WHEN YOU SIP cocktails at the Zig Zag Café, you escape to a more convivial and classier time, a time when Coca-Cola was made with real cocaine and haberdasher was a word that came up regularly in conversation. Now Kacy Fitch, co-owner of the pink-lit cocktail bar carved into the Pike Street Hill Climb, might complete this old-timey illusion—by converting to a cash-only payment policy.
Lift the needle on that phonograph a second—did he say “cash only”? Zig Zag is dangerously fun, the cocktails dangerously delicious. While away an evening here and you’re likely to wake up with a pulsating frontal lobe and a jaw-dropping receipt crumpled up in your coat pocket (there is nothing old-timey about the drink prices). Demanding cash would seem to curb such spontaneous hedonism, something surely outside Zig Zag’s interest.
Indeed, Fitch has been frustrated by changing compliance codes and irritating glitches with his online credit-card system for years, but escaping the plastic prison always seemed impossible. Then, a year ago, bartender Murray Stenson mentioned, upon returning from a trip to Manhattan, that cash was the only accepted currency at classic cocktail chapels like Little Branch or Milk and Honey. Zig Zag’s NYC equivalents, these bars are notoriously packed; a cash-only policy has never kept that city’s cocktail crazies away.
A few months ago, Fitch started an informal poll among Zig Zag regulars to gauge whether they would mind forking over bills. Most were on board—provided Fitch install an ATM. He now says he is “likely” to do just that, transitioning completely away from credit cards by this July.
Published: March 2010
Nice Article!
Given that Zig Zag is known as the Bartender’s Bar (and for good reason), meaning their clientele is heavily littered with Industry folk who have cash on hand, I’m thinking switching to cash only wont be too much of an issue. As long as there’s an ATM machine near by, they might actually increase profits by avoiding credit card processing fees. It wouldn’t hinder my patronage at all- but granted, I am willing to go lengths for their tasty libations!
um. GENIUS headline.
For a variety of reasons this is a stupid move.
1) Who carries cash anymore?
2) Why would I want to pay ATM fees to withdraw cash from one of those 3rd party ATM’s with usury rates? Did the owner of the bar lower the price of his cocktails to compensate for his 2% reduction in transaction costs?
3) Why, as a business person would I want to use my own cash instead of a company credit to entertain clients?
4) I guarantee people with a credit card will spend more than people who use cash. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
5) Why would any business make it harder on their clients to transact business? Laziness perhaps? Arrogance definitely?
Frankly Zig Zag was on my list of places to try. Not anymore. You just lost one potential good customer. I’m sure I’m not the only one.