Opinions on this please.

[SteveG]

Getting ready to re-enter the world of the self employed next year so will be throwing out several ideas over the next few months. One of my favorites that has stayed with me for a while now is a coffee shop, slightly different twist.

The basic idea would be a coffee shop designed to attract those looking for good conversation and company, even the possibility of meeting some one of the opposite sex.
I won't really get into the motiffe at this point beyond just providing a calm envirement conducive to a good social setting, Lots of ideas here but none set in rock.
The main twist I am looking for opinions on is the idea of having tables set around that can seat say 8 or 10 at a time. There is a keyboard at each table that would allow the patrons to update an electronic bullitin board as to what topics are being discussed at any given table. It will also say open or closed or members of a group only etc. Each table will also have intenet hook ups. (plugs) No food beyond snacks and fresh pastry possibly cooked on sight for the aroma! If I didn't explain this clearly please ask questions. Thanks Steve

[myfayt]

Is the reason for this to also help you get a date? or you just want to see others happy?

I will start it off with that question.

[SteveG]

I have plenty of dates, I have just always been a coffee shop person and enjoyed the casual conversations, and relationships that often go with the coffee shop crowd, I know quite a few people who choose not to go to bars anymore but are looking for other social venues. The meeting the opposite sex thing is not the main focus by any stretch the main focus is a place where people can go and almost count on having some good conversation. Steve

[myfayt]

Ok just wondering, because as an owner, you can be charged or shut down for flirting with people in your business.

But other than that. Go for it.

[DanaKS]

Honestly, I don't think it would do well. People out for leisure don't want to be told what topic they have to talk about.

However, I do think that a coffee shop thats for meeting singles is a great idea-you need some type of idea to play into that.

[sukie]

Go back to the 80's twist that died. How about smaller tables each with a inhouse phone with the phone number for that table displayed above it. That is fun mingling.

There used to be bars that did this and it was a blast calling and meeting people.

[SteveG]

As far as attracting the opposite sex goes. My theory is that if you try and plant hot chicks to attract guys you will end up with a bunch of guys just chaseing chicks around who don't want to be bothered. However if you simply provide a nice comfortable envirement it should attract both sexes. I have been a hard core coffee shop patron my entire adult life and have watched the dynamics of the various shops change and grow or change and shrink. Good conversations seems to be the biggest attraction, so good coffee and a good place to talk seem to be the best ingredients. The idea for the open conversation tables would only be a portion of availabe seating. Topics could be any topic or no topic at all, tables could be open or closed. Steve

[Proph]

you are right about that, any kind of "meeting the opposite sex" thing is going to end up being a sausage fest. I also understand what you are trying to achieve but i see that today on every 3rd street corner. those business do ok but nothing great.

my suggestion would to put a spin on it. what i mean by that is during the day (6am-4pm) do the coffee shop thing, however i wouldn't be like everyone else. every coffee shop i see has big tables and little tables and what i have noticed over the years is anyone who comes in alone, gets coffee and sits alone (by choice) or leaves. people who come in with other people stay in that group. forget the table idea and go with couches and little coffee tables everywhere, maybe a small section for people who are using laptops (DONT FORGET THE POWER STRIPS, i hate it when 20 people are huddled around one power plug). Anyway here comes the twist, anyone can go 5 ft and hit a starbucks or something similar, why don't you market it as exotic coffee, find some weird blends or things out of the ordinary and make that your focus. why you ask? because social people not bar hopping like yourself are also inclined to try new things and exotic coffee shops with stuff they have never had before will attract that crowd.

now at 4pm, don't be a full on bar but get a liquer license and go after the casual wine bar type crowd with using the hook of exotic type mixed drinks etc.. but don't blast loud techno or rap keep the same coffee shop feel with the atmosphere but luring people in with trying exotic mixed drinks in a casual atmosphere, that will also attract people like yourself. btw don't build a big long bar either, that way people have to use the coffee shop couches and will naturally inter-mingle.<-booze helps this alot>

not trying to be rude BTW just my opinion and some constructive criticism. although i am a little agitated at the moment because i am getting a cold and the vending machine just ate two of my quarters so it may have come off that way.

[SteveG]

Proph, good feed back. I can visualize what you are talking about. I like the idea about the exotic coffee. I am hoping to attract a crowd of the more conservative or nerdy types and artsy crafty types. I want to stay away from the hip scene. I have a two fold reason for wanting a coffee shop, I am retiring soon so am looking a bit at a labor of love and also a place to run and manage other ventures I may be playing with from the backroom. You need to sell a lot of coffee to make one pay for itself. Another thought I had on the coffee shop was going into an industrail area and actually setting up in a small warehouse where folks could bring their projects and even make a bit of a mess if they chose to. This would take longer to build up a clientele as opposed to a higher traffic area, but would be easier to target a specific type of customer. Steve

[Proph]

exotic coffee can cost a wee bit more than regular coffee :-), the reason i also added in servering exotic drinks in the afternoon and night (close at 9 or 10 pm, if people want to get totally trashed they can go somewhere else after 10) is that the exotic drinks have a huge mark up and the business at night would more than make up for any shortcomings in margins on during the coffee hours. i don't think you would get a ton of the hip scene since the hip scene is still looking for loud music and women in a darkened room. one idea that would be nice for the nerdy scene though is to have a couple of flat screens on the wall showing live comments from people actually in the shop (no comments from outside the shops wifi range, where they can vote good or bad on new coffee or mixed drinks at night and post comments on other things that everyone can see. kinda like when you go to buffalo wild wings and play the trivia game, you don't extactly know who are you playing against but you know they are there. depending on the conversation going on it would probably also get people wanting to meet someone who just posted a comment etc...

just another idea. good luck.

[SteveG]

Good thoughts, I like that idea with the screen! Not sure if drinks would be practical but definitely worth looking into. I don't know much about the laws concerning alchol.Steve

[HamiltonIL]

Getting ready to re-enter the world of the self employed next year so will be throwing out several ideas over the next few months. One of my favorites that has stayed with me for a while now is a coffee shop, slightly different twist.

The basic idea would be a coffee shop designed to attract those looking for good conversation and company, even the possibility of meeting some one of the opposite sex.
I won't really get into the motiffe at this point beyond just providing a calm envirement conducive to a good social setting, Lots of ideas here but none set in rock.
The main twist I am looking for opinions on is the idea of having tables set around that can seat say 8 or 10 at a time. There is a keyboard at each table that would allow the patrons to update an electronic bullitin board as to what topics are being discussed at any given table. It will also say open or closed or members of a group only etc. Each table will also have intenet hook ups. (plugs) No food beyond snacks and fresh pastry possibly cooked on sight for the aroma! If I didn't explain this clearly please ask questions. Thanks Steve

You are having people gather physically to interact online? I like the idea of having a coffee shop with the main theme being social interaction, but most people need to be forced to interact and the physical interaction is why people gather. Give them a social reason to leave their house and come to you. Do high energy (caffeine related) events that bring people together. Embrace your initial idea of a gathering coffee shop, you can do so much more with that then a plugged in environment.

My Two Cents

[Proph]

thats the thing though, people are trending tword being plugged in. a great example is text messaging. if you want to talk to someone why not just call them? people are starting not to, they will have long conversations via text message or IM, a conversation that would last 10 minutes on the phone people will spend 40 minutes typing out.

I personally believe the reason behind is that using a "plugged in" media removes some of the social awkardness alot of people have problems with. it is far easier to tell someone they suck via text message than to their face. the reverse is true when meeting a new person, hence why we have so many dating websites.

[GameAddicts2010]

Getting ready to re-enter the world of the self employed next year so will be throwing out several ideas over the next few months. One of my favorites that has stayed with me for a while now is a coffee shop, slightly different twist.

The basic idea would be a coffee shop designed to attract those looking for good conversation and company, even the possibility of meeting some one of the opposite sex.
I won't really get into the motiffe at this point beyond just providing a calm envirement conducive to a good social setting, Lots of ideas here but none set in rock.
The main twist I am looking for opinions on is the idea of having tables set around that can seat say 8 or 10 at a time. There is a keyboard at each table that would allow the patrons to update an electronic bullitin board as to what topics are being discussed at any given table. It will also say open or closed or members of a group only etc. Each table will also have intenet hook ups. (plugs) No food beyond snacks and fresh pastry possibly cooked on sight for the aroma! If I didn't explain this clearly please ask questions. Thanks Steve

You can also add a stage and host several creative events such as open mic poetry or art showings. And since we are moving toward a plugged in society, you can also have these events streamed on the internet live, then use clips from them for marketing purposes. Just my $0.02. Good luck.

[rogercbryan]

Getting ready to re-enter the world of the self employed next year so will be throwing out several ideas over the next few months. One of my favorites that has stayed with me for a while now is a coffee shop, slightly different twist.

The basic idea would be a coffee shop designed to attract those looking for good conversation and company, even the possibility of meeting some one of the opposite sex.
I won't really get into the motiffe at this point beyond just providing a calm envirement conducive to a good social setting, Lots of ideas here but none set in rock.
The main twist I am looking for opinions on is the idea of having tables set around that can seat say 8 or 10 at a time. There is a keyboard at each table that would allow the patrons to update an electronic bullitin board as to what topics are being discussed at any given table. It will also say open or closed or members of a group only etc. Each table will also have intenet hook ups. (plugs) No food beyond snacks and fresh pastry possibly cooked on sight for the aroma! If I didn't explain this clearly please ask questions. Thanks Steve

I've heard people talk about a fad that was popular in the 70's that was like this. People would come into a lounge and sit at large tables and talk. Each person had a phone in front of them and there was a map of what number to dial for each phone. If you saw someone you wanted to talk to you could call them and chat them up.

Your idea is more of a modern version. Remember though I did use the word fad. You'd have to write your business plan two ways: 1- Longterm sustainability and then also 2- A contingency plan for a 1-2 year fad. This would be a key element to managing your investment in the project.

I'm not going to say this is a good or bad idea... I'm just going to use the word interesting for now... let me know what you come up with.