search was held at Campari ’ s academy space in New York and concluded with an original cocktail competition .
The program helps identify the best people in the company and retain the outstanding bar team members , Welby says . “ Hopefully it attracts some new talent too .”
Bar Louie has also embraced technology such as 1Huddle , an app that uses mobile games for employee onboarding and training . It just started to work with FusionPrep , a platform that enables it to store and communicate recipes , builds , training documents , photos and videos .
Still , Welby says , “ I think there ’ s nothing better than in-person training ,” making some cocktails together , discussing why a drink is made a certain way , why they chose the specific spirit , and so on . Knowing the story behind the beverages gives the bar team another talking point with the guest , he explains , and increases the likelihood that they will sell those drinks .
Bar Louie ’ s beer selection ranges from popular domestics to a variety of imports and seasonals .
GROWING PAINS
Chicago restaurateurs Roger Greenfield and Ted Kasmir opened the first Bar Louie in 1990 as a neighborhood tavern-style spot . The chain soon expanded , reaching 46 locations by 2010 when it was acquired by Sun Capital , which owned the brand through 2019 .
Bar Louie , which moved its headquarters to Addison , TX , about 15 years ago , had reached 134 units by 2019 . “ We grew really big , really fast ,” says Welby , who has been with the company for 17 years , starting as a bar manager and taking over the lead beverage role nearly three years ago .
The overexpansion , along with declining revenue , hurt the company . By 2019 , Bar Louie was trying to sell itself but failed to make a deal .
As such , the early 2020 bankruptcy filing , which cited an “ inconsistent
For St . Patrick ’ s Day , Bar Louie will highlight Irish beers , while introducing unique variations such as the Snake Bite , a blend of Guinness and Angry Orchard hard cider .
Bar Louie currently operates 64 locations , with plans to open more .
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