Flash Bar Buying Guide

The most important question to ask yourself as you begin building your Flash Bar is which accessories you’ll need. Accessories are parts that are built-in or attached to the bars and they are the heart and soul of each bar. If you’re setting up a simple point of sale, then you may only need counter and storage space. If you need a good substitute for a high-volume permanent cocktail bar, you may need everything from ice bins and speed rails to a 4-basin sink.  

Note: In the Flash Bar builder accessories are Step 2 for practical reasons, but you’ll want an idea about which accessories you’ll need in order to pick segments that meet your needs.

Pro Tip: Divide your accessories into must-haves and nice-to-haves so that you can make cuts and additions easily as you negotiate between space and cost for the design of your bar.

Space, Storage, and Transport

If you have limited space, you’ll want to select options that fit into the space and will hold your must-have accessories. A straight segment, for example, takes up 4’5” x 2’7” of floor space and can hold one or more of any accessory. 

If you have unlimited space, your considerations should be more about staff or capacity. How many bartenders should the bar accommodate? How many people would you like to be able to seat at the bar? 

Since the Flash Bar is modular you can have a bar that’s as small as the smallest segment or large enough to wrap around your entire space.

Other important questions that may affect the size of your bar are how you’re going to store it and how you intend to transport it. The more segments you add to your bar, the more pieces you’ll need cases and storage space for. Additionally, the total weight and size of your bar may influence the type of vehicle you can use to transport it. Does it need to fit in a sedan, a small trailer, or an 18-wheeler? The minimum weight for an unstocked straight segment with no accessories is 120 pounds. 

The actual weight of your bar will be based on the segments and accessories you select, but this minimum weight can assist you in knowing whether you’re approaching any space or vehicle weight limits.

Below you’ll find a brief introduction to each segment and a few practical tips for choosing between them.

For Flash Bar Modular Systems, accessories are the key to how your bar will support your staff and serve your guests. We discussed giving accessories some thought before picking your shape. Here we’ll give more information on choosing between the options.

Here’s some information to help you make the best accessory decisions.

Sinks are the largest accessories you can add to the bar. Only a straight segment can accommodate a sink and each straight segment can hold one full sink setup.

• Plumbing – Sinks require plumbing. Our contained sink options include the tanks, hoses, and tubes needed to complete the sink. You can also purchase the standard option – that doesn’t include plumbing components – if you have your own. Whether you’re using your own plumbing components or ours your sink will require electricity. Be sure your setup will be close enough to an electrical outlet.
• Cut-Out Shelves – A cut-out shelf must be purchased in order to use a sink with the Flash Bar

 Drop-In Ice Bins – 11.5-gallon ice bins are great for easy access, hidden countertop storage.

• Cut-Out Shelves – A cut-out shelf must be purchased in order to use a drop-in ice bin with the Flash Bar

 

Step 3: Choose your exterior

Panels
In addition to the modular design, The Portable Bar Company offers customizable panels to give you lots of customization options. Promote your brand with logos and other custom artwork. Get additional revenue by using clings or magnets to personalize blank space on the bar for your customers. Match your decor. Or do all three.

Pro Tip: If you’re thinking of adding LED lighting to your bar, keep in mind that lighter panels allow the lights to shine through better.

We offer four distinct panel options: aluminum composite (ACP), laminate, vinyl printing, and textured vinyl printing. Each provides multiple ways to customize. Click the image below to learn more.

 

Counters
Depending on how and where you’ll use your Flash Bar, you may want to consider options other than our standard countertops. Standard black acrylic countertops look sleek and are ok to use outdoors, but are not designed for use in humid climates. Laminate countertops allow you to extend your branding or decor matching beyond the front panels but are not recommended for outdoor use. Sea board countertops feature a durable textured finish and are designed to hold up in humid environments. Click the image below for more information on these countertop styles. 

 

End Caps (to split the bar) 

End caps are the side edges of the bar. If you purchase enough end caps for each bar segment to have two, then each segment can be used as a standalone bar. It’s a great way to add more versatility to your bar.

Final Thoughts

There’s definitely a lot to think about when creating your own custom bar design with the Flash Bar Builder but we believe you’ll find the tool easy to use and educational. Give it a try today or give us a call at 888-373-8344 and we’ll guide you through building your own customized bar.