The death of happy hour in West Hollywood as we knew it should be reported.
Without question, Los Angelenos live in what most consider to be the best, consistent weather in the country. Generally not too cold and not too hot, especially after 5pm, which is the well established commencement of happy hour.
However, notwithstanding this being one of the most pleasant weather summers of all time, Happy Hour, in nearly all bars in West Hollywood is “dead”.
6 patrons here, 10 there, 115 in the other place, but over all…a “dud”. Anyone coming from another less popular city will be horribly disappointed and quite frankly, ripped off if they were paying alot of money to come to the big city. No one wants to be where no one is.
Clearly, basic economics and legalized drug substituting for alcohol have taken their toll on the bar business. Patrons can get a buzz for a fraction of the cost and time. Why not get high and go home and watch Netflix or play video games?
Most Happy Hour patrons are 50-70 years old and staying for a short time. Most younger customers or the after-work crowd simply stopped coming no the way home, assuming that they were not working from home already. Even those places that can muster a respectable happy hour crowd see an immediate exodus at the bewitching hour coinciding with the end of happy hour.
The few 48 license bars (those not requiring food service) can still offer a bargain. the restaurant/bars choose not to offer that. Offering $100$13 deep fried, frozen Sysco happy hour appetizers are neither appealing to those opting to go to the gym, nor economical. 2 drinks, 1 appetizer, tax and tip become a $60 event for 1 person and you haven’t had dinner yet. Establishments like Gym Bar offer Dodger Stadium-like prices such as a basket of seasoned fries for $9,50, plus tax and tip. Not exactly happy hour pricing. Santa Monica Blvd. has effectively become an avenue of burger and deep-fried bar food.
Since socializing is now done on hook-up apps and not at a bar, the younger crowd (25+) doesnt seem to wan to come out until later int he evening (after 9:30 pm) when the music is loud and then, only come out for a short time, and only if they can get some friends together. They will not come out alone because meeting new people is done on Grindr. Maybe, they wil come out al little earlier if an establishment can “entertain them” with a RuPaul episode or a trivia game. Despite the oversupply and glut of sports bars within 200 yards on the boulevard in Weho, there is still no significant motivator, excluding NFL games. The age 25-55 crowd seems only to be willing to show up if they can stare at a tv screen or scream over loud music. No more coming out to possibly meet someone new, in person. That would mean actually using personality skills.
If the bars in Weho cannot reinvent themselves, as well as the formats that they offer, happy hour will continue to be a disappointing waste of time and money for all patrons, both local and visiting, as well as continuing to be a cash drain for the establishments.
Los Angeles is supposed to be the most creative city in the nation. We create television and film but somehow we cannot create an inviting happy hour that inspires someone to invest time and money. Maybe LA doesn’t have all the answers. Maybe our town’s bar owners need to study less popular cities which have been able to find success during their happy hours.
Perhaps many of our bar owners simply wait for the late night drunken and high sh*tshow attended by some to shoup up late at night to imagine that their bar is a success. Names a nightly promotion with one 1 word is an amateur game and something we used to see Stefon Myers, perform as the fictional character portrayed by Bill Hader on Saturday Night Live. “Hump, Sleaze, Wet, Jump, Briefs, Jocks, etc., etc., etc.,. Just the same old routine.
It’s time to re-engage, re-invent or rollover.
frankly, it’s exhausting having a conversation over the loud music
Sky high drink prices are indeed a big problem. But I disagree that “everyone is socializing on Grindr.” When I go out to bars (Eagle in Slake or El Cid for “Hot Dog”) everyone agrees meeting in person is way better. Grindr is full of poorly socialized people and wants you to pay to weed out the pictureless dreck profiles. 80% of users hate these apps esp for serious dating. The crowd at “Hot Dog” is super friendly and the shirtless guys mostly look like underwear models who confidently run up and hit on me. But a drink is $17… Read more »
The cost of doing business in this city (increase in hourly wage for low skill jobs) has driven the cost up on everything. Too expensive now to go out. I can buy a bottle of wine for $7 bucks and invite friends over…so much cheaper. Sad to see the city council’s policies have destroyed a once great city.
Interesting.
Who wrote this?
Exactly. Another example of lousy journalism on this site. They will surely delete my critical message, as they have done before. Hide any negativity; sound familiar?
BTW, the author sounds like Lola from The Copacabana. Old and bitter.
With very few exceptions, other than Friday afternoons, LA has never been a happy hour city.
Motherload is always the best spot for a cheap afternoon cocktail
the loud music overpowers conversation…..
Our creativity is limited to what we can afford!
Well, someone was obliviously indulged when they wrote this. Proof reading one’s posts, especially an all over the place rant, must have gone the way of happy hour. But this opinion is about more than happy hour, it is basically a whine from someone who is not finding what he is looking for. Prices, people, places and practices are not satisfying to him, he blamed everyone but himself. Dude, if you are so unhappy, make plans, you can reach out to folks, you can get off the phone, you could spruce up your look, maybe those 50 to 70 year… Read more »