Bar Smoke owner Bojan Aleksander: “when life gives you lemons, make Limoncello!”
The lock-down is a minor disaster for the hospitality industry across the Netherlands. But some entrepreneurs are using it as an opportunity to get creative: including the owner of Bar Smoke, who has all plans to offer his guests various fun activities instead of remaining open.
Bar Smoke is located on the Grote Markt in Groningen, and even before measures were announced during the press conference, owner Bojan Aleksander took matters into his own hands and launched plans to organise surprising things for his guests in the coming weeks, just like during the first lock-down.
Normally, Smoke is open for dinner, drinks and events, but that is currently not possible due to the new regulations. During the previous lockdown, he managed to still ‘welcome’ his guests with on-line pub quizzes and a takeaway service. During the next full or half “lockdown” they will add a little extra to this offering, too. As reported by the GIC.
“No time for dessert.”
Aleksander: “With the last set of measures we could only accommodate a fraction of the normal number of visitors in our business and on our terrace. In addition, our events are also excluded due to the closing time of 21:00- which left our guests leaving with no time for desert.”
“We have already put together a takeaway menu and are in the final stage of starting a delivery service as well.” Aleksander is also looking for collaborations with other local entrepreneurs and influencers to help each other struggle through these harsh times.
“One of our regular guests knows various one-liners in the Groningen dialect (Gronings), and we will embroider and sell shirts in collaboration with Vivien Ferguson from Zijlstra Sewing Machines”, he says.
“Our ‘Lockdown 2 internet-crazed pub quiz’ is already online again and is to be hosted by my best friend Sander Bos.”
“I am also busy organising an on-line quiz about the city with some Grunnfluencers. If it succeeds as I have in mind, it will soon be found on our site and on our social media channels. I’m looking forward to it, if it works! ”
