Barhoppers now have a one-stop source for finding the cheapest drink deals and night clubs around Gainesville.
On Jan. 1, UF finance juniors Justin Aiello and Daniel Noste launched GatorNites.com, a Web site profiling the night clubs and bars in town.
Since its launch, the site has received more than 5,500 hits.
Aiello and Noste dreamed up the Web site while taking an entrepreneurship course together.
After pooling their resources, Aiello said they came up with $5,000 and used only $1,000 to launch the Web site.
He said the rest was spent on promoting their product.
"It's a market that hasn't been saturated," Aiello said. "The only reliable, current source for drink specials is monthly print publications."
"The site was really easy to navigate," said Alexa Stickel, a UF psychology junior who found the XS free ladies' night special on GatorNites.com. "I liked that they offer prizes and raffles. I don't think you get that benefit with any other site."
On Wednesday night, the site's owners were at XS promoting their new site.
"The students at UF don't want to go to 10 different Web sites to find out where they want to go," Aiello said. "They want to go to one."
GatorNites.com profiles bars and clubs who pay a monthly advertising fee to be featured on the site and post drink specials.
Students can scope out the scene for free and leave feedback on what they're looking to get out of their club or bar experience.
"There's so many options in Gainesville, so many bars or clubs out there, it narrows down what's out there," Stickel said.
The owners and their president of marketing, UF finance junior Eric Wolf, do all the legwork, Aiello said.
He said they search for the most popular scenes and try to convince bar and club owners to give students what they're craving.
Each profile gives a description of the club or bar, its age limit, music and drink specials. Some clubs even allow for online bottle reservations.
