Merge bar - has it closed again already?

Hey!

Went to Merge Bar with a few mates about a fortnight ago and was very surprised that the place was closed. Then went passed there again yesterday and it was closed again and the menu in the glass box outside had disappeared. Anyone here who knows what's going on. Did the owners just go on a long holiday or is it never going to open again?

Dan

Its closed down.

Sad really- noone likes to see a good effort fail. It was a nice layout/decor, good staff and good prices.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why it wasn't successful? If you never went to Merge- why not?

Maybe for the benefit of Hazza and his new venture we could make sure he doesn't have to learn the same lessons as well...

I e-mailed Merge and asked them what the situation was. This was their response:


For me the main reason for not going to Merge was location. It was too far off the beaten track.

For a successful bar or shop, location is critically important.

If one concept doesn't work at a certain address, it's a good sign that other concepts won't work at that same address either. Ayers Rock closed after a year of trying. That was the strongest warning you could have that Merge Bar at the same address would also struggle.

Ungererstraße 19 (see image), just north of Münchner Freiheit is another dead-zone. Shananigan's Irish Pub struggled and eventually gave up. As did the "Sound Cafe" which came afterwards. For about a year now that address has been lying fallow. No one dares move in. The Thai restaurant next door also closed recently and has yet to find a "nachmieter".

hmmm... thanks for the replies.
It would be really sad if they close it. I went there a few times with my mates and we all really enjoyed it.
The location surely isn't perfect, but its not as though as it hundreds of miles from anywhere. There is also quite a big bar/restaurant place (called Tumblinger, I think) really close by and it always seems to be quite busy. For anyone who lives in the centre or anywhere on one of the S-Bahn lines, Merge bar is no further than Murphy's or any other place in Schwabing.
It's just that some people would rather go to the same place about 1000 times, instead of trying out something new from time to time.
Hope that they're going to sort out their brewery problems soon.

Dan

I think this is SO true. Too many people like to stay in their comfort zone. This is what separates people who stick with the expat bars and those who would go elsewhere and perhaps even meet some nice Germans!