Ask a Bartender - How to Open Your Dream Bar

How to open your

DREAM BAR

Texas-based Colby Marcee worked as a bartender at a local steakhouse when he was recruited by the owner of Amendment 21 Whiskey Bar to be their head bartender. While helping to open the whiskey bar, Marcee began to dream. “I had aspirations of one day having a place to call my own,” he shares, “During my two years with Amendment, I learned the part of the business that I did not have a ton of experience in, like dealing with distributors, purchase orders, payroll, you know all the back-office management stuff. I also grew my craft and learned new ways to make ingredients that would go into the cocktails.”

Jamie and Colby Marcee, Pam and Tim Smith

It was at this time that Marcee met Tim Smith, who became his business partner. Then, when the pandemic struck, Marcee took a chance few might have considered, and started the process of opening his own bar. “It stunned everyone in the industry,” he notes, “but I thought what better time to create than when you have nothing but time. The rest is history. We started building KAO in April 2020 and had our grand opening on October 24th, 2020. Since then, we have exceeded our expectations and continue to try and innovate in this lifelong journey of creating craft cocktails and an environment that keeps you intrigued.”

We caught up with Marcee to learn about the process and for his advice to other bartenders who want to pursue opening their own bar.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR KAO LOUNGE?

We wanted to create an atmosphere that was comfortable, funky, yet still elegant. Our inspiration is played in part by the revitalization of downtown Abilene on both sides of the tracks. We are working in so many ways and with like-minded individuals to create an energetic synergy in the SoDA District. South Downtown Abilene is an up-andcoming entertainment district that has been born from revitalization efforts and the renovation of the vacant buildings in the area. We used all local businesses and artists to create the great vibes you get when you walk into KAO Lounge.

WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY LIKE TO OPENING A BAR?

The journey was laced with obstacles that normally wouldn’t have been there because of the global pandemic. However, we took those obstacles on the nose and kept moving forward. Everyone said we were crazy for building a bar in a time when bars were being forced to close. If anything, it made us stronger as a partnership. If we can thrive through a pandemic, then we can get through just about anything. The entire process was extremely exciting. After pushing our opening day back six weeks due to shutdowns, we finally got the word that bars were allowed to open at 50% capacity. We immediately started interviewing for staff and hired two bartenders and a barback. Then we had to train and prepare them for the vision we had for our cocktail menu. Our grand opening was a huge success! We ended up renting out a space next to ours and serving drinks from our mobile bar outside to accommodate the capacity restrictions. Since opening day, we have exceeded our sales expectations, and both our mobile bar services and the lounge are doing wonderful.

HOW DID YOU PLAN OUT THE LOOK AND DESIGN OF THE BAR?

The floor plan changed a few times throughout the planning process. We just let it happen naturally. We wanted a seductive mural inside and a group mural in our outside area. We used Kameron Alexander, a local artist, for our mural inside that we have named Kendi—she has her own list of cocktails that are her favorites. Stephanie Prosser from the Palette of Purpose, a local non-profit art organization, painted our mural outside. When deciding on furniture, Tim and I sat up late at night and constantly sent pictures back and forth of different ideas that we had for furniture and placement. Our wives had the last say on the décor and furniture choices, though. The main plan was to let it all come together naturally and trust the vision we all had for a place that would stand out.

TELL US HOW YOU BUILT YOUR COCKTAIL PROGRAM?

The cocktail menu was created out of pure joy for the craft and trial and error. We are constantly looking for new ways to add an element to our cocktails and make them unlike anything in Abilene. We have an item on the menu that is called “bartender creation.” If you order this, our bartenders will ask you a few questions to get an idea about what style of cocktails you like, and then they will create a cocktail tailored specifically for you. I enjoy it most when guests order this because I get to be creative and make something that I have never made before. We have two stipulations to the bartender creation, though. You must give us honest feedback and if you don’t like it, we get the pleasure of trying again until we make the cocktail that suits you perfectly. Our menu is funky, fun, creative, and there is something for everyone. We needed balance throughout the whole menu, so we organized it by categories: Fresh and Botanical, Sweet and Savory, Love your Spirit, Kendi’s List, and Local Favorites.

CAN YOU SHARE A FEW TIPS FOR OTHERS WHO DREAM OF OPENING A BAR OF THEIR OWN?

The first tip is if you are going into business with a partner, do not limit each other’s vision. Hear out everything they have to say and the ideas they bring to the table. Brainstorm everything, and you will be surprised by the ideas and designs you come up with. Second, never give up and do not take no for an answer when you want it bad enough. Don’t get locked into one single idea, and trust the process of letting things come together naturally as you try things out. Never be afraid to learn something you didn’t know before; growth is born from hardships along with trial and error, so don’t be afraid to take the risk.