10/2013 - Mamajuana Cafe

[Seville]

I was in there last night (the old Coaches Corner / Hideaway) and it is a nice little spot. It is currently the only place that has any kind of dance floor, even though it is not large. No chicas hanging out but if you have one with you not a bad place to go. Unfortunately I doubt that they will be able to draw people in sufficient numbers to make it work. They have a bucket of 5 Presidentes for 400 pesos and the music was, of course, a little louder than the last time I was in there. Also they have areas that are filled with sand and I am not a big fan of that. Sandra, the long time bartender at Merengue is working there now.

Merengue has done nothing to close in the bar and there were actually quite a few people in there last night. Bar Central has also done nothing in regards to closing the place in.

[JD426]

who are the owners, the FABIO looking dude and the bald guy ? (he really looks like Fabio, lol)
the place looks very nice, Friendly... the security guy was very polite, but only stayed for one single drink.
Those white flowing material things draped all over reminds me too much of a Wedding or something.
I honestly went in there to see if maybe i was wrong about the place..
I just dont see it working, i just dont see anything in there to DRAW people
.. but they seem like good dudes.
maybe If they played really good Bachata and Dance music (its definitely NOT a Hip Hop or ROCK spot) .. and maybe some bar food ?

[minkyboodle]

What is that for? Can I bring the little retard to play with a bucket and spade? Or is an amenity for those with pets?

I used to go to a spot (Jimmy Buffett type place my friend gigged at frequently) and they had the sand all over the place. It used to drive me nuts, but
I could see the appeal for some in landlocked Falls Church, Virginia. Why a place in Sosua (near to actual sand) does it is beyond me

[Seville]

who are the owners, the FABIO looking dude and the bald guy ? (he really looks like Fabio, lol)
the place looks very nice, Friendly... the security guy was very polite, but only stayed for one single drink.
Those white flowing material things draped all over reminds me too much of a Wedding or something.
I honestly went in there to see if maybe i was wrong about the place..
I just dont see it working, i just dont see anything in there to DRAW people
.. but they seem like good dudes.
maybe If they played really good Bachata and Dance music (its definitely NOT a Hip Hop or ROCK spot) .. and maybe some bar food ?

I think it is a nice spot to take a chica, relax and have a few. But I have different priorities as I don't care about being surrounded by the putas.

[j_d66]

I spent alot of time here my last trip and like it alot. Huge cubra libre and cold prezzy with nice music.

The bean bag chairs were kinda hokie but Robert seemed to be having a good time in them

not sure it will make it if the owners dont have deep pockets
doesnt look like they put to much money into it

bartenders and waitresses are attractive and friendly to

[sopranostingray]

Owners are out as of October 31st. Not sure if it's closing or changing hands.

[Seville]

Owners are out as of October 31st. Not sure if it's closing or changing hands.

That was fast.

[sopranostingray]

That was fast.

4 month lease. He can't understand why people aren't flocking to go to his bar. Why go there???? it's pretty yes....but no tv's for the games, he doesn't like the girls to play the music, the sand is stupid and messing (the cleaning lady hates it(, and you don't need a security guard in a place like that. There's no excuse for being stupid and not studying the market.

[BrooklynBeas]

4 month lease. He can't understand why people aren't flocking to go to his bar. Why go there???? it's pretty yes....but no tv's for the games, he doesn't like the girls to play the music, the sand is stupid and messing (the cleaning lady hates it(, and you don't need a security guard in a place like that. There's no excuse for being stupid and not studying the market.

Any thoughts on taking it over again? You still owe me a beer (your request to get me one), after I commented on the GB Packers combo platter lol

[sopranostingray]

Any thoughts on taking it over again? You still owe me a beer (your request to get me one), after I commented on the GB Packers combo platter lol

The landlord over there can kiss my ass. Come to the Britannia Pub across the street and I'll buy you a beer....I remember about the combo!!! I'm going there soon until closing.

[questner]

Owners are out as of October 31st. Not sure if it's closing or changing hands.

Rushing out for a Halloween party

Somehow many fail or a) to attract girls b) to distinguish themselves from other bars in positive way c) to set up super competitive prices etc.

Example: Now on the strip there is no place where one can take a nice dancing girl for a bachata or merengue lesson No place selling beer on the tap No strip pole dancing

However I read about morons who extort money and then issue a receipt ?!? wtf?!

[theheights718]

who are the owners, the FABIO looking dude and the bald guy ? (he really looks like Fabio, lol)
the place looks very nice, Friendly... the security guy was very polite, but only stayed for one single drink.
Those white flowing material things draped all over reminds me too much of a Wedding or something.
I honestly went in there to see if maybe i was wrong about the place..
I just dont see it working, i just dont see anything in there to DRAW people
.. but they seem like good dudes.
maybe If they played really good Bachata and Dance music (its definitely NOT a Hip Hop or ROCK spot) .. and maybe some bar food ?

Think the food would definitely set it above the rest...and maybe open earlier. Reminds me of your afterwork/pregame spot. Has that cabarete feel too. Maybe a lil more publicity, advertising would have helped.

But for me, I had no complaints about the place as I would go here 9 out of 10 times b4 going to a place like The Spot or sitting at Rhumba b4 hitting Classico/D'Latin for the night. Sometimes, a lil change of pace is good...especially if you are there for more than just the weekend.

[Seville]

4 month lease. He can't understand why people aren't flocking to go to his bar. Why go there???? it's pretty yes....but no tv's for the games, he doesn't like the girls to play the music, the sand is stupid and messing (the cleaning lady hates it(, and you don't need a security guard in a place like that. There's no excuse for being stupid and not studying the market.

They could certainly cut payroll. The other night they had a DJ? For what? Make a 100 song play list and run it. The security guard could go, as you said, and one less chica working there as well. They should return the sand to the beach. But it beats Rumba, in my opinion. The music in The Spot is deafening and bad. D'Latins is too crowded and the music is horrible most of the time. I haven't been in D'Latins since they closed it in so no idea how that is working out. Part of the draw of Rumba and D'Latins is people watching, not to mention puta chasing. The latter is not really on my agenda.

It is a good alternative if you are out with friends and / or already with a chica.

[obiwon]

seems to me that the sosua regulars should support these sort of small bars... Dlatin and rhumba are the Walmarts of sosua driving the interesting little places out of business... Mamajauna should hooked up with Elefante Rossa out front and served more food .. or even that little bar beside it called Las something to get more street visibility.... but these little places make sosua interesting... when I go back in january I was hoping to see what mamajauna was all about.. it would have been a good place where Dominican musicians could play for tourists too.. do you think it will reopen?

[Seville]

seems to me that the sosua regulars should support these sort of small bars... Dlatin and rhumba are the Walmarts of sosua driving the interesting little places out of business... Mamajauna should hooked up with Elefante Rossa out front and served more food .. or even that little bar beside it called Las something to get more street visibility.... but these little places make sosua interesting... when I go back in january I was hoping to see what mamajauna was all about.. it would have been a good place where Dominican musicians could play for tourists too.. do you think it will reopen?

A chica that works there told me they aren't closing but who really knows.

[ezsmile]

seems to me that the sosua regulars should support these sort of small bars... Dlatin and rhumba are the Walmarts of sosua driving the interesting little places out of business... Mamajauna should hooked up with Elefante Rossa out front and served more food .. or even that little bar beside it called Las something to get more street visibility.... but these little places make sosua interesting... when I go back in january I was hoping to see what mamajauna was all about.. it would have been a good place where Dominican musicians could play for tourists too.. do you think it will reopen?

they may have menus from the surrounding restaurants. For sure if you walk over to the Elefante Rossi they would take your order and deliver.

[deezl]

Unsurprisingly, they're suffering/suffered from the same exact problem 90% of the bars in town have - no plan on how to get customers into the bar.

When Ray & Ira had the place - they had a freaking plan. It was a sports bar, which filled a niche because there wasn't another one around. When it was Hideaway - no plan (and no customers). Mamajuana Cafe? No plan, no customers.

I don't know how to make the place a hit, but I've often thought that it'd be a good venue for live music. Tipico, merengue, bachata, etc. There's no place else around to hear live music, no place else to dance. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't, but at least it's a plan!

[ezsmile]

Unsurprisingly, they're suffering/suffered from the same exact problem 90% of the bars in town have - no plan on how to get customers into the bar.

When Ray & Ira had the place - they had a freaking plan. It was a sports bar, which filled a niche because there wasn't another one around. When it was Hideaway - no plan (and no customers). Mamajuana Cafe? No plan, no customers.

I don't know how to make the place a hit, but I've often thought that it'd be a good venue for live music. Tipico, merengue, bachata, etc. There's no place else around to hear live music, no place else to dance. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't, but at least it's a plan!

Not sure if it was a plan, but it seemed the bar instructed the staff to encourage the patrons to drink. The way they did that was to have friendly waitresses (ok I knew 1 from when it was Coach's Corner and 1 from way back, 7 years) who would also be lively with the customers. To liven it up they would all ask for drinks. But buy 1 waitress a drink, then the bartender asks "where's mine"? Then the other asks can she have one too. That becomes party central for the staff. One of the nights I saw a patron was drinking with one of the staff who was not working that day, i.e. she was a patron as well, except he was paying the bill. So she was going behind the bar and pouring rounds of flaming shooters....muchas gracias from the boss I bet.

I have been in there and had 3 drinks but paid double or more because of buying drinks for the staff. That is fun for the first time but not every time you go in. As a result, I try to avoid the bar.

[steviewonder]

I don't know how to make the place a hit, but I've often thought that it'd be a good venue for live music. Tipico, merengue, bachata, etc. There's no place else around to hear live music, no place else to dance. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't, but at least it's a plan!

Live music would certainly pull in the locals. When Rumba did Sunday nights with local groups on a weekly bases, those bands would get the word out where they were performing and be well supported. Did very well, except many Dominicans with their wife or others were turned off by the puta show. I would also see many gringos that would not dance because they just were not comfortable with the movements. Also I told Bobby : if putas are not buying drinks, then they should not be sitting and taking up a space. Have then standing around the bar for the single guys to meet.
Deezl, I agree that would be a great investment for the place, and would certainly justify advertising live music and dancing, even if it was from Thurs - Sunday. The place could also be like the HomeRun in Montellano (which is closed now not due to the lack of customers). Buy a chica a beer and she would get up and teach a gringo how to dance Tipico, merengue, etc.. if you wanted It could be turned into a fun place for people to do something different on PC, just as you say needs a bit of planning, and $$$ spent in the right direction.

[Jimmydr]

I don't know how to make the place a hit, but I've often thought that it'd be a good venue for live music. Tipico, merengue, bachata, etc. There's no place else around to hear live music, no place else to dance. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't, but at least it's a plan!

So when are you opening?