The Bar Business Podcast · 2026-05-06 · 35 min
What if your bar was built to look good, but not to make money? That might sound harsh. But if your bartenders are walking laps, reaching too far, making a mess, or fighting the layout every shift, your design is costing you more than you think. In this episode, I talk with Tobin Ellis about how bar design impacts speed, service, bartender fatigue, and profit. We break down why every wasted step matters, why pretty bars can still be operational disasters, and why seconds behind the bar turn into real money. If your bar looks great but your bartenders are fighting the layout every shift, you should listen to this. Because a bar that looks great but slows your team down is not good design. It is expensive decoration. Check out Tobin Ellis and his work on operational bar design. Learn more here: → → Grab Tobin’s book, “Bar Design Essentials”, here: Amazon: → Start Here Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation. An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business. Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.
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