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Re: Sophia's closed???

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Posted by an old acquaintance on November 26, 2005 at 15:15:04:

In Reply to: Sophia's closed??? posted by Mayra on June 24, 2005 at 12:59:00:

: I know this is probably old news to alot of you. You see I haven't been in the club scene for about 2-3 years, so it was a shock to me when I rode passed yesterday(6/24) to see Sophia's boarded up, I was surprised. I used to go to Sophia's faithfully between 2001-02, when there was no cover charge, when you didn't have wait in like 3 seperate lines just to get up stairs, when it wasn't overly crowded, and when there were more men than women(I loved that). It was fun. Now it's gone. Well I hope it opens up again one day. So if anyone can give me the low-down or the scoop as to why Sophia's really closed.

I know that this response is probably too little too late, however, I have other insight, from a business perspective, that might be interesting to some. For others, though, it might sting a little.
Olaf's posted response sums up a good portion of the story.

The other side of the story comes from the inside. The amount of shady activity that was going on there was nothing new to the nightclub business. It was just how blatent it was with the staff and management. It was the direct result of clueless ownership and lackluster business skills and priorities. There was the fact that there was no control. For example, unsupervised door staff would admit underage friends and girls, pocket bribes, and skim from the door via bogus guest lists.

Three of four years ago you could ask one of the bartenders for a 'deal.' Basically if you were to pay them a generous tip uopfront they would take care of you all night long. At the end of the evening you would receive a tab for only one or two, if any, drinks. They also had the registers rigged so that they could be opened by pressing a button on the side of the cash drawer. The screens faced away from the customer, thus allowing cash to be deposited without anything being actually rung in. Did Sophia's even have a proper accounting department? The liquor bills must have been staggering. What does this tell you about the ownership?

My friends and I will miss Sophia's and the other patrons that made it what it was. It was the clientele that made Sophia's, not the "visionary" owners.

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: : I know this is probably old news to alot of you. You see I haven't been in the club scene for about 2-3 years, so it was a shock to me when I rode passed yesterday(6/24) to see Sophia's boarded up, I was surprised. I used to go to Sophia's faithfully between 2001-02, when there was no cover charge, when you didn't have wait in like 3 seperate lines just to get up stairs, when it wasn't overly crowded, and when there were more men than women(I loved that). It was fun. Now it's gone. Well I hope it opens up again one day. So if anyone can give me the low-down or the scoop as to why Sophia's really closed. : : I know that this response is probably too little too late, however, I have other insight, from a business perspective, that might be interesting to some. For others, though, it might sting a little. : Olaf's posted response sums up a good portion of the story. : The other side of the story comes from the inside. The amount of shady activity that was going on there was nothing new to the nightclub business. It was just how blatent it was with the staff and management. It was the direct result of clueless ownership and lackluster business skills and priorities. There was the fact that there was no control. For example, unsupervised door staff would admit underage friends and girls, pocket bribes, and skim from the door via bogus guest lists. : Three of four years ago you could ask one of the bartenders for a 'deal.' Basically if you were to pay them a generous tip uopfront they would take care of you all night long. At the end of the evening you would receive a tab for only one or two, if any, drinks. They also had the registers rigged so that they could be opened by pressing a button on the side of the cash drawer. The screens faced away from the customer, thus allowing cash to be deposited without anything being actually rung in. Did Sophia's even have a proper accounting department? The liquor bills must have been staggering. What does this tell you about the ownership? : My friends and I will miss Sophia's and the other patrons that made it what it was. It was the clientele that made Sophia's, not the "visionary" owners.

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