www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm only gonna say this ONE MORE TIME.....

Stop smokin' that sh*t, or we're pulling you in for an "intervention"

...and this time I mean it!!!!! And I've got 12,000 other CRT'ers who'll be there - to help you get off the rock, and straighten out your little mis-guided mind!

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

The fact is the NYB is a dump. Who says I like elegant places. The NYB is dark, hot, and sleazy.

And the prices are high for a dump. Wow you say they are lower than the DR, BM, KL, ZB..... Those places are the most expensive drinks in the country. Some comparisons. And the SL is cheaper( Iknow the wine is) and the food is far better.

The patio, the shannon bar ( which serves liquor now) mariscar and the news cafe are all nice places but not elegant.

And I got some news for you all, there are many many elegant places in San Jose. You don't have to go to NYC to find elegant so what is your point?????

NYB is a good place for a drink........great soups and a damn good hamburger and hot dog actually. A florida guy turned me on to their meatloaf which was a good lunch.
I am a chef, french trained, and a consultant for several restaurants and know that you judge a place by the level they place themselves in the restaurant hierarchy. Do not judge a soda by the same standards as a table cloth restaurant with tuxedo clad waiters. In CR and in many stateside cities I have had memorable meals at far more soda types than pretentious restaurants with elaborate menu and little imagination. Good food prepared with imagination and served by attentive waiters/waitresses is to recognized no matter what the wrappings.
Mucho, I have a feeling I will be watching the steelers once again at the SL. Since you have already booked the suite may I join you for a vodka....I will bring it this time.

Jeeezzz. Another one on crack !!!! The Steelers ?!?!?!? Looks like we might be able to get a "group rate" on that intervention!!!

Twarag,
My friend.... If I had the SL Penthouse Suite for Superbowl weekend, you know I'd be hosting a party, and you'd definitely be on the guest list. But, unfortunately, someone else has the PH Suite at the SL already reserved for that weekend. I tried to book it (for Superbowl weekend) while I was there last month, but it was already booked. Matter of fact, the entire SL is already sold out for SB weekend '08.

The Steelers ????????????

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

A Steelers-Giants Superbowl? Brilliant!

Mucho, if you want to drag me and Twarag (and anyone else who does not think Dallas is the greatest) to an intervention can you see that former Cowboys QB Quincy Quarter leads it and that it is held at Zona Blue? I'm sure Quincy would have some great insight into something.

Thank you.

(I would be a wise-guy and reference Michael Irving but he is a Hurricane so he can do no wrong- and he never appeared on Dancing with the Stars).

Geaux to hell LSU.

Brother, the person that is making the investment in creating a high end sports bar cares! The reason that Sports bars are successful in the US is because
1) there are signifcant margins in the products they are selling ($5/$7 beers).
2) because there is a signifcant market that is willing pay those prices.

The costs to set up the type of business that the poster is talking about is not that much less here, than it would be in the US. It is just common sense that it is going to be pretty damn tough to earn your money back if you can only charge $2 for a beer.

It is relevant that there is no start up expense at NY bar. The owner has nothing at risk.

I am not saying that it can't be done. I am just saying that it is a tough road to hoe vs doing the exact same thing in the US. In the US you have a bigger market and MUCH bigger margins on the product you are selling, without all the risks and hassle and time that is involved in starting a business in a foreign country.

If the poster really wants to do this, he should be thinking about combining a casino with the enterprise. With the costs of doing business in CR, I think you would need this other revenue source to get any sort of Return on Investment.

Otherwise, it is better to do what everyone else does and follow the small investment, low overhead approach.

MG....I started the Super Bowl party thread for the 2006 super bowl in August 2005........no one thought they had a prayer. I placed $50 on a straight 10 to 1 bet at a local bar and won.
I thought you had the suite when I inquired over labor day. Damn!!! Is it a CRT guy??

Slight problem there Unless he can find a casino that is grandfathered in he would also have to build a hotel along with the casino Rather large investment for a sports bar.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Well there you go.

I think a dance club would be a lot less risky and would appeal to a much larger market.

Well there you have it go for it dude

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Not me brother. I wouldn't touch any of that with a 10 foot pole. I would rather throw my money away on prostitutes.

Continuing to take this topic seriously, I think the real problem in CR boils down to liquity. Mortgages are available, but title is a nightmare. Secured financing for things like business inventory is nonexistant. I don't think the problem is the market -- two vs. Seven dollar drinks -- its the availabilty of consistent regulatory structure (permits, licences, letters rogatory) and cashflow financing that is the bottleneck.

Did you know that for about twenty years the phillipines was integrated into the us economy? They had the dollar, the UCC, the common law -- basically louisana with cleaner courts. It all went to shit, of course, but maybe there is a lesson here. If we (the us expats and investors) view CR as a market, rather than a colony, perhap secondary growth can overcome the protectionist entropy that will inevitably be the result of a cafta rejection.


I'm drunk of course. I just want an excuse to HAVE to visit regularly.

Some of my best friends are drunks, but when you sober up, check the news.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Nope. Must've been a misunderstanding. I had the PH Suite over the labor day weekend. But when I booked my rooms with Johana (for SB 2008 weekend), the suite was already reserved. I saw the guy's name in the book, but I didn't recognize it. He may be CRT, but I'm not sure.

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Yeah thats what happened to me. Security dude ate my burger. I still go there for burgers or chili and the occasional beer. Pulled a few Nicas from there this year too. Instead of a sports bar , someone should buy the penthouse club and fix it up to CRT standards. Strippers and sports go together. Lesbian shows at half-time!

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller