In the era of standardization and versatility, the idea of organizing a thematic cafe that will be successful is not so simple. The reason for this is that people differ in their tastes and preferences, and it is quite difficult to find the individual format that will be in demand. However, one of the most win-win options is the atmosphere of gangster chic inherent in Chicago in the 30s. The days of Prohibition have caused the dawn of the mafia clans, making their fortunes at underground drinking establishments, offering their visitors gambling. Many people want to touch those times and feel themselves in the role of an experienced mafioso, so the opening of such an institution will allow them to realize their dream.
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Tasks
The main task of the restaurateur, who undertook the implementation of this idea, is the need to create a mysterious atmosphere of the gangster era, which will transport guests to those distant times. However, the congestion of the interior, as well as its excessive complexity without taking into account modern trends, can play a cruel joke. Opening a cafe in the style of Chicago in the 30s, you must offer the visitor modern service and carefully thought out topics.
The right scenery
In those days, such places were most often located in the basements of houses, and in them, as a rule, the walls were not given much attention. Therefore, imitation of masonry is the best suited as the basis for the future institution. If such an idea is implemented, it is too expensive, the walls can be draped with dense matter of dark tones (mainly black and purple shades). For round-the-clock cafes or those that work in the morning, you can use wooden panels of light, but not bright colors. The texture of the tree will also perfectly convey the style of the 30s.
The walls should be decorated with black and white photographs illustrating the life of Chicago at night of that period, as well as cards of famous artists and prominent representatives of the mafia clans. Also in the interior will be appropriate artifacts of the gangster era, for example, a model of a Thompson submachine gun. An additional highlight will give a wall-mounted telephone, appropriate to the time. It should be noted that conveying a suitable atmosphere is quite simple, but you still should not overload the walls with paraphernalia.
Dimmed lighting will create a feeling of mystery and comfort. You can implement it using vintage wall lights, as well as floor lamps. However, there should be enough light for comfortable communication between guests and meals. If there is a scene for a performer or karaoke, you should take care of the presence of a spotlight that will illuminate it. It is better to take a karaoke microphone not modern, but made taking into account the features of that era, and the stand for it will undoubtedly be the finishing touch.
Soft sofas and corners surrounding the table, as well as the presence of partitions will add intimacy and security to the communication of guests. This will be appreciated not only by couples in love, but also by business partners discussing transactions. Massive chairs made of metal, as well as deliberately roughly knocked out of wood, are also suitable for the bar. It all depends on the target group and the opening hours of the institution.
A popular and sought-after solution in the presence of several rooms is color differentiation. Usually these are blue, red and green interiors. Additional chic and the possibility of privacy of a noisy company of guests will provide a secret room, usually hidden behind a closet or panel in the wall. This is appreciated not only by lovers of gangster themes, but also by ordinary visitors seeking solitude.
Sound accompaniment
The 30s is the era of the heyday of jazz and the popularity of blues compositions. From the hidden speakers can flow a relaxing and pacifying motive that will not cause irritation to the average visitor and will undoubtedly delight a true connoisseur of this music. Periodic performances of bands performing jazz will be the final touch to creating the necessary atmosphere.
If the cafe has karaoke, then it is better to allocate a place for it in a separate room and offer it as a separate service. Thus, this will not interfere with other guests who are attracted by the atmosphere of the 30s. In addition, karaoke will attract to the institution lovers of songwriting under the backing track. This widespread entertainment will consistently bring additional income to the owners of such establishments.
Menu Features
In the 30s, members of the family of mafia clans were immigrants from Italy and Sicily, but Irish gangs also operated in the cities. Therefore, the restaurateur should definitely give preference to Italian cuisine, as well as include classic American dishes in the restaurant menu. When choosing the final composition of the menu, as many consumers as possible should be covered, so meat dishes should be diluted with salads. They will certainly be ordered by girls who follow the figure, and vegetarians. As a rule, these two groups of people leave the majority of reviews about the institution. Therefore, they can both create an excellent reputation for the cafe and completely destroy it.
The menu can be designed in the spirit of those years using newspaper fonts. When compiling it, the main mistake of most owners is that when they come up with suitable names, they show excessive imagination. This confuses guests and can annoy them. Only specialties deserve a unique name, the amount of which, as a rule, does not exceed three. It should be noted that they should be cooked perfectly.
Reproducing the Chicago era of the 30s, one should not forget about drinks. Guests who are negative about drinking alcohol will prefer different variations of coffee. The restaurateur should take care of choosing a good supplier, as coffee is one of the most profitable drinks. Alcohol should be represented by champagne, various beers and an abundance of whiskey. The more options and the wider the price range, the better. Do not forget about various cocktails. Pay special attention to whiskey for men and vermouth for women.