This is a list of the most famous bars in television and movies. Some might be more known than others, but they all have one thing in common: they are always ensconced with characters that make for great entertainment or incite conflict while fueling storylines.
The 5 most famous bars are, by no means an exhaustive list of the many people who have made names for themselves in the world of drinking. Here is a look at some other bars that deserve more recognition over drinks and good times.
I recently asked, “What are some of TV’s most renowned small businesses?” in the Small Business subreddit. The junkyard from Sanford and Sons, Dunder Mifflin Paper Co. from The Office, and Central Perk from Friends were among the suggestions. The discussion prompted me to begin compiling some lists.
Bplans.com offers over 500 free example business plans accessible online, as you may have observed. We’ve been able to determine which industries are the most often searched on our website over time. “Why not mix these?” I reasoned. I’ll choose a popular business category from our website and show you what I believe are the most well-known instances of that company from movies, television shows, or books: Small Business Pop Culture is a term used to describe the culture of small businesses.
One short disclaimer: this is a list I made, so it’s sure to be biased. Tell me in the comments if you believe there’s a more famous example that I didn’t mention.
Here’s today’s list, without further ado: The 5 Most Famous TV Bars.
5. Grey’s Anatomy / Private Practice – Emerald City Bar (Joe’s Bar)
The Emerald City Bar is the go-to destination for the Grey’s Anatomy characters to blow off steam and have a drink, appearing in seven of the ten seasons of Grey’s Anatomy and one season of the spin-off program, Private Practice.
Joe, the bartender (played by Steven W. Bailey), lends the physicians from Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital a sympathetic ear, as well as some wise counsel and alcoholic beverages.
A pub across the street from a hospital is a terrific way to access a regular client base from a commercial standpoint, but operating a bar in downtown Seattle is not inexpensive. You won’t be able to acquire one for less than $300,000, according to BizBuySell.com. Even yet, you may be able to charge more for that Jack and Coke if you had a steady stream of well-paid neurosurgeons passing through your doors.
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ten Forward
Space: the ultimate frontier is the place to go if you want to create a futuristic atmosphere. On the spaceship Enterprise, Ten Forward is a bar/lounge that is hurtling through space.
The crew (headed by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, represented by Sir Patrick Stewart) may relax in the bar on Deck 10 after a hard day of exploration and intergalactic diplomacy. Ten Forward is an excellent area for the crew to create camaraderie and raise morale during their lengthy travels, whether they’re reciting combat memories or discussing the finer aspects of the Prime Directive. And, of course, it’s given us this television gem:
How I Met Your Mother — MacLaren’s
“Kids, let me tell you the story…” of MacLaren’s pub, Ted, Robin, Marshall, Lily, and Barney’s go-to hangout in How I Met Your Mother. Carl MacLaren owns the pub, which is situated below Ted’s flat. MacLaren’s is a popular gathering area for the group to speak about their day (or be forced to hear about Barney’s newest conquest) over the show’s nine seasons. Carl MacLaren hopes to pass the ownership of the pub on to his son in the final season of the program, making it a genuine family company.
MacLaren’s, which is based in New York, would not be a cheap family company to buy. New York Magazine estimated the “Bar-onomics” of running a prosperous East Village bar in 2009. What is their estimate? Before generating a profit, you’ll need $200,000 in beginning expenditures and $645,000 in total gross revenue over the course of 18 months. It’s unclear how much the prices would change on New York’s Upper West Side, where MacLaren’s is situated, but it’s reasonable to assume it wouldn’t be cheap. Still, it’s difficult to picture How I Met Your Mother without MacLaren’s, so I won’t be too concerned about the bar’s survival.
2. The Simpsons’ Moe’s Tavern
Moe Szyslak is the proprietor of Moe’s Tavern in Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Springfield, Moe’s Tavern has been in the show from the first episode, which aired on December 17, 1989, and is now in its 26th season. Moe’s is Homer Simpson’s second home, as well as Carl, Lenny, and Sam, Springfield’s working-class clients. Barney, the local alcoholic, is the bar’s most frequent client, and Moe’s is also a frequent target of Bart Simpson’s prank phone calls.
Moe’s Tavern has gone through many name changes and redesigns over the last two decades as Moe has tried to make his company more successful. Uncle Moe’s Family Feed-Bag, Mo’s, M, Flaming Moe’s, and even Moe’s Pet Shop were among the businesses. Despite this, the pub has stayed essentially same throughout the years, from the dimly lit interior to the same barstools occupied by the same people. That has a reassuring effect on me.
Despite being a staple of TV pop culture for the last 26 years, I don’t believe Moe’s Tavern is the most renowned pub on television. That’s a title designated only for…
1. Greetings – Greetings
Cheers isn’t the longest-running television sitcom on this list, with 11 seasons (1982-1993). Its cultural effect, on the other hand, is unrivaled. The Simpsons and How I Met Your Mother have both paid tribute to Cheers, and the show’s theme tune, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” is ingrained in American society.
Sam Malone, a former Red Sox bullpen pitcher, owns the pub in the program. From US postman Cliff Claven and accountant Norm Peterson to psychiatrist Frasier Crane, Cheers is a mash-up of elite and lower-class characters (who later got his own 11-season spin-off TV show). Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, and Woody Harrelson all got their start on the program. With over 100 Emmy nominations and 28 wins, it was also a critical triumph. The series conclusion in 1993 drew more than 80 million people, making it the second-most-watched series finale in television history. Cheers is, without a question, the most well-known television bar.
Have you ever considered starting a bar? Is it going to be a bar and tavern like Moe’s or Cheers, an Irish pub like MacLaren’s, or something completely different? While you’re here, browse our sample business plans for bars and nightclubs to discover the one you need—you can even download it for free.
Do you think I should have included another TV bar on my list? What business sector should I focus on next? Please let me know by leaving a comment!
