General Manager

General Manager

Garage Sale Vintage — Fifth + Broadway | Downtown Nashville

The General Manager (GM) at Garage Sale Vintage’s Fifth + Broadway location is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of a high-volume retail and bar environment in the heart of Downtown Nashville.

The GM oversees all aspects of store operations, including retail, bar service, staffing, customer experience, inventory, sales performance, training, and adherence to company policies and procedures. This role requires a hands-on leader who can effectively manage a fast-paced environment, lead a diverse team, and deliver an exceptional experience to both local customers and visitors to Nashville.

The GM is responsible for driving sales and profitability while maintaining the unique culture, energy, and customer experience that define Garage Sale Vintage.

The Fifth + Broadway location operates in a dynamic, high-traffic downtown environment. The GM must be prepared to adapt staffing, customer service, and operational priorities based on fluctuations in tourism, events, weekends, holidays, nightlife, and overall foot traffic.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIESBAR OPERATIONS

• Maintain established bar margins and monitor bar sales weekly.
• Monitor customer intoxication levels and confidently and professionally address or remove unruly or overly intoxicated customers when necessary.
• Oversee all bar and food training and ensure staff consistently follow GSV procedures, service standards, and health and safety requirements.
• Maintain exceptional cleanliness and organization behind the bar at all times.
• Ensure staff consistently clean, sanitize, restock, and maintain bar areas in accordance with health and safety standards.
• Train and schedule staff for all required bar and food preparation.
• Ensure bartenders are properly trained in mixology, preparation, product knowledge, and taste testing.
• Order and manage all bar and store supplies, including food, liquor, beer, wine, mixers, cleaning supplies, bags, and other operational necessities.
• Maintain accurate beginning and ending bar inventory and submit required reports to the Area Manager monthly.
• Monitor purchasing and ordering against inventory levels and established budgets.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of all menus, promotions, and featured offerings and ensure staff are educated accordingly.
• Keep all bar refrigerators fully stocked, organized, and visually presentable.
• Maintain bar merchandising according to Store Merchandising standards.
• Train staff to consistently identify and maximize upselling opportunities, including offering drinks or shots with applicable transactions and using approved slogans and incentives.
• Ensure bartenders consistently ask, "Single or Double?" when applicable.
• Conduct interviews for prospective employees and provide input and recommendations to management regarding hiring decisions.

BAR + RETAIL OPERATIONS/SALES

• Maintain current knowledge of store promotions, sales initiatives, new products, and company updates and communicate them effectively to staff.
• Ensure employees understand and utilize GSV’s four core sales tools: in-store sales incentives, slogans, business model, and ethos.
• Drive sales by creating enthusiasm around GSV products, vintage merchandise, vinyl, and the overall store concept.
• Translate that enthusiasm into a high-energy customer experience for both Nashville locals and visitors.
• Begin each shift with a daily staff huddle covering sales goals, traffic expectations, promotions, staffing, operational priorities, and customer service expectations.
• Monitor daily customer traffic and maintain accurate visitor counts according to company procedures.
• Once permanent door counters are installed, maintain the company-established 35–40% conversion target and submit traffic data to the Director of Operations as required.
• Track hourly traffic and communicate hourly sales and conversion goals to the team.
• Ensure every customer is warmly acknowledged and greeted upon entering the store.
• Oversee restocking and recovery procedures to ensure merchandise remains fully stocked, organized, and front-faced.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe stockroom with clear access to back-stock merchandise.
• Obtain approval from the Store Merchandising Team before making changes to store merchandising.
• Stay current on merchandising updates and ensure the team follows all established standards.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of the company return policy and resolve customer concerns professionally and effectively.
• Collaborate weekly with the Area Manager to ensure the Fifth + Broadway location consistently meets company standards.
• Understand vendor, wholesale, and buy/sell/trade procedures and direct new inquiries to the appropriate website for appointments or applications.
• Train staff on vendor and buy/sell/trade procedures.
• Develop and maintain strong product knowledge across vintage merchandise, apparel, vinyl, and other store offerings.
• Manage relationships with all vintage vendors operating within the store.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

• Recruit, hire, train, coach, and manage all store employees.
• Build and maintain a strong team culture centered around customer service, accountability, enthusiasm, and professionalism.
• Ensure all employees follow food and beverage safety guidelines and maintain required ServSafe certifications.
• Complete all required onboarding and training checklists before new employees are scheduled for regular shifts.
• Create and maintain schedules in accordance with company staffing policies, with staffing levels strategically aligned with peak traffic periods, weekends, holidays, promotions, special events, and other business needs.
• Coach employees and document performance issues when staff members do not meet GSV standards, policies, or expectations.
• Submit employee timecards accurately and on time.
• Lead by example by consistently providing exceptional customer service.
• Train and coach employees on GSV customer service standards and expectations.
• Maintain a positive, professional, energetic, and welcoming environment for employees and customers.
• Train staff to approach every customer with an open heart and warm welcome.
• Educate employees on unique bar offerings, food menu items, merchandise, vinyl, vintage products, and other store offerings.
• Train all staff on Square POS systems and regularly monitor transactions to ensure proper checkout procedures are followed.
• Train and coach staff on effective upselling techniques and ensure opportunities are consistently identified.

The GM is expected to:

• Anticipate and respond to significant changes in customer volume throughout the day.
• Adjust staffing and floor coverage to support peak periods and maintain an exceptional customer experience.
• Maintain strong communication with the team during high-volume periods.
• Ensure the store remains clean, organized, fully stocked, and guest-ready throughout the day.
• Balance the demands of both retail and bar operations without allowing one area to negatively impact the other.
• Maintain a professional and welcoming environment for a diverse customer base that includes Nashville residents, tourists, event attendees, and nightlife customers.
• Remain calm, organized, and solutions-oriented during high-volume and high-pressure periods.

GENERAL MANAGER QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and direct a team.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, team-building, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume retail and hospitality environment.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to track and achieve sales and operational goals.
• Positive, enthusiastic, and professional attitude.
• Strong administrative and recordkeeping skills.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of shrink and loss prevention practices.
• Ability to track budgets, expenses, purchasing, sales, and inventory.
• Strong organizational skills related to ordering, reporting, and bar inventory management.
• Familiarity with bartending practices and the ability to train and coach bartenders.
• Ability to work a minimum of 40 hours per week in-store, including nights, weekends, holidays, and high-volume periods.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States.