Double Shot and BC Bars Gone

[Undaunted]

Many others remain for sale.

[Gaybutton]

Many others remain for sale.

"One of the things that has always worried me about being one of the few is the way we keep on getting fewer."
- Richard Burton (Flight Officer David Campbell), 'The Longest Day'

[Jun]

There are still plenty of bars in Jomtien Complex & far more of them than 15 years ago.
Also, there is more choice than previously, with the traditional host bars, bars that just sell beer and bars that are adding entertainment.

[Undaunted]

Divarium show bar is offering heavily discounted drinks to clear inventory as they are about to close too.

[Jun]

Divarium show bar is offering heavily discounted drinks to clear inventory as they are about to close too.

I thought that had been for sale for some time ? If I understand correctly, this was run by the cute Thai bar manager, in conjunction with his now ex boyfriend. There is now a different boyfriend.

That's one of the bars I liked, but admittedly it was often fairly quiet just as soon as the high season trade tailed off.

There will be quite a hole in the middle of the street if these businesses are not replaced. But overall, still enough choice.

[Dodger]

I imagine it may come down to just too many bars in the same area with the same venues and offerings.

Based on the average customer flow that you see in Supertown I imagine a dozen or so boy bars would keep busy (profitable) - but +30 always did seem like too many.

I think what we're seeing now was inevitable.

[Jun]

in Supertown I imagine a dozen or so boy bars would keep busy (profitable) - but +30 always did seem like too many.

I think what we're seeing now was inevitable.

Hard to disagree, although I would guess at a sustainable number mid way between 12 & 30.
Since I don't visit in low season (yet), you may well be right.

One boy bar has has one very cute lad, but he is unavailable, due to other commitments.
After that, the next cutest is probably in his 30s.
Then if I look at the remaining selection, well it usually would be better to move to another bar if I were after a boy.

Of course, with online dating, not everyone is going to the bars for a boy and you don't see that many offs these days.

When I visit JC, I'm usually content to chat with farang, chat with boys or just observe who is going up and down the street.
Via such observations, I often recognise lads I've seen on the phone apps walking past. This is one way of confirming that they really do look as good as their profile pictures.

[Dodger]

......Of course, with online dating, not everyone is going to the bars for a boy and you don't see that many offs these days.

No doubt on-line dating has contributed to the decline in boy-bar business, not only in JC, but everywhere - and it's unlikely that this trend won't continue.

Now with the emergence of AI things will probably become even more challenging for the bar owners - as they are already developing apps that will allow customers to engage in online sex with the partner of their choosing (or design) for a lot less money than paying for a bar fine. Not only will people stop going to bars - they'll stop getting married too...

[Gaybutton]

Not only will people stop going to bars - they'll stop getting married too...

Wouldn't that be something? Thailand will finally fully legalize same sex marriage and then no one does . . .

[Jun]

Now with the emergence of AI things will probably become even more challenging for the bar owners

I'm not particularly attracted to AI images.

Getting back to the bars.
I'd like to know what percentage of customer visits to the bars in Jomtien result in the customer paying an off fee. I'd guess it's under 10%.

Bear in mind, the off fee is often optional. The boys are freelance and can come & go as they please. If they agree an online trade whilst sat in the bar, they will head off out of the bar to meet that customer.
If a customer originally met a boy via an app, what moral obligation does he have to pay off fees if he sees that boy sat in a bar ?

Jomtien bar revenue seems to be primarily from drinks. Whether it's a bar with hosts, a bar with entertainment or a bar that has neither.

Also, before we weep too much for the bars, remember that they typically charge more for those drinks than, for example, the bars off Soi Bukhao.
So the gross margin ought to be sufficient.
There's just a limit to the number of bars the gay scene can sustain.

There also seems to be a lower limit on the hours the gay bars can support. You can walk around North Pattaya and see people drinking from mid-afternoon onwards, or in some cases, mid-morning.

At the moment, based on information in this thread, we also don't know why certain bars have closed. If a bar owner returns to his home country, he probably closes his bar. We still don't know the underlying reason for that.