(Blog-Off II Entry) Create an Awesome Local Coffee House

How to Create a Local Coffee House

 

Create a Local Coffee House

Location, Location, Location is the first thing that comes into my mind. So, the amount of foot traffic or lots of foot traffic is of course what you need. But, the square foot of that location will cost more. So, maybe close to a park and always have an area for table and chairs outside. The most important thing to remember is own your inventory, the monthly bills can kill you, so don't rent your equipment. Take your time and find special deals on Craig's List, or local auctions and online.  Don't forget to have many outlets and high speed phone connects for all those computer lovers.  This will become a great success if you keep to your budget.

Things You'll Need:

• Industrial cappuccino machine.
• Industrial veggie juicer.
• counter with stainless steel two sinks.
• Buy Coffee from your local roaster.
• Counter Top
• In front glass refrigerator
• An outside sign made
• Outside and inside table and chairs.
• Of course the cups and all the fine detail of supplies. To many things to write about but, you get an idea
  • 
• Lots of businesses are closing down all the time. Again, the secret is only have your basic bills. Don't buy anyone's shop, you can start with a nice clean fresh location and use your money to create your shop. Offer more then just different kinds of coffee. Organic veggie drinks are a big money maker and all you need is a "How to make different juices book" and on a board behind your counter name your different juices and list the ingredients. Be clever and name them, like the Carrot, Apple, and Ginger will settle your stomach if you are not feeling well. Name it The Healer. Now, only pick about five different kinds of drinks you sell, less is better and you can price them over five or six dollars. People are going "Green" these days, and you are what you eat

1. Now you have Coffee, Juices why not add some books. Go to garage sells and pick up some new looking books and have a section for used books. People sometimes will bring books to you and sell them to you for a very low price. How about adding one more thing ... focus on the locals and maybe display local art and sculptures. It will dress up your shop and you will make a percentage of money on the sale of each item. Be picky and only have really nice items in your store. Always keep your store clean and fresh smelling, the smell of coffee makes people happy. Have games on each table and a couch for the look of home. Don't forget to have enough outlets for computer users. Offer about two items they can order for lunch. Offer snack items that go along with a coffee drink. Play music of a local musician and sell the CDs. Finally, some last suggestions would be to add real trees inside your shop with tables under them. You can trim your trees like umbrella's ... the look will Wow people. How wonderful to sit under a tree while it is snowing outside, sipping your coffee and working on your next article on your computer. Try to buy your trees from the Arbor Day Foundation, and have a sign saying that is where you purchased them. This is just some general ideas, but my head is so full of mind blowing suggestions that I must stop here. This is an adventure, have fun with it and take your time.

 

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a colorful apron with your store' s name on it. Always have it crisp and clean, and for any helpers you might be adding on the help. Have fun with your customer's, remember their names. Make this a home away from home for all that come into your shop. Try to make a theme in your shop, my theme was trees, and the name of my shop was trees. Add a water fountain inside and outside, funshi your space.
• Watch out for leasing equipment, and always have a back-up plan for equipment failure.

Comments

[DarleneSabella]

Hi Jane, it hard to tell another person how much square feet you will need, you have this idea in your mind, so go out and look at different space. If you go to Taos, New Mexico you can pick up lots of wonderful mexican itemss for less then you would pay in other parts of the country. Some of these mom an pop stores run to mexico all the time to pick up product. I love your idea and the big mexican hats, you could hang on the wall. But don't forget to have everything live, trees, plants, vines etc. Let me know if you need any help. Good Luck my friend, Darlene

[Julie]

Good stuff! I am wanting to open a coffee house with mexican theme. How much sq footage should I look for? Rent a space? Lots of questions...but what you wrote was very helpful, thanks!

[Darlene Sabella]

Oh, Jerry that would be great and you must name it "Trees" Coffee House. LOL I hope you do this someday and be sure to keep in touch by following my articles by going to my profile and clicking on follow. You kind words inspire me. Thank you

[Jerry]

Darlene,

Fantastic explaination on how to run and operate a coffee shop. Been thinking about opening one someday in the So. Calif. area and can use this as my step-by-step.

Jerry

[Darlene Sabella]

Thank for your comment Joy, I have this coffee house I created when I lived in Tao's New Mexico. I am glad you enjoyed it.

[Joy Webber]

Thanks for these guidelines Darlene It really does give a practical atep by step process to starting pretty well any kind of business.
I wish I had hat kind of structured self-discipline.
Congratulations. Joy

[Darlene Sabella]

Thank you for the tip, that is a really good idea, why didn't I talk to you sooner LOL, I am done writing, I have to many post as it is...I am glad you liked my post.

[Darlene Sabella]

Hi Mike, thanks for the complement. I have thought about that myself, it seem they only want you to buy a high end coffee drink and heck with the pastry's, not me I had great pastry!

[Mike Browne]

Darlene,

You can design and run any shop I would own. How come coffee shops have such lousy pastries?

[Sean Nelson]

Darlene,

If I ever decide to start a coffee house this is the perfect place to start understanding what's required.

One tip I would share is to try to end your post with a question to help engage people in joining the conversation.

Sean