Hacker News Reader

Comment by echelon | Hacker News Reader

Massive opportunity in Atlanta for any barentrepreneur.

The main arcade on Edgewood ("Joystick") is super popular, but only has 8 or so machines. They're not in good shape either. People want to play, but it's too crowded.

The similar "adult dog park / bar" concept has been absolutely exploding. "Fetch" bar started just across the street from me a few years ago and they've since expanded to over ten locations in three different states. It's huge. And it's always packed to the brim with over a hundred people.

Plus you get to charge membership fees per dog in a subscription model.

People want to drink and bring their dogs.

If the west coast doesn't already have this, get on it. I can't imagine there's much moat apart from branding, but it's got huge growth opportunity.

View on HN

Like all things I worry about it being a fad. It’s big now but what’s to say these trends last? It can hard to maximize the investment it takes to make a great repeat experience.

I know that’s always the risk for sure, but I’d bet in a longer run of the barcade market than dog bars, but I’ve been wrong before

Fetch is fantastic! For a long time my partner would bring our dog there on weekday mornings—when it is less crowded—and grab a coffee and work. They have bark rangers or whatever they're called to make sure nobody gets in a fight so owners can actually get work done.

I hadn't ever considered whether the place was a fad or not, but they are definitely benefiting from the trend towards WFH.

The good part is if the fad dies - you still have a bar. one of those businesses proven to make money for hundreds of years (thousands? - I'm not up on my ancient history, but I suspect it was a good way to make money even in BC days). If the dog part fails, just remodel to whatever bar type will make money next. If you are running a business you should have a budget to do a significant remodel every 10 years anyway, 10 years from now you will know if the fad is still going strong to dieing.

The dog bar thing is absolutely here to stay, and it's actually sort of crazy that it took this long. The one near us is more like a dog park that also happens to have a bar and a food truck and good wifi, but it's just such a big win as a dog owner. You get to hang out somewhere actually pleasant while your dog plays in a controlled space with folks watching and breaking up any major scuffles. For a reasonably well off- especially younger- dog owner it's kind of a no brainer.

I guess if dog ownership crashes that would be a problem, but I really don't see that happening any time soon.

It's been a "fad" for about 15 years or so and has a long history before that. I've personally been collecting for 25 years and pinball has never been more popular except in the 1970's.

Super popular here in Seattle. I was talking with a friend the other day about how to start a small metal venue in the area and their advice was to teach dogs to like metal because there's no way you compete with a dog lounge on revenue.

If the dog lounge makes more money than you, do you lose some sort of competition?

Yes. Rent will eventually approach the profitability of the most profitable business that can be put on that land. In a large and rapidly growing city, "eventually" is very quick.

Your 3rd Spot and My Parent's Basement are a couple of other decent options in Atlanta.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com