Is there a non-chain/franchise coffee shop around you that is successful?

[iamme]

i've always wondered about this.....i see independent coffee shops open up from time to time, but they never seem to stick around or they aren't as busy as Starbucks or other chains.

is there a non-chain coffee shop around you that does well? is there something that seperates it from the rest?

 

[Pepsi90919]

your topic title specifically says starbucks but your post just says "non-chain"... which one do you want

 

[imported_LoKe]

Screw non-chain. I've got 12 Tim Horton's within walking distance.

 

[loup garou]

Yes, lots. Hell, they have carts on the street on every corner that are independently owned.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
your topic title specifically says starbucks but your post just says "non-chain"... which one do you want

non-chain, non-franchise. title edited.

 

[Whisper]

In Baton Rouge there's a chain known as CC's (Community Coffee) that seems to do as well as, if not better than, Starbuck's. I believe I've seen a few independent shops as well, but never stopped in.

I do remember there being a rather successful independent shop in Athens, GA...but never went, so don't remember the name.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i went to tim horton's store #1 on monday.

i was quite underwhelmed.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
your topic title specifically says starbucks but your post just says "non-chain"... which one do you want

non-chain, non-franchise. title edited.

but now the title says "franchsie"...

 

[chickadee]

yes, one that i know of.

http://www.vangoghsearcafe.com/

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Whisper
In Baton Rouge there's a chain known as CC's (Community Coffee) that seems to do as well as, if not better than, Starbuck's. I believe I've seen a few independent shops as well, but never stopped in.

I do remember there being a rather successful independent shop in Athens, GA...but never went, so don't remember the name.

CC's is good, they're all over southern LA. I prefer PJ's though.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i went to tim horton's store #1 on monday.

i was quite underwhelmed.

But coffee costs 1/3 of what a coffee at Starbucks would cost. =p

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i went to tim horton's store #1 on monday.

i was quite underwhelmed.

But coffee costs 1/3 of what a coffe at Starbucks would cost. =p

i was more referring to the experience of going to the first store.

but the coffee is decent, even if i get tea all the time.

 

[DurocShark]

As a rule, the only successful ones are the carts set up to service captive audiences like in office building lobbys.

The Caribou Coffee by my house just moved, and an independant opened up there (I guess that Caribou bought all new equipment). The new place seems pretty cool, coffee is open market bean which means they can be picky about the bean and the roast. Might just work.

Though I still prefer Dietrich's.

 

[preslove]

This place Maude's has been open downtown for over 10 years. They actually expanded recently. They survive because a large variety of clientel hangs out through the night.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: preslove
They survive because a large variety of clientel hangs out through the night.

That's one thing that really disgusts me about CO. The coffee shops close at like 6. It was a favorite pastime of mine to take the wife to a coffee shop and just hang out for a couple hours talking and drinking coffee.

1. Cheap date.
2. Impresses the heck out of your woman (that you want to actually talk to her without a tv on)
3. ???
4. Profit! (nookie!)

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Whisper
In Baton Rouge there's a chain known as CC's (Community Coffee) that seems to do as well as, if not better than, Starbuck's. I believe I've seen a few independent shops as well, but never stopped in.

I do remember there being a rather successful independent shop in Athens, GA...but never went, so don't remember the name.

CC's is good, they're all over southern LA. I prefer PJ's though.

I don't drink coffee much, but I do seem to like CC's better than Starbuck's. Never seen/been to a PJ's, though.

There is one more "independent" store I forgot to mention: it's named (I believe) Ritazza, and the word independent is in quotation marks because it's run by LSU. However, it's definitely not a chain, and it does very well.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: iamme
i've always wondered about this.....i see independent coffee shops open up from time to time, but they never seem to stick around or they aren't as busy as Starbucks or other chains.

is there a non-chain coffee shop around you that does well? is there something that separates it from the rest?

YES!

I live in a very small town and a few years ago we had a coffee shop open in what used to be a KFC. The place is called "Stir Crazy" and they seem to be doing very well. I have never been there but I understand that you can spend $7.50 for a cup of coffee and the parking lot is always full.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Whisper

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Whisper
In Baton Rouge there's a chain known as CC's (Community Coffee) that seems to do as well as, if not better than, Starbuck's. I believe I've seen a few independent shops as well, but never stopped in.

I do remember there being a rather successful independent shop in Athens, GA...but never went, so don't remember the name.

CC's is good, they're all over southern LA. I prefer PJ's though.

I don't drink coffee much, but I do seem to like CC's better than Starbuck's. Never seen/been to a PJ's, though.

There is one more "independent" store I forgot to mention: it's named (I believe) Ritazza, and the word independent is in quotation marks because it's run by LSU. However, it's definitely not a chain, and it does very well.

PJ's is all over New Orleans. Last I heard they were spreading all over the southeast...figured there'd be a couple in BR by now, I'm sure I saw a couple while my parents were living there..

Ritazza is a chain/supplier. They used to do Au Bon Pain's coffee, and they supply a lot of hotels and hospitals as well. Think Sysco or Green Mountain (in the coffee world).

LOL, just checked PJs site, there is one on the LSU campus! Also, they serve wine now too?! Definitely a NO company. :laugh:

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Whisper

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: Whisper
In Baton Rouge there's a chain known as CC's (Community Coffee) that seems to do as well as, if not better than, Starbuck's. I believe I've seen a few independent shops as well, but never stopped in.

I do remember there being a rather successful independent shop in Athens, GA...but never went, so don't remember the name.

CC's is good, they're all over southern LA. I prefer PJ's though.

I don't drink coffee much, but I do seem to like CC's better than Starbuck's. Never seen/been to a PJ's, though.

There is one more "independent" store I forgot to mention: it's named (I believe) Ritazza, and the word independent is in quotation marks because it's run by LSU. However, it's definitely not a chain, and it does very well.

PJ's is all over New Orleans. Last I heard they were spreading all over the southeast...figured there'd be a couple in BR by now, I'm sure I saw a couple while my parents were living there..
Ritazza is a chain/supplier. They used to do Au Bon Pain's coffee, and they supply a lot of hotels and hospitals as well. Think Sysco or Green Mountain (in the coffee world).

If either of you ever travel up to northern louisiana there is a nice place in Ruston called The Frothy Monkey.

 

[montanafan]

Yes, we have one in our small town that is very successful, they just bought the building next door to expand. I think their lattes are better than Starbucks' and they have a variety of homemade pastries and other desserts that are excellent as well. They serve meals as well, not a full menu, just a daily special like Mexican on Tuesday etc, and they have chicken salad or tuna salad croissants, and potato soup in a bread bowl every day. They also have a wide variety of teas and iced or frozen drinks.

If you're asking this from a business perspective. I don't think they were doing very well at first when they were all about the coffees, espressos, lattes, etc., and a few pastries, but when they added the specialty pastries and desserts and the limited, but very good lunch and dinner items, the business really took off. It just took them some experimenting and a while to find their niche among the local places.

 

[Skeeedunt]

Temple coffee in downtown Sac is great - http://www.sacramentomidtown.com/temple/templecafe.shtml . I guess I don't really know if they're "successful" or not.

 

[drinkmorejava]

lol, no, I worked at one, the manager was a clueless bitch. While I was there they were bringing in $200 a day and were losing much more than that in wages alone. It's still around, but talking to the workers it's not doing much better.

 

[gotsmack]

I'm thinking about opening a coffee house in NJ by Giant's Stadium. I would like to hear opinions as well.

So it sounds like the straight coffee and desserts are a bad idea. I'll need to add in a limited lunch and dessert menu

 

[deftron]

There's an independent across the street from Starbuck's here

They're both pretty busy

 

[brtspears2]

Yes, but only because they are open late for college students to hang out, and they got interesting local bands.