Special Report by Fay Stoker
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - It was bound to happen eventually, a bar that shamelessly caters to the elite Apple faithful, where sophisticated Mac users can gather under one roof for a free wi-fi connection and ultra-swanky cocktails. Plans to bring the first Genius Bar cocktail lounge to the Bay Area are under way, spearheaded by a group of restaurateurs convinced that the Apple culture is a certified lifestyle. At this Genius Bar orders will be focused on hard liquor rather than hard drives. Your resident Genius will come in the form of a certified mixologist skilled at turning out an Appletini which is sure to become a Genius Bar favorite.
"We know that Mac and iPhone fanatics are a community of savvy users, we believe creating a unique space to relax and tip back a fee beers with other Mac geeks is perfectly timed," said Chad Garrett Vice President of Design for the Walker Group. "The Genius Bar cocktail lounge will be the first of it's kind so we're excited about the franchise possibilities. I'm certain if we build it they will come."
Final design approval and branding for the Genius Bar are still being worked out as the Walker Group are taking great care not to infringe on Apple trademarks. Garrett indicated that his bar staff will wear all black uniforms with a black logo tee shirt and plastic name tags that closely resemble Apple store Genius staff. We can expect the Genius Bar to serve up signature cocktails like, The El Jobso premium Cadillac margarita along with a list of Apple flavored cocktails and signature iShots.
The group is also finalizing plans to brand their own nutritional energy snack similar to the PowerBar calling them 'Genius Bars' along with a short list of energy drinks that will be marketed as staples. "We don't want to focus solely on liquor drinks," said Garrett, "Mac heads are not all boozers trolling the bars for Jessica Alba look-alikes." You can expect to see the Genius Bar Lounge selling branded tee shirts, hats, shot glasses, iPod cases and even a custom laptop bag. Garrett intends to offer all Apple Store employees special discounts when they wear their official tags into the bar.
According to Garrett, the Genius Bar will include multiple iMac user stations for web surfing and chatting on-line designed into two separate spaces, providing proper screen shields for geezers wanting to surf porn. The lounge area will include live entertainment on several nights, featuring stand-up by the Geniuses of Comedy, lingerie shows, karaoke and iPod mix parties that Garrett hopes will become a favorite of the Apple subculture. The stage area will double as a meeting space available for booking private events and launch parties. Both rooms will contain charging stations for iPhones and iPods along with ample outlets for laptops. Scouting for site locations is in process with a tentative grand opening sometime in January 2009, but Garrett was careful to specify that a confirmed date depends on several key initiatives falling into place on time. I only had one nagging question, why hasn't anyone thought of a Genius Bar cocktail lounge, Genius Bar Nightclub or even a Genius Bar and Grill sooner? It's completely brilliant!
[renderings are conceptual only not final design - courtesy of Walker Group]
Not so fast. There is a nightclub in Lincoln, Nebraska that has had free wireless connection on 5 iMacs since the introduction of of the Airport Base station in 1999. Starting with the original fruity iMacs, now replaced recently with 17 inch iMacs, it has been the epitome of the Apple "halo" effect.
Many of the customers and employees have purchased Apple products because of the hands on experience. Getting any tech or geek support is as easy as pulling up a barstool and having a drink.
The sound systems are run on iPod mixing boards, with of course, an iDJ.
And as of last summer, all 12 of the employees received iPhones at their annual employees party. The bar has a text messaging service, so sending out info of events and specials to their customers are a tap on the screen away.
So, please Genius Bar owners, send me an invite to your grand opening. I'm delighted there are more of us out there. I may not be a genius, but I am an iBar owner.
Kelly
Panic
200 S. 18th Street
Lincoln, NE
www.panicbar.com
Posted by: Kelly | March 29, 2008 at 08:42 AM