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Winnipeg’s bar industry battles for bragging rights

Michael Buffi (left) and Colin Kilgour will represent the Red Cactus at Bar Warz.
photo: Jay Kilgour

When eight of Winnipeg’s hottest nightclubs and bars decide to battle for industry supremacy, expect it to be a rowdy night. Add to that, they’re battling under one roof at Winnipeg’s last Halloween party Nov. 2, 2009 at Republic Nightclub, things could get out of hand.

“It’s about getting all the bars in the city to come together and compete,” said Donavan Robinson, bartender at Alive in the District and one of the organizers of Bar Warz. “We’ll have private bars, bar chains, and Canad Inn bars all going against eachother.”

The bars represented at Bar Warz were selected through nomination forms, with the most nominated bars selected to compete.

Represented by two of their own bartenders, the competing establishments in the hospitality battle royal were Alive in the District, Mystique Nightclub, Tavern United on Regent, Stereo Nightclub, Tavern United Fort Garry, Moxies on Regent, Red Cactus, and Bar Italia. The winner was determined by which bar rang out the highest one-night sales.

Shortly after the final drinks were sold at 2 a.m., the sales were tallied and Stereo Nightclub claimed victory at Bar Warz. The bar took home bragging rights and their bartenders, George Wai and Brian Fosty, split the $2,000 cash prize.

“It’s friendly competition, but it’s still a competition,” said Robinson. “It’s about how much they can promote it and bring out their people. It’s a lot of industry people showing up because it’s people you work with.”

Michael Buffi, 22, is one of two bartenders that represented the Red Cactus at Bar Warz. He’s worked at the Red Cactus for over three years but had never competed in a hospitality competition like this before.

Going into Bar Warz, Buffi said, “Not too sure what to expect, but I know that it will be busy for a Monday night. When you take 16 bartenders and each of them brings a group of people out, that’s easily over a hundred people all looking to buy drinks and support their favourite bar.”

The Red Cactus closed its doors the night of Bar Warz and to have a staff party at Hu’s on First before moving to the competition to support bartenders Buffi and Colin Kilgour.

“Between the Red Cactus and (neighbouring restaurant) Civita, there are 20 people on staff. Almost all of them will be at Republic tonight,” said Buffi the day of the competition. “We’ve also been using word-of-mouth and a little Facebook, so we’ll have a lot of support.”

Robinson hopes to have four Bar Warz events per year. And while the date of the next event hasn’t been set, it will be hosted by Alive in the District over the Christmas holiday. Ideally, Robinson would also like to include a charity in the event.

“We tried to include MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), but they didn’t want anything to do with (Bar Warz),” said Robinson. “We’ll search other options, though. We’d like to give the door cover to a charity and help support others with the event.”

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