GWARBAR LLC

What GWARBAR LLC does

GWARBAR LLC operates a single themed bar and restaurant located at 217 W Clay St, Richmond, Virginia, founded in 2015 as a collaboration between the internationally recognized heavy metal/punk band GWAR, restaurateur Travis Croxton (named Richmond Restaurateur of the Year 2014), and Michael Derks (BalSac the Jaws 'o Death, GWAR band member with 30+ years of restaurant experience). The venue is open 4pm–2am seven days a week, serving a full dinner menu (4pm–10pm), a late-night bar menu (after 10pm), and a Happy Hour (4pm–7pm daily). The core product is an irreverent, horror-themed dining and bar experience featuring GWAR-branded menu naming (e.g., GWARtichoke Burger, Demon Eggs, Bonesnapper cocktails), comfort food ranging $4–$16.50, a draft/canned beer program with a co-branded GWARbeer by Champion Brewing, and a specialty cocktail menu priced at $11. Vegan options are integrated throughout.

The business model is direct-to-consumer with no proprietary technology stack. Revenue is generated through on-premise food and beverage sales, third-party delivery via Grubhub, phone-in takeout, and an online merchandise store (branded t-shirts, gift cards) operated through IndieMerch integration. The bar uses an order-at-the-counter self-service model; customers receive numbered tickets and food is delivered to tables. There is no app, no proprietary software, no API surface, and no disclosed AI, data, or technology capabilities. Marketing is driven by organic Facebook activity, earned media coverage in Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Loudwire, Eater DC, and Richmond Magazine, and themed in-venue events.

Customer segments are broadly consumer-facing and heterogeneous — local punk/metal enthusiasts, touring rock musicians, professional/after-work crowd, food enthusiasts including celebrity chefs, and creative community members — with no named enterprise accounts, no B2B contracts, and no recurring customer concentration. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, no parent company, and no multi-unit expansion signals. Operating footprint is single-site within Virginia, with merchandise distributed globally through the online store.

Name

GWARBAR LLC

Legal name

GWARBAR LLC

Website

https://gwarbar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GWARBAR LLC operates a single themed bar and restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, co-founded in 2015 with the GWAR heavy metal band, serving late-night food, craft beer, and cocktails to a broad consumer base spanning music fans, professionals, and tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Themed Restaurant & Bar

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)

Keywords

• Themed restaurant dining
• Craft beer bar
• Live music venue
• Comfort food service
• Metal merchandise retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Primary revenue from serving food and alcoholic beverages directly to dine-in customers. Dinner served 4pm-10pm, late night menu after 10pm, operating until 2am. Customers order at bar and food is brought to their table.
2. Food Delivery/Takeout: Revenue from food delivery through Grubhub platform, as well as phone-in takeout orders at (804) 918-9352.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store sells branded merchandise including men's and women's GWARbar t-shirts at $25 each, and gift cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GWARBAR LLC operates a single-location themed bar and restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 2015 as a collaboration between the heavy metal band GWAR, restaurateur Travis Croxton (Restaurateur of the Year 2014), and GWAR guitarist Michael Derks. The venue serves comfort food and craft beverages within an immersive horror/metal aesthetic inspired by GWAR's mythology, attracting fans, locals, and tourists.

Product overview

GWARBAR LLC operates a single bar and restaurant location in Richmond, Virginia. The business offers a unified dining experience combining a dinner menu, late-night food service, and a full bar program featuring craft beers and cocktails. The establishment is known for its horror punk-themed branding, vegan-friendly options, and irreverent menu item naming. Merchandise and gift cards are sold through an online store integrated with third-party retail platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Themed Restaurant Dining Full-service restaurant offering comfort food menu to walk-in consumers, themed with GWAR band horror/metal aesthetics, decor, and branding for fans and visitors in Richmond, Virginia.
• Themed Bar & Beverage Service Bar service offering craft beer, cocktails, and themed beverages in a GWAR-inspired setting for individual consumers and fans seeking an immersive themed drinking experience.
• Live Entertainment Venue Live music and themed performance space hosting GWAR-related performances and metal/punk acts for fans visiting the venue.
• Branded Merchandise Retail sale of GWAR-themed branded merchandise including apparel, memorabilia, and band-related items for fans and visitors.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Travis CroxtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-founder of GWARbar alongside GWAR band. Described as Richmond's 'Restaurateur of the Year 2014'. Joined forces with GWAR in 2015 to create the restaurant concept, bringing restaurant expertise and initial capital/partnership to the venture.
• Michael Derks (BalSac the Jaws 'o Death)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrought 30+ years of restaurant experience to help design the menu and cocktail program. Played key role in creating the bar and restaurant concept.
• GWAR (The Band)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally known punk/metal band known for theatrical stage shows. Partnered with Travis Croxton in 2015 to open GWARbar as an extension of their brand into the service industry.
• GrubhubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood delivery platform partnership allowing GWARbar to offer delivery services to customers in the Richmond area through the Grubhub marketplace.
• Champion Brewing CompanyminorOthersProduces GWARbeer (5% Pilsner) on draft at $6.75, a co-branded/purple label beer for GWARbar.
• Devil's Backbone Brewing CompanyminorOthersProduces GWAR SMASH canned cocktail at $10, a co-branded alcoholic beverage served at GWARbar.
• Stone BrewingminorOthersDraft beer supplier providing Stone IPA (6.9% IPA) on tap for $7.75.
• Hi-Wire BrewingminorOthersDraft beer supplier providing Bed of Nails Brown Ale (6.1%) on tap for $7.75.
• Port City BrewingminorOthersDraft beer supplier providing Optimal Wit (4.1% Wheat) on tap for $7.75.
• AleworksminorOthersDraft beer supplier providing Superb IPA (6.3%) on tap for $7.75.
• Downeast CideryminorOthersDraft cider supplier providing Downeast Cider (5.1%) on tap for $7.50.
• Väsen Brewing CompanyminorOthersDraft beer supplier providing Väsen Light (4.7%) on tap for $7.75.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Medieval Times: Themed dinner-theater concept combining food service with a branded entertainment experience. Comparable to GWARbar in using a strong entertainment IP as the foundation for a hospitality offering.
• Benihana: Themed teppanyaki restaurant chain where the dining experience itself is the primary draw. Comparable to GWARbar as a concept where atmosphere and theme differentiate the venue from generic competitors.
• Rainforest Cafe: Themed restaurant chain with immersive decor, full bar service, and retail merchandise. Comparable to GWARbar as an experiential concept where branding, theming, and merchandise support the food and beverage core.
• Margaritaville: Jimmy Buffett-themed restaurant and bar chain with tropical theming, full bar program, and merchandise. Comparable to GWARbar as a single-artist/brand-themed eatertainment concept combining food, alcohol, and licensed merchandise.
• Dick's Last Resort: Irreverent, insult-style themed restaurant chain with full bar service. Comparable to GWARbar in its deliberately edgy, non-mainstream brand positioning that targets adults seeking an unconventional dining experience.
• Planet Hollywood: Celebrity and entertainment-themed restaurant chain with memorabilia-driven decor and bar service. Directly comparable to GWARbar as a themed restaurant where the entertainment/franchise brand is the primary draw rather than the cuisine itself.
• House of Blues: Music-themed restaurant and live entertainment venue combining Southern-inspired food with full bar service. Comparable to GWARbar as a music-culture-themed eatertainment concept where the band/genre identity is central to the customer experience.
• Hard Rock Cafe: International chain of music-themed restaurants and bars featuring rock memorabilia, branded merchandise, and bar-driven service models. Directly comparable to GWARbar as a musician/band-themed dining concept with strong brand-driven foot traffic and merchandise revenue.

Regional players

• The Tobacco Company Restaurant: Iconic full-service restaurant and bar in Richmond, VA with multiple floors and entertainment. Comparable to GWARbar as a destination Richmond dining and nightlife venue with a distinct local identity.
• Capital Ale House: Richmond-based craft beer bar and restaurant chain with extensive tap selection and casual food menu. Comparable to GWARbar as a regional Richmond bar-and-food concept with strong craft beer focus and nightlife positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat1 record

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gwarbar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gwarbar-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GWARBAR LLC