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Comment by no_wizard | Hacker News Reader

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

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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 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.

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.

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.

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