Every Tuesday night is Steak Nite. For $10 you get a 10 oz. top sirloin (grill your own), baked beans, salad, baked potato and Texas toast.My grand opening party will be next Saturday, July 28th. I’ll have drink specials all night, and live music from Aaron Heim will start around 8:30 pm.
I had a surprise visit from the health inspector today. The surprise wasn’t necessarily that she would be visiting (I knew it would happen sooner or later), but that I’ve been operating illegally. Of all the advice I’ve been given, no one told me I needed an inspection before I could open for business. That no one includes the City of Stuart and the State of Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division.
If I have to pay for an inspection license, that’s fine. Add it to the list of the other hundred things I have to pay to own a bar. But shouldn’t the people who give me a list of steps to take before I can open this bar give me all the steps required?
The inspector was nice enough, but she still made me pay a fine. It’s not going to put me out of business, but it sure doesn’t feel good having to pay for something that could have been avoided. It’s difficult enough making this work as it is. But I guess the fine is better than the alternative, getting shut down.
By the way, the inspection went great. The inspector told me the place was as clean as she’d ever seen it. Thanks Mom!
I was vaguely aware of this fact when I decided to buy Ruby’s, but I don’t think I knew quite how fanatical our drinkers are. About 76 million gallons of beer and 4 million gallons of liquor were sold in the last fiscal year according to today’s Des Moines Register. Based on my first week and a half I’d say those numbers are low 
Captain Morgan continues to be one of the most popular liquors sold in the state. Blind Unicorn anyone?
Come in Wednesday night, July 11th, and meet Courtney, my guest bartender. She’s a lot cuter than I am and promises to be more fun than me too.
Week 1 = success
Each night was even better than I expected. There weren’t any major setbacks. I had some trouble with a door on one of my stand-up coolers, and the women’s toilet is having some issues, but overall things went very well. The response from everyone has been very positive and I’m looking forward to more of the same in the weeks to come.
Check the right sidebar for next weeks specials. Don’t be afraid to stop in and say hello.
Not bad for a Monday, and definitely not bad for my first night as the owner. The $1.50 draws were pretty popular. Hopefully that will continue to draw (get it?) people in the rest of the week.
Tonight is another test with my first Steak Nite. I can’t say I’ve ever made beans before. Actually I don’t know if I’ve ever made a baked potato before. At least the salad comes ready made and I can just dump it in a tub. We’ll see how it goes.
Don’t forget, Ruby’s will be open tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10am so stop by and have a drink.
That’s all. See you at the bar.
Beer - check
Liquor - check
Money for the cash register - check
Bartender - check
Nerves - check
Butterflies - check
Looks like I’m as ready as I can be. I’ll be signing the papers early Monday morning, so after that the bar will officially be mine.
What the hell am I thinking? I need a drink. Come see me after 4pm this week.
