volume we can.
Coastal vacation vibe anywhere in the country
Shuckin’ Shack also works well because you can bring a coastal vacation vibe to any part of the country, even areas that are nowhere near the water. We have our roots as a coastal oyster bar, and we’ve tried to maintain the same atmosphere and laid-back vibes that made us successful. People usually travel to find the same dining experience they’ll get at Shuckin’ Shack, but we bring that coastal vacation energy to their hometown.
Opening a successful restaurant will always come down to making people happy, entertaining them with great food and good times, and doing it all with a smile. Our guests are just fine coming in wearing flip-flops and a Bahama shirt. We’re a getaway like no other, and any place in the country could use a bar where people can leave their troubles at the door for a few hours.
If you’d like to learn more about how to open a Shuckin’ Shack in your area, visit our franchise website for more details.