Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

People people!!

Mambo bar in yeseltepe/alsancak was full morning, noon and night but since the change to the bamboo (acronym plus an O in there somewhere) it's been dead!!

Anyone know the story???

The Big Man

I guess they lost customers when they closed down who didn't come back when it re-opened.
Too many bars for too few drinkers.

When they opened it was only when they felt like it.always a different time minimal advertising open when I want not when my customers want. I think the landlord tried it himself but found he did not have the aptitude and probably regrets losing the old tenants ,but they will try and charge stupid rents.

I think the problem often is they use their own (family) money to finance things (like a bar). If they had to borrow the money from the bank, the manager would ask to see a business plan, at which point he would not lend them anything.

Ali (who used to run the late lamented, and very popular, Seles in Girne old town) just didn't seem to have the right attitude to running a bar. We tried to support him when he first opened, but found that no matter how basic the menu, he still had to run across to Starling to buy, bread, tomatoes, eggs etc., rushing across the road with the last remark being "if anyone comes in, poor them a drink" He was on a hiding to nothing and it was never going to work. As TRNC Vaughan says, it was always very popular when Kathy ran it is Mambos. I understand that Ali had a reduction in rent as well.

The biggest mistake Ali made was not having the same beers as Kath which all the regulars complained about especially the draught cider drinkers, and Ali didn't listen as he could of changed his supplier, and as you know sometimes sheep follow sheep to pastures new.
It is a great shame as we all loved the round bar and the characters that used it..

Yes, I used to love the Sele.

When I first went there in 2001 the menu was amazing, shame that it shrank over the years.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and Ali and family were terrific.

Yes after Kath leftist went downhill there was a foreign woman worked there who was very good but I suppose left as pay not good.

Let's not forget Mambo,s was busy when John and Janice started the bar going.

does anyone reckon bamboo has a chance still? what would they want done there..menu wise etc,,,,?

A d.i.y. BBQ restaurant.
The customer buys the meat from the bar and pays for it by weight.
The customer then BBQ's it to his requirement.
Help your self to salad and jacket potatoes.
No chef needed, just a waiter clearing up.
Very popular in Australia.

Not sure if it could work here as we have too many freeloaders, would have to have eyes in the back of your heads! Having hosted a lot of buffets we have seen this happen!

Great idea though, may consider it for The Hut. if we could manage it effectively!

Sue

Simple let it to or employ someone who knows what they are doing. I am under the impression it's being run by the owners and no one has taken up the lease. And to landlords most of which own these properties and paid little or nothing to get them charge a reasonable rent for the business and go for someone that has a business plan not just a bit of money and no idea of how to run it. It's just greed otherwise and they lose out in the long run. Mind you few of the owners have any idea of what they need to run it themselves.

TRNCVaughan wrote:A d.i.y. BBQ restaurant.
The customer buys the meat from the bar and pays for it by weight.
The customer then BBQ's it to his requirement.
Help your self to salad and jacket potatoes.
No chef needed, just a waiter clearing up.
Very popular in Australia.

My only issue with that is the amount of raw meat being handled by customers.

It's hard enough doing a bbq at home making sure you wash your hands each time you handle something raw before touching anything..............multiply that by 20 strangers whose food handling skills will be hit and miss. That means door handles, drinks glasses, condiments, cutlery at the salad bar etc would be a lottery as far as contamination is concerned.

It's a no from me.

I wouldn't mind running it.ive got the experience,just don't have the money

johnny1 wrote:I wouldn't mind running it.ive got the experience,just don't have the money

What would you do to make a success of it?

I have just been told Debbie who had Harry's bar for a few months and was selling tickets for the boats is taking over.

have been told Debs is re opening it on 1st July and an excellant host she is

Face stiff competiton from Hilltop2 opening the same day!!

After the ill-fated events, and sudden closer of the then renamed Bamboo Beach Bar on the Merit Road, Alsancak I think when shortly after that Mambo's was renamed Bamboo Bar; it was like naming a new ship the Titanic.

dap2410 wrote:After the ill-fated events, and sudden closer of the then renamed Bamboo Beach Bar on the Merit Road, Alsancak I think when shortly after that Mambo's was renamed Bamboo Bar; it was like naming a new ship the Titanic.

What events were those, then?

The owner did a bunk leaving a lot of debts behind

Oh dear.

The members of the carrier bag club wont know which way to turn,two restuarants opening on the same night within walking distance of each other,they'll think Christmas has come early.