Microsoft to allow on-campus pub after all

It won't be last call for Microsoft's pub after all.

Less than a week after pulling the plug on plans to have a bar as part of an expansion of its Redmond campus, the software giant surprised the bar owner by reversing that decision, according to a report on TechFlash. Microsoft on Friday cited the sensitive business environment as canceling plans for the pub, which was planned as part of a collection of restaurants and stores that were due to open this week at the company's new Entertainment and Devices unit headquarters.

A compromise decision allows beer and wine to be served at the Spitfire pub after 3 p.m., but only for scheduled and catered events, according to the report. The pub, which is now expected to open by the end of the month, will also be open for lunch, but alcohol will not be served.

"The Commons" will feature a collection of popular Pacific Northwest eateries as well as various cell phone shops, a salon, and other outlets. The Commons is surrounded by four buildings for the entertainment unit, one of which is already occupied and another that is due to be filled in the next week or so. By mid-July, Microsoft expects all four buildings to be occupied.

[Shawn_Anarchy]

this is actually cool!

[Seaspray0]

This will be Microsoft Pub Business edition? <hehe>

[Mr_Rage]

So... will someone be able to get an iPhone at the cell phone shop?

[cvaldes1831]

This is completely asinine. Restaurants make money selling booze. As a matter of fact, many of them use it to subsidize the kitchen (high food and labor costs). They already have the beer & wine license, open up the damned bar.

Also, beer is best fresh. You want fast turnover for your kegs. You really don't want kegs still around waiting for "scheduled & catered events."

As a longtime MSFT shareholder, this is just another reminder why this bumbling management has done nothing to increase MSFT's performance vis-a-vis with the S&P 500 over the past five years. Ballmer, you S-U-C-K.

[assman]

Get over yourself. Speaking as a shareholder as well, I'm glad Microsoft provides incentives for their employees and offers ways of keeping morale up. Sure Ballmer is useless but this has nothing to do with him.

[cvaldes1831]

Your reading comprehension sucks.

I did not say that I'm against this pub. As a matter of fact, I *want* them to serve wine & beer. What I'm against is this ham-handed approach. I think Microsoft should provide enjoyable benefits for their employees.

Please read more carefully. Thank you.

[TamarC]

I'm sorry, but it's a really bad idea to serve alcohol while you expect your people to work in the day. I rather keep my coder sober thanks.

[fsfranco]

I don't think it is a bad idea to serve alcohol when you finished your work day.
How nice it would be to gather with your buddies to drink some beer right after a hard day's work?
Right after leaving the work you can have a moment to relax, speak the hell of your boss and de-stress...
Next morning you are good to go and all freshened up.

[loose_screw]

MS employees sure have it tough. *Roll eyes*

[aMUSICsite]

Maybe there will be a few original ideas come out of Redmond if they allowed their workers to socialize over a pint.

[Num1Pirate]

either way they need some of those Microsoft Surface stations, because the ideas will flow as the beer does.

[ChrisLang]

Microsoft better have plans for someplace close to drown their sorrows as Google closes in. Unbuntou here I come. I already run my business with Google Friend Connect, all I do is boot the machine with W2K, why not go whole hog?

Chris Lang
http://googlingsocial.com

[Seaspray0]

Alot of military bases have a bar somewhere on the grounds. It's good for moral.

[FreemenLowell]

Cut MS some slack, it nothing to do with them being teetotallers or corporate jerks. they just realized at the last minute that they were about to open a new can of worms.

?scheduled gatherings and catered events.? read - ?our legal department just realized we need a way to exclude the temps from drinking on campus??