Thomasss wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2019 5:35 pm Thanks for your help.

Why are you saying are you ready to loose your money ?
. I was thinking about quiet / blues , jazz bar , 30-40 sqft. Why not making cheap food too.

explorer wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2019 8:44 pm

Thomasss wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2019 5:35 pm Why are you saying are you ready to loose your money ?
Of course if I open a bar that looks like all the others in siem reap its not gonna work... but why it would not work in a city that is not full of expat yet ? And why all this expat with money don’t go to this cities around ? I’m sure there is a lot to do. There is so much beautiful city in Cambodia that’s are not famous yet. If à Cambodian peoples can earn money with small business and investment expat can too. As I’m saying I am not planning to earn big money at all, I am retire , I have money and if this can pay my food and rent it will be Enough. I was thinking about quiet / blues , jazz bar , 30-40 sqft. Why not making cheap food too.

Rents are too high. Owners charge the absolute maximum they think they can get. Some people start a business and realize they cant make enough to cover the rent.

I repeat. Talk to others who are running businesses. Learn from others mistakes. Spend the beginning of your time just going to various places and listening to the experiences of others.

Lonestar wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:13 pm I have always thought that a sound strategy for opening a bar/restaurant was to be a pioneer in a smaller town. I know of a small town in which you can be the only expat/western establishment, and which has a decent number of expats.

Takmau

There is not a western oriented place in town. If there was, I would be there on a regular basis. I live ten minutes away from Takmau. I often feel like popping in somewhere for a bite to eat or a drink, but don't feel like fighting the traffic in Phnom Penh. In Takmau, you would be the only game in town. You could have the best of both worlds...being an outpost bar in a small town...and being a few minutes away from Phnom Penh. Takmau is booming and will only continue to grow and attract expats.

If I were to get back in the bar/restaurant business, Takmau would be my first choice.

I think you would have a good chance of finding an attractive rent in Takmau. I don't think you have to be in a high traffic area. If you opened a western oriented place...the customers would find you. Takmau has a much higher ceiling than Chbar Ampov. It is much nicer, has a beautiful riverside, has two malls and a big condo development under construction, and is IMO, the nicest suburb area of Phnom Penh.