Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-05
TIE RETAr. LIQUOR BUSINESS.

A Hroolflyn saloon Keeper says tina
the Days When There WAS Big
Money In IL Have Passed.
"The days when big money wa
made in the retail liquor business hay,
passed. said 4 saloon keeper TO
BrookiyH Eagle reporter. while h.
quailed glass of amber-colored liqui,
n his place of business near the city
hall. 1.-The statement seem, hiqhl,
improbable, but vet II is true. When
say there isn't the money in the bust
ness there used to be | have reference
to the liquor stores which nave been
established within two or three wears.
Show me saloon which has been started
within that time that is making money.
You can't do it. You always thought
that the retail liquor business paid?
So did until recently. | have been
running this store for over "A wear. but
my daily receipts have averaged less
than S25 That is no money for a 81
loon in neighborhood where rents are
high and where drinkers congregate.
l will tell YOU why this saloon doesn't
pay the profits it should. In the first
place, I'm not well known in the neigh
borhood. and that is everything in a sa
loon-keeper have not been establish
ed long enough TO attract customers
away from their favorite drinking plac-
es."
DO all men prfer to do their drink
ing IN the same saloon?"
Il have found il So 4 certain class
OF morosc, uncompanionable men don't
care where they drink, or the quality
OF rum they pour down their threats.
but the large majority of drinking men
are attracted by the surroundings of
place. One man likes a certain bar
tender another, the fitting of a saloon,
and still another enjoys the society he
meets there. The popularity of man
greatly depends on how much business
he will do. In saloons tuated near
the bridge and Fulton ferry the per-
sonallty of man makes but Little
q ference in the amount Of trade lie
docs. His saloon is patronized simply
because it is handy. His customers
would not cross the street TO drink at
his bar, because they know neither the
man nor they are not particularly
charmed with his place. 1t is the
quiet, well establ she'd, and out-of-the- f.
liquor stores which pay. Brooklynite,
doing business in New York are there
TO appreciate $4,000 paint I
ngs IN bar-rooms. and when they go .
out in the evening for drink they Ike /
o take their nip surrounded by the same .
" d noes Of luxury which they find i'm
he own homes The rude and SIM
be drinking places, with Their hard
Wooden benches, which were n vogue
n the Old Dutch inns of the early set
lerS, ar not appreciated by the pres
mt general on. The age calls for
extravaganza in the shape Of high
y decorated bars, cut glass de-
.antcrs, and elegant decorat on-.
The total amount paid by Brooklyn
and saloon keepers TO-
'.elures alone foots up nearly $4,000
Nowadays all the daily and weekly PIE
'ers must be furnished to customer,
nd, Il fact. every induccment held ou.
o attract the trade of the fastidious
httle over a year ago vacant store
lcNt to an old established saloon in
Brooklyn was hired by iiquog-jcaler
tho opened gorgeous place He did
to attract custom. but last
week was sold out 10y the sheriff. In
toad OF losing any OF it, patrons tho
Id saloon gained many new ones
Drinkers nowadays love old as-ocia-
ions, AMI stick close to tho saloon
fhich pcascs their eye and taste Ny
dvice TO young men about to start in .
he liquor business don't
do GU intimate that all men who ,
ngagc in the liquor bus ness IN 4 new ,
ocality fail?' ,
AS general thing, yes. For years ,
asst any one who by some daredevil
ct or prowess has gained an hour OF
oioriety opens place. but while his ,
ucccss at first may bc marked, 1t is ,
OF lasting. Within year or two
'rookyn pug lists, one pedestrian. and ,
wo ward polite ans have given up the /.
quor business as Improbable. Will !,
here is not quite SO much money in -,
arriving a hod as in tending bar or in i,
WING liquor store, the first employ 4,
rent is, ! think. more honorable.
The Dudes Came Out Ahead.
The stories told 10y returning vaca.