Just bought a bar, need a catchy name

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My family just bought a neighborhood bar right beside a river. Actually, very close to the shore/boat launch area. We have been torn apart trying to decide on a name.

The bar is on the corner of two streets. One of them is called Main Street. It has been a dive bar for decades. We are looking to give it a major facelift and provide high quality service/food/drink, with a slightly modern touch.

One of the current names in debate are "Five Star Dive Bar".

Any ideas on a name you can contribute would be super helpful. Help WF! Thx in advance!
#offline marketing #bar #bought #catchy #restaurant #smallbusiness #tavern
  • Puzzles........................................... .
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Because that's the puzzle
      I was just watching that episode of how i met your mother last night
  • Two very good bars near me are simply called called "River Bar" "The Boat House"
    • [1] reply
    • I can think of a few communities I have lived in, that had both of those. in terms of Branding and web presents probably not the best of choices.

      Why not something like Main St. Gastro Pub. the .com url is available by the way.. and so is mainstgastro.pub
  • How about Aqua Lounge On Main? The URL is available :-)
    Wishing you good luck and great success! -KJH
  • Where is it located? State, city, major landmarks? This could be helpful in developing a theme or name for a new business.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Hi Reignman003,
    I think the Five Star part will come from your reputation, how it looks, the food and the service.

    How about these,

    Slap a Fish (Bar & Bistro)

    Boatsoakers (Bar & Bistro)

    Boaties & Bitches (Bar & Bistro)

    Suck a Tinny (Bar & Bistro)

    (In Australia a Tinny is both a small boat and a can of beer)

    Smoochers (Bar & Bistro)

    Mermaids Haven (Bar & Bistro)

    I am just having a bit of fun, but I do think some kind of play with words is the way I would go.

    Take care and good luck.

    cheers, Mal.
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    • How about

      Boondockers

      If it's at a Marina you could call it: Slip And Suds

      The main street pub

      Trawler's

      There you go, Patrick
    • I like this one. It's funny and extremely catchy! I'd say, with a name like this one (or something similar), you'll easily manage to brand it and attract a big crowd.
  • You are trying to put how the bar will be perceived into the name but it is the other way around.
    How you design, market and serve will decide how it is perceived.

    If it's family owned and operated find something you are all proud to call it.
    I would NOT use "dive" or any other negative connotation in the name if you are taking over something that was a dive.

    Also why not turn this into a marketing ploy.

    Put up a big sign saying "Give Me A Name" get the radio involved and have a contest for best name with a grand opening revealing the name, winner and prize. Get people to submit names and explain why they think it would be awesome.
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    • I'd second that...
      Free beer for the winner...
      • [1] reply
    • I'd listen to Peter.

      If you don't want to, here are my options, random but mine:

      High Life

      High Life Animal

      I'm Not a Bar

      I'm Not at a Bar, Hon

      • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • Banned
      Sure. Those radio stations are always happy to take your advertising dollars, except in this instance they'll do you a large favor and refer to them as a 'promotional expenditure.'

      Cheers. - Frank
  • High Tide Tavern


    Get the double meaning?

    And yes I know it's by a river and not an ocean.
  • Don't call it "dive" because then people will think it's a dive. Call Jon Taffer. He'll tell you what I'm about to tell you. Your bar has a theme that means something to the kind of crowd you want to pull. What's that theme? There's the gist for your name. Why? Because that's the message you want them to see when they pass by and see your well lit sign.
    • [1] reply

    • Taffer pays for Demographic reports... who has money for that? LOL
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  • The Drunken Haze: Guaranteed To Get You Laid or Drinks On Us!
  • How about Funky Owl
    • [1] reply
    • River Run Tavern
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • Why not just use your family's last name? If your last name is something like Hitler, maybe Mariner Pub.
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  • I favor Mr. Lessard's reply about getting your community involved.
    .
    We have a new restaurant/bar nearby called "Duh River".

    Boats > decks > "Deckers"

    What are the demographics? Is it a Navy town, for example?
    http://static.ning.com/navyformoms/c.../NavySpeak.pdf
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  • I would also check what names are available, taken...

    and put some thought into a total "brand" for the business...

    how will that name look on signs, menus, website....is there a theme or look you are going for?

    clean, modern gastropub.....funky, lots of stuff hanging on walls local bar....
    ????
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    • That's good advice often people when doing this will also not research the domain name and social media user names as well for the full package, such as facebook twitter etc

      I hear all to often I registered the business name billybobboots but its taken on FB or the domain name is gone etc so cover all bases where possible / required.
  • Personally, (and this is what I recommend to people in any business online/offline,)

    Never name a product / service or business by a name that you are not able to secure as a
    domain name. (preferably a .com) I won't get into the details as to why not.

    Having said that, Five Star Dive Bar (.com) looks like it was once registered, and the owner is now selling it for $2257.37 US (not sure if that's a good or bad sign for that name).

    However "Bar With A Catchy Name" . com is available.
    So is: "The Bar With A Catchy Name" .com
    "That Bar With A Catchy Name" ....

    Think of all the slogans, commercials, possibilities...
  • How about "A Guy Walks Into a Bar"? the .com is taken, though. lol
    Tyler Farr - A Guy Walks Into a Bar (Audio) - YouTube
  • What's the name of the river?

    What's the name of the other cross street?

    What's the name of the town?

    How about the DEMOGRAPHICS that savidge4 brings up?

    How about some feedback on all the suggestions posted above.
  • If you plan on being in business a long while it is not a good idea to have a "trendy" name

    Think of the geeks who had forward thinking computer/web companies in the late 90's...

    y2K consulting, y2Kadvisors etc....

    I did business with a spa that called themselves spa 2001.....in the late 90's...

    and then as the decade went on she had to rename and rebrand

    Another more recent (and also closed) salon used BLING in it's name which quickly also became kind of a joke/stale

    a catch joke name can get old real quick - nothing is as out of style as that which just went out of style as they say
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  • I like "The Office" I'll be at the the office.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Bar None
    Dinghy's
    Launch Lounge
    Shore Club
  • Get Drunk in Style.
  • The Riviere at Main.
  • River's Edge Bar & Grill
  • I can't emphasize how important it will be to think of the big picture

    is the domain available.....and as another mentioned...what about social media?

    I ran into a day spa owner who was upset to find a strip club had "her" name as their facebook "handle" url....ouch

    Remember - you only have 15 characters for twitter and pinterest

    your "profile" area on facebook is very small - how will a long name fit there?

    "Trendy" names, quirky names get dated fast -

    there is a chain of restaurants in fl called "Cheeburger Cheeburger"....some have closed...I bet most of the younger people don't even know why it has this name? (sat night live/Belushi)

    "Cheers" and "The Office"? those series are over

    You should also think about your branding - what "look", feel do you want to achieve here?
  • I like it oldschool. What about Family name's bar?
  • How about, "River's Reach"? This would describe your bar to a T, as it would imply that your bar is close to the River, but without having to "incorporate the business intersections", if that's your concern .

    River's Reach clearly describes that you are close to the water.

    Think about tourists. They want to drink and dine near the water. They don't know your cross-streets. All they know is that you are a place on or near the water (not somewhere in suburbia) ---- that's all that they care about .... a relaxing and nice scenic place to go and visit!

    Just my 2 cents worth!

    Wishing you much luck and success with your establishment!

    JMB

    P.S. Like they've said many times before me ..... build it (and in your case, name it appropriately) and they will come!
  • Docker's Bar & Grill
    Down By The River
    Riverfront Bar & Grill
    Fisherman's Wharf
    Shark Tank & Grill
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    • Along the Shore
      The River Bank (restaurant/bistro/eatery/etc)

      Also what is the other street name? We have a restaurant here called State and Main, and I love that name!

      Would love to hear what you decide on!
  • Hmm.. how about, "The Bar"?
  • how about "The Landing"
  • Reignman003, this is what I do for a living =)
    ... a few quick generic tips.
    Know your market
    Know your customer (or who you want to attract)
    Make a proper theme around that
    Name it accordingly

    Properly market/promote it!
    Check out my site in the sig, grab some marketing ideas there.
  • Elite Shore
    • [1] reply
    • I love "Five Star Dive Bar" myself. Around here we get lots of River City or Derby City names. Yeah, I get it, there's a river here and a famous horse race. Got it. Your name tells me that you have personality as an owner and didn't settle for a boring name. It also might pique my interest as to what atmosphere your bar would have. Then again, I don't go to bars so what do I know. I just liked the catchy name and get tired of the typical River's this or that names.
  • Big Bass Bar & Grill
    Gill's Landing
    Bait & Switch
    Fish On Bar & Grill
    Snapper's Bar & Grill
    Boat Launch Bar & Grill
  • Three Legged Dog
  • How about

    The boat house bar and grill
    The Launch
    Main St. Bar and Grill
    The Yacht Club
    Gone Fishing bar and grill
    The Corner Bar
    The Landing
    The River Front bar and grill
    The Tackle shop
    The Dock House
    The Crows Nest
    The Plank
    The Captain's Bar
    The Capitan's Quarters
    Mutiny
    The Fresh Catch
    The Dock
    The Slip
    The Lighthouse
    The Lighthouse bar and grill
    The Corner pocket
    High tide bar and grill
    Castaway bar and grill
    Castaway's
    The Main Street Cantina
    The Cantina
    The River House
    The Captain's House
    Captain Jack's
    The Boat House
    Paradise Bar and Grill
  • Yeah something with lounge sounds great!!
  • Dream River Bar
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    Just bought a bar, need a catchy name

    My family just bought a neighborhood bar right beside a river. Actually, very close to the shore/boat launch area. We have been torn apart trying to decide on a name. The bar is on the corner of two streets. One of them is called Main Street. It has been a dive bar for decades. We are looking to give it a major facelift and provide high quality service/food/drink, with a slightly modern touch.