Tryst Nooks...

[eldub]

The location of our new coffee shop used to be a high end clothing store. There are two fairly large dressing rooms toward the back of the shop. My first thought was to use for storage. Then I started thinking about using the space for semi-private sitting nooks. Maybe a neighboring business owner would like some privacy to conduct interviews away from their store. Maybe a couple would like a bit of privacy to enjoy an intimate pot of coffee/tea.

I know many shop owners frown on folks "hanging out" in valuable seating space, but we plan on being more of a retail/wholesale bean by the pound space with walk-in customers having ability to sample our offerings. When I lived in the Bay area of NoCal, we frequented an Ethiopian restaurant in Berkeley that offered semi-private seating with curtains around a few booths. I always liked the concept.

What do you y'all think?

lw

 

[eldub]

Thanks for the reply. I'm happy you can appreciate my vision on this matter.

I might be underselling our shop, as far as sit down customers go, but doubt it. As our main thrust won't be coffee by the cup, we're only planning on seating for 16 at the bar and tables spread through out the main area. And we won't be offering any food at first. (Pastries MAY be brought in by an outside source.)

Our sales focus will be freshly roasted beans sold at wholesale, through outside sales efforts to local entities such as other cafes, hospitals, corporations in tall buildings, etc. Retail beans by the pound will be offered in-store and on-line. I mostly envision our coffee by the cup as a way to entice retail customers to try our product and subsequently buy our beans by the pound to brew at home.

So I'm looking for a bit different business model employed by most coffee shops in the area. However, I guess there could be worse problems than to find more folks than planned want to come in and sit a spell over a cup or pot of coffee or tea.

lw

 

[eldub]

The customers who come in to our bean roasting cafe be retail shoppers and those looking for a cup of coffee. We plan on going to potential wholesale customers place of business. There is storage area in back of building already as well as small office. The space is only about 1,200 sq ft. Can't really sub divide.

Thanks for the input.

lw