What's up with the prices at Garwoods?

[Lucy Goose]

I know it's cheaper at home, I'm not stupid! But it's nice to go out once in a while. We now usually eat at home then go out for a social drink. So my complaint is how expensive it is there for a cheap beer!!! I don't think I should have to pay for the renovation. I actually liked it better before. Miss the boats on the ceiling.

And to the remark about going there twice, that was uncalled for. We just felt like going out for a drink and were using up a gift certificate, but decided that Garwoods is just too expensive for sub par food. There are other places on the water that do not charge that much for a cheap beer. So we will be going to those places from now on.

I only meant that it is too bad that they try and get away with it just because they are on the water. Oh and by the way, a very small piece of seats and viewing on the water.

I don't enjoy being totally ripped off and that is what they are doing. Considering a 30 pack of Miller Lite is $20 or less, 5 x 30 = $150. I would say that is a pretty unbelievable profit.

Hopefully the owner/owners scan this website and will make things more reasonable because it sounds like a lot of folks have no desire to go there.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

And to the remark about going there twice, that was uncalled for. We just felt like going out for a drink and were using up a gift certificate, but decided that Garwoods is just too expensive for sub par food.

I wouldn't have made that remark if you would have said that you went there a second time because you had a gift certificate. I'm not a mind reader.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up about their prices. I'm not a drinking man but if their food is as high as their beer then they won't get much business from the locals...like me.

[tis]

Well, i have to stand up for the family that owns Garwoods because they are a very nice family and I don't think would intentionally rip off anybody. I imagine their higher prices are necessary because it is Wolfeboro and they probably don't have a huge turnover. That said, I do think the food could be better. We have been disappointed in the food and the menu.

About a year ago, we went to Garwood's and I asked for a specific drink which they didn't have. So the waitress suggested something else and it sounded similar so I said ok. When I got the bill, the drink was $9.00. And though I don't even usually have ONE drink when I go out, that night I had two, because the others were lingering so I paid $18.00 for two drinks. That was more than the meal I had. But that is not the most expensive drink we have ever ordered. My better half had a rum and coke at Anjon's in Scarborough, Maine and was charged $3.00 for the coke and $8.00 for the rum. This seems to be a trendy thing to separate the drink into two parts. We have seen it a couple of times.

[LongBay]

Unfortunately, NH restaurant owners (especially waterfront owners) get whacked with a high property tax, federal income tax, etc. Patrons then get whacked with the 9% meal tax. Those added expenses have to get passed along and picked up by the consumer.

[secondcurve]

It's not that complicated. Garwoods is newly renovated and it operates from a waterfront location in the expensive resort town of Wolfeboro. My guess is they aren't making that much money when all of their costs are factored into the equation. You are paying for the atmosphere and location. Given that backdrop, $5.00 for a beer is reasonable.

[Belmont Resident]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

It's not that complicated. Garwoods is newly renovated and it operates from a waterfront location in the expensive resort town of Wolfeboro. My guess is they aren't making that much money when all of their costs are factored into the equation. You are paying for the atmosphere and location. Given that backdrop, $5.00 for a beer is reasonable.

You want a cold beer you go to a bar that serves bar food and has all kinds of TV's.
You want to have a good meal you go to a place like Garwoods.
After much debate it does after all make sense, especially if it is considered a high end eating establishment. I sure wouldn't consider heading to the Canoe, Lago's or O's just to hang at the bar for a few cold ones.
Lucky Goose what the heck were you thinking anyways.
Shame on you!

[Lucy Goose]

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

You want a cold beer you go to a bar that serves bar food and has all kinds of TV's.
You want to have a good meal you go to a place like Garwoods.
After much debate it does after all make sense, especially if it is considered a high end eating establishment. I sure wouldn't consider heading to the Canoe, Lago's or O's just to hang at the bar for a few cold ones.
Lucky Goose what the heck were you thinking anyways.
Shame on you!

If they are considered high end food, which they are not, then I would rather go to Mickey D's, which I don't like either. There are other waterfront restaurants that do not charge what Garwoods charges.

I also do not understand why folks are so petty and rude sometimes. And I don't care what anyone says, $5.50 is too much for a bottle of Miller Lite. I do not pay that anywhere else, waterfront or not.

[WakeboardMom]

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

I also do not understand why folks are so petty and rude sometimes.

I don't think anyone's deliberately being petty or rude, just trying to understand the issue.

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

And I don't care what anyone says...

In your original post you asked, "what do others think?"

I don't think anyone disagrees that $5.50 might be a lot to pay for a beer, but you're paying for much more than the beer when you go to any restaurant.

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

There are other waterfront restaurants that do not charge what Garwoods charges.

Wolfeboro Inn? Canoe? Shibley's? The Naswa? Anyplace at all that has some nice atmosphere?

[BroadHopper]

Join the local Elks Club, VFW or American Legion! You can't beat the bar prices!

If you like BYO go to the Pitman's Freight Room in Laconia. Friday nights are Blues night. They have Jazz nights and comedy nights. Excellent talents. http://pitmansfreightroom.com/

Excellent meal at the Local Eatery within walking distance, if you want to make it a night! http://laconialocaleatery.com/

If you like the atmosphere of old landmarks, try this combination!

[gtagrip]

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

I don't enjoy being totally ripped off and that is what they are doing. Considering a 30 pack of Miller Lite is $20 or less, 5 x 30 = $150. I would say that is a pretty unbelievable profit.

Hopefully the owner/owners scan this website and will make things more reasonable because it sounds like a lot of folks have no desire to go there.

They are not paying retail for the beer either, they are paying wholesale!

[BroadHopper]

Don't forget, our laws are set up so anyone can sue the establishment millions of dollars if a patron left the bar and crash into his or her car or house. Liability insurance on a full license is outrageous!

[WakeboardMom]

Originally Posted by gtagrip

They are not paying retail for the beer either, they are paying wholesale!

They also have overhead: lights, heat, salaries, taxes for that waterfront real estate, and like Broadhopper said, insurance...the list goes on...

WHAT is a reasonable price for a beer at a place like that? What have people paid at other (comparable) places?

LG says she wants to know what other people think. I think she has a dilemma. What LAKEFRONT establishment can you patronize and pay less?

[Heaven]

A reasonable price is the price their clientele will pay for a beer. Period.

[jrc]

Originally Posted by Heaven

A reasonable price is the price their clientele will pay for a beer. Period.

We have winner! Someone who understands capitalism.

This is a self correcting problem, if they charge too much, then people will buy elsewhere. Then they either adapt or close.

The only time this doesn't work is captive audience places like airports, movie theaters and stadiums. There people will put up with overcharging on an incidental expense like beer because they have to.

[fpartri497]

Originally Posted by jrc

We have winner! Someone who understands capitalism.

This is a self correcting problem, if they charge too much, then people will buy elsewhere. Then they either adapt or close.

The only time this doesn't work is captive audience places like airports, movie theaters and stadiums. There people will put up with overcharging on an incidental expense like beer because they have to.

hey yesterday I payed $12.50 for a cheeseburger at the boat show That was ridiculous all by itself.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by jrc

We have winner! Someone who understands capitalism.

This is a self correcting problem, if they charge too much, then people will buy elsewhere. Then they either adapt or close.

The only time this doesn't work is captive audience places like airports, movie theaters and stadiums. There people will put up with overcharging on an incidental expense like beer because they have to.

Unfortunately, America is no longer a capitalist nation. We have more of a mixed economy. An economic system that permits private property, but only at the discretion of government planners. A little bit of capitalism and a little bit of socialism.
IMHO the return of capitalism will not happen until there is a moral revolution in this country.

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by Rusty

IMHO the return of capitalism will not happen until there is a moral revolution in this country.

Pure capitalism and morals are mutually exclusive. As long as human nature is involved, economic systems will fall prey to human weakness. Capitalism breeds greed, communism breeds sloth.

[baygo]

Originally Posted by gtagrip

They are not paying retail for the beer either, they are paying wholesale!

It is very rare for a restaurant to buy beer or wine at wholesale in NH. They actually pay more than the public. New Hampshire law requires the purchase via a distributor. The distributor adds shipping surcharge on top of retail pricing. Grocery Stores and Convenience stores buy at wholesale and will often sell for as much as 30% less than your favorite restaurant buys for.

Many of the additional expenses associated with the restaurant sale of booze are already mentioned in this thread. The rule of thumb for a restaurant as advised by business school is to set the price at 4 times the cost. A restaurant may choose to price it higher to filter rif-raf or leave room to have special deals (ie; 2 for 1 or Happy Hour)

[fatlazyless]

It seems like there is a big differance in the taste quality going from Labatt's Blue Ice, $1.19/24-oz can at Bob's Shurfine and stepping up to the pricier Pabst Blue Ribbon at $1.35 for a jumbo 24-oz can. It just shows to go, that you get what you pay for, and one can always hide a big 24-oz beer into a paper bag down at the Subway and enjoy it with the 12" sub of the month for $5.45, 9% NH tax included, for a complete meal!

Beating the low prices on beer at Bob's Shurfine, in Ashland, could be a challenge!

[gtagrip]

Originally Posted by baygo

It is very rare for a restaurant to buy beer or wine at wholesale in NH. They actually pay more than the public. New Hampshire law requires the purchase via a distributor. The distributor adds shipping surcharge on top of retail pricing. Grocery Stores and Convenience stores buy at wholesale and will often sell for as much as 30% less than your favorite restaurant buys for.

Many of the additional expenses associated with the restaurant sale of booze are already mentioned in this thread. The rule of thumb for a restaurant as advised by business school is to set the price at 4 times the cost. A restaurant may choose to price it higher to filter rif-raf or leave room to have special deals (ie; 2 for 1 or Happy Hour)

I stand corrected! What about liquor?