Last week I opened my very own LHBS and I wanted to share some pics

[thatfatbastard]

Hey everyone,

A couple of months ago I quit my career in IT and followed my dream. I began working on opening my very own LHBS here in Roanoke, VA. This past Saturday we opened our doors to the public for the first time. I'm kind of bursting with pride right now and wanted to share some pictures with y'all. I have created an album on imgur that I would love for y'all to take a look at here.

I'm trying to keep this post from being too spammy, but if you have any questions - or tips from you other guys that run LHBSs, then I'd love to hear them.

 

[inkman15]

Congrats! Wishing you success!

 

[Psylocide]

Cool! Love the cabin.

Good luck to you.

 

[fuzzy2133]

Congrats thatfatbastard!

Advice: get the glass items off the top shelf and remember its all a labor of love (or as my dad claimed his hobby)

 

[The10mmKid]

Very inviting looking.

Congrats and well wishes for a long future

'da Kid

 

[CJ-3]

Congratulations to you!

Here's to wishing you nothing but the best on your new store!

 

[thatfatbastard]

Thanks everyone!

Re: the glass - I have the same concerns and am trying to find a good place to put them.

 

[Zekk]

Looks better and cleaner than the store I goto. Hope it works out for you.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Looks amazing man, I want to go there! Have hops candy on-hand and don't be afraid to slip one to a customer here and there. It will make even grown men feel like a kid in a candy store

Congratulations and good luck with your new adventure.

 

[hunter_le five]

The store looks great and congration.

 

[TheHappyHopper]

Looks great! Much more organized than some of the LHBSs that I have been to.

 

[sboyajian]

Very nice! I don't get to Richmond much, but if I find myself down there, I'll stop in!

 

[joe_four_strings]

Looks awesome! Congrats! I've been seriously contemplating doing exactly this in my neck of the woods. Wish you success!!

 

[thatfatbastard]

Very nice! I don't get to Richmond much, but if I find myself down there, I'll stop in!

If you find yourself in Richmond, then turn west and drive for three hours. I'd love to meet you!

 

[beergolf]

Looks great. Nice and organized.

One thing to consider. Turn your grain mill around so the pulley is towards the wall away from the customers, or better yet put a guard on it.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Looks great. Nice and organized.

One thing to consider. Turn your grain mill around so the pulley is towards the wall away from the customers, or better yet put a guard on it.

Yeah... the grain mill. This is v1.0 (actually v1.5 as we had to replace the motor on opening day). I am going to rebuild it with as much safety as I can.

 

[BryceL]

Looks great. Nice and organized.

One thing to consider. Turn your grain mill around so the pulley is towards the wall away from the customers, or better yet put a guard on it.

I was thinking the same thing. Also, maybe try to build an enclosure for the bottom of the grain mill to keep all that dust out of your nice shop. Looks really nice, congrats!!

 

[Fathand]

Great looking shop.

I was thinking the same thing. Also, maybe try to build an enclosure for the bottom of the grain mill to keep all that dust out of your nice shop. Looks really nice, congrats!!

My LHBS has a cloth like material (think a pillow case open at both ends) attached to the grain mill base under the opening that acts as a curtain and then a plastic bucket to catch the ground grain. Seems to keep the dust down real well.

 

[Hello]

Congratulations! That is a rad place for a LHBS.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Congratulations! That is a rad place for a LHBS.

Thanks! I grew up about an hour east of you. Go Pack!

 

[MaxStout]

Very nice-looking operation. Clean and uncluttered. And the log cabin really makes it. Good luck with your new business!

 

[thatfatbastard]

Great looking shop.




My LHBS has a cloth like material (think a pillow case open at both ends) attached to the grain mill base under the opening that acts as a curtain and then a plastic bucket to catch the ground grain. Seems to keep the dust down real well.

I am going to enclose the base and I am currently using food grade bags in buckets to catch the grain.

 

[dobes]

Very nice shop. Hope I make it down that way sometime to stop in.

 

[Monkey-BB]

Congrats!
There's nothing like walking into a business where the owner is happy to see the customer, and really cares!
I wish you the best of luck!

 

[NewWestBrewer]

Looks like a great shop. All the best!

 

[brick_haus]

Not a store owner, but...
Start a homebrew club and hold meetings there.
Dont blow alot of $ on inventory for low net products. People are buying things online anyway.
CATER TO THE BEGINNER! And have everything (EVERYTHING) in stock to get them started.
Keep a fermentor bubbling in the shop at all times.
Get a cat! Mice love grain!!! Cats love mice!!!

Congrats, and best wishes!

 

[sboyajian]

If you find yourself in Richmond, then turn west and drive for three hours. I'd love to meet you!

That's what I get for not drinking coffee this morning..

Somehow my brain turned Roanoke into Richmond ..

I actually get through Roanoke a lot more often, as we visit family in Nashville often.

 

[Ski12568]

Right on, man. Best of luck! I think I would like to have one someday.

 

[phug]

Or get a shop terrier, takes care of mice, rats, and cats

 

[FoamFollower]

That's just the coolest place ever!

 

[Snowden]

Congrats - great looking space. Best of luck!

 

[watermelon83]

Thanks everyone!

Re: the glass - I have the same concerns and am trying to find a good place to put them.

Switch the glass and plastic buckets around. Bottom shelf.

 

[electrolight]

Love the cabin look!! I am nowhere near, but I wish you the best.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Switch the glass and plastic buckets around. Bottom shelf.

Like so:

Thanks! Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

Of course, I've got more carboys coming in...

 

[Toga]

Nice shop! I have to stress a Few things.

Top of the list. Homebrew shops are a niche market. You have to keep the customers that find you.

1. Customer service!! This has to be at the top of the list. Many people are @zz wipes however they are your customers. Smile and sell `em yeast and grain They will keep coming back.

2. Customer Service! (yes again) Service and nurture the newbies. These are going to be your bread and butter customers. You just have to get them started. Give them the best advice possible and they will keep them coming in the door. I did not get this treatment at my local shop when I started. They lost my business for a very long time due to this.

3. Ensure you keep up your inventory. Nothing worse than going to a shop that is out of one or more of the ingredients you came to buy. Especially when it happens often. This is one of the reasons my favorite homebrew shop went out of business and I had to go back to my local store

4. Keep the place hospital clean. You have to be a cleaning nazi! We have a store in our area that is just plain dirty. Needless to say it really keeps people out of their store.

 

[fuzzy2133]

Like so:

Thanks! Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

Of course, I've got more carboys coming in...

Store the rest of the carboy's away from the customer area...

I hate cleaning up broken glass and then having to buy more of it.

 

[Brews]

Very nice. Congratulations

 

[passedpawn]

Looks cool, but if you want to grow you need to replace that nifty grain dispenser with something much more substantial. I rarely buy less than 10# of anything, and that would drive me nuts.

 

[BigPerm]

Nice! I used to live in Blacksburg and the only shop was a little hole in the wall in Roanoke. Glad theres a legit LHBS there now. Wish you the best of luck, and if I can think of anyone I still know at VT, I'll send them your way!

 

[Qhrumphf]

That is a nice looking place. Unfortunately (or fortunately ) I never have a reason to drive all the way down to Roanoke.