The Coolest Shipping Container Bars in the World

Success in business is about thinking outside the box. It is about creativity and finding a new way to present something people have seen before. 

This can come in the form of your branding, your products or services or perhaps even your location. 

Couple this with the current commercial real estate bubble that is growing and you can soon find yourself getting pretty inventive with space and location. 

Shipping containers are one such item that have been put to very creative use in recent years, with conversions being the trend for all manner of properties. Everything from swimming pools to houses and even bars.

Yes, that’s right. Shipping container bars are a real thing and they are awesome.

Keep reading to take a look at some of the coolest shipping container bar conversions around. 

Why a Shipping Container Bar Makes Sense

Whether you are the proprietor or merely a patron, there is a lot of sense in making a bar out of a converted shipping container. 

Let’s take a look at the core benefits of a converted bar. 

Recycling Is Good for the Environment

We all want a healthier world, and recycling something as large as a shipping container is certainly doing you part. As a patron too, you can visit with a clear conscience knowing that you are helping to contribute towards the betterment of the environment.

Lower Start-Up Cost

While you need to pay for the container, the costs of it and the work needed to modify it are much lower than anything you would need for a fixed commercial property. 

Rapid Time to Opening

As you are dealing with a confined space you have the added bonus of getting your bar set up and open quickly. This means you can go from concept to purchase to open in a much quicker fashion than if you have a traditional building. 

The above notwithstanding, the reduce start-up costs and reduced continued overheads also means that customers can be rewarded with prices that are less inclined to rise without warning or reason. This, in turn, will drive profits higher.

Now, let’s take a look at those converted container bars, shall we?

Froebe, Austria

A stunning example of how you can build outdoor bars with a converted shipping container. Austria is known by many for its stunning architecture, and even the modern world is not immune. 

Froebe is an ultra-simplistic example of what a container bar can be, yet it works with an exquisite purpose. 

Simple and powered by hydraulics that opens it up with a simple push of a button it deserves its current location, which happens to be on a busy public plaza nestled between a number of museums and cultural points of interest. 

Starbucks, Washington

Renowned for its hipster mentality and forward-thinking attitude, it should not be a surprise that Starbucks has entered the shipping container bar market. 

Unlike Austria where the simple approach was used to such good effect, for their design, Starbucks decided to get a little more creative. Taking the origins of the containers and combining it with their harbor view location, this coffee bar went all out to pay homage to its past. 

This shipping container coffee bar is a testament to the flexibility and creativity that can be recognized with such a workable base. It also proves that there are many great business ideas for shipping containers, as long as you open your mind to the possibilities. 

The Avenue Eat+Drink, Florida

Another great example of shipping container bars is The Avenue Eat+Drink located in St. Pete, Florida. Set in a neighborhood that embraces the eccentric as one of their own, this was the ideal place for a shipping container bar. 

Unlike the others, this is actually comprised of two 20 foot shipping containers converted together. They even share a retractable roof, so that patrons can enjoy those beautiful Florida evenings in style. 

This special bar even goes so far as to offer 14 different taps along with a more classic drinks menu, offering something for everyone. 

Whitehart Container Bar, Melbourne 

A trendy bar in Melbourne Australia that may be named after a fabled creature of myth and legend, but is working hard at building a legacy all of its own making. Offering everything from craft beers to fine wines and cocktails, it is a downtown location that welcomes everybody. 

A trendy bar that has also helped local artists and bring a little bit of the local Melbourne culture to the people, the Whitehart is the ideal place to chill with your friends of that special someone in your life.

The Whitehart is a shining example of how you can build outdoor bars from shipping containers and create something truly special. 

Shipping Container Bars Could Pave the Future for all Businesses

Granted a bar is the sort of location that can afford to take a risk and be brave with their designs, but their boldness can also pave the way for many other businesses. 

Who knows, shipping container bars could just be the first in a wide range of business to take the world over. 

With their clever incredible diversity and the low costs, it is surely only a matter of time before we see more shipping containers being converted for all manner of reasons. 

Of course, there is more to running a business than just having a cool location. Don’t worry though. We’ve got you covered. Check out some of our other articles today for advice on all things entrepreneurship.