Young entrepreneurs venture into liquor store and bar business

CEBU, Philippines - Seeing the need to reinvent the typical night-out scene, a group of young entrepreneurs decided to venture into a liquor store and bar business selling a wide selection of drinks at grocery prices.

Managed by Michael Ng, Anna Ng, Jerome Go, and Emman Lee, Labeled Liquor Store + Bar is owned by a group of friends who noticed that most of the local bars offer expensive beverages which drive partygoers to buy their drinks in the grocery and hang out in the houses instead. 

Michael, one of the managing partners, said in an interview that the group envisions Labeled to be the most affordable bar in Cebu with a high value for money.

Since one of his colleagues has a liquor business, he revealed that they can purchase the drinks at factory prices and then sell it in prices similar to groceries. 

Situated at Unit 3, Green Orkid, Escario Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City, the two-storey establishment has its liquor shop at the first floor while the bar is at the second.

With an initial investment of P5 million, Labeled had its soft opening last July 17 and will soon have its formal opening on September 28.

It offers 100 variations of liquor which include gin, rhum, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers, vodka, tequila, cocktails, shooters, non-alcoholic drinks, scotch whiskey, single-malt whiskey, and bourbon whiskey.

It also has more than 30 selections of imported beers and bar chows such as sisig, calamares, chicharon bulaklak, and spicy chicken wings.

With a seating capacity of 40 to 50 individuals, Michael added that the bar is fully-packed especially during weekends when Cebu yuppies flock to the bar and enjoy the night.

He said that their bestselling beverages include Johnnie Walker Black at P1550 per liter, Absolut Vodka at P950, Jack Daniel’s P750 and Budweiser at P99.

“The bar business should always be fresh --- you have to reinvent yourself which we plan to do every month. Labeled is a place away from home but you can feel at home with the good music and good crowd,” he stated.

Aside from its affordable drinks, Labeled also feature regular disc jockeys every Fridays and Saturdays along with its high-end DJ equipment and dim, interchangeable lights for quality drinking session.

The liquor store is open by 10 AM while the bar starts to cater to customers at 5:30 PM until dawn. (FREEMAN)