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Sarasota's first private karaoke rooms open

Private room concept, big in Japan, gains rave reviews from customers

Sarasota, Nov 28, 2008 -- Kroaky's Karaoke, Sarasota's first private karaoke rooms, opened for business this week to rave reviews from customers, who

were won over by the ability to party with friends in their own private room. 

Invented in 1984 in Japan, private karaoke rooms are the most popular way to enjoy karaoke in Asia, where karaoke is more popular than going to the cinema. Many Americans first saw private karaoke rooms in the Bill Murray/Scarlett Johansen hit movie, "Lost in Translation".

Unlike American-style karaoke, which usually takes place in a bar, Kroaky's only has private rooms -- there is no public bar area. 14 modern and stylish rooms of different sizes cater for groups from 4 to 25 people. Each room's decor is highlighted by customizable disco-light effects.

Would-be American Idols and friends can choose from an extensive song library of 17,000 songs from all genres and time periods, up to the current Top 40, using a specialized remote control. Wireless microphones and an advanced karaoke sound system improves even the poorest singers.

Kroaky's was started by Mark and Mary Devlin, who lived in Japan for 18 years before settling in Sarasota last December. Says Mary Devlin, CEO, "We used to have such a good time with friends in karaoke rooms in Tokyo, we thought they'd be great for Sarasota." Mark continues "Unlike public karaoke, when you're in a private room with your friends there's no pressure to be a great singer. You can relax and try different songs out until you find a song that works for you."

A surprising feature of the rooms is an intercom system that lets customers contact the kitchen directly to order food and drink. Kroaky's offers beer, wine and champagne, as well as menu including thick and thin crust pizza, quesadillas, mozzarella sticks, breaded shrimp, chicken tenders, onion rings and fries. Mary says, "Just like in Japan, you can come to Kroaky's, have some drinks, and eat good food while your friends sing to you."

According to Mark, with only word-of-mouth and some Internet advertising, Kroaky's is already generating good walk-in business, with over 10 groups coming in each day and evening. There is a huge variety in customers, ranging from high-school and college students to "girls'" nights out, businessmen treating their clients, and singing seniors during the daytime. 

Mary notes that many of calls to the business so far have been for birthday parties. "Kid's love to get up and sing and dance and we are already receiving bookings at weekends and afternoons for kid's birthday and Christmas parties". 

In these difficult economic times, Kroaky's is good value: Room rental is only $5 per hour per person plus food and drink. Typically, customers rent rooms for two hours and can extend as long as they like.

Customers can call a toll-free number for reservations: (941) 926-3434 and can logon to http://www.kroakys.com to read information, blog updates and join Kroaky’s Facebook and MySpace Groups. Kroaky’s is open from 3pm ~2am weekdays and 11am ~ 2am on weekdays. Closed Monday.

Kroaky's is on U.S. 41, between Proctor and Bee Ridge. The Devlins encourage customers to drop by and have a look, "People don't quite know what to expect, but when they see the rooms they get it right away. Within minutes they're singing, laughing and having a great time."

About Kroaky's Karaoke

Kroaky's Karaoke is a private room karaoke business started by Mark & Mary Devlin in Sarasota in November 2008. Kroaky's aims to be the premier private room karaoke chain in the U.S. with expansion planned throughout Florida and the rest of the United States. The company currently employs 15 people.

About Mark & Mary Devlin

Mark and Mary Devlin (both 42) studied Production engineering at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland. They moved to Japan in 1989 where they worked as computer consultants to the finance industry. In 1993 they started Tokyo Classified (later renamed to Metropolis (http://www.metropolis.co.jp) which grew from a four-page classified ads sheet into Japan's No 1 English magazine: a full color, glossy, 80 page weekly city, entertainment and living guide for English speakers in Tokyo. In 2000 they started Japan Today (http://www.japantoday.com) which became Japan's largest news and discussion site in English, and is one of the world's top 10,000 websites. In September 2007 they sold the majority of their holdings in these two businesses and moved to Sarasota, Florida where they set up the first Kroaky's Karaoke.

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Media Contact: Mark or Mary Devlin

Kroaky’s Karaoke

4400 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota Florida, 34231
Office Tel: (941) 388-7541    Fax: (941) 388-7541   Email: info@kroakys.com