Tea (rec.drink.tea) Discussion relating to tea, the world's second most consumed beverage (after water), made by infusing or boiling the leaves of the tea plant (C. sinensis or close relatives) in water.

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Default Came close to actually buying space for a cafe/tea shop...

But the owner of the space wanted coffee and sandwiches to be served
as well... I almost caved, but just can't do it. I am fairly certain
that coffee is a necessary evil to stay afloat, but I just don't want
the smell or the associated noise. I'd rather not do it at all. So
sadly I passed.

I'm not against serving some basic coffee (but high quality like Blue
Mountain, etc.) maybe 2 regular and a decaf that rotate BUT the smell
is just too strong and would overtake everything else which is a
dealbreaker. I think I just have to keep working the numbers and
figure out a way to make tea-only work, which right now seems like it
would have to be some other separate venture like art.

Very frustrating and I have agonized for so long, I can totally
sympathize with anyone who has ever taken on this quest outside of
Teavana.

- Dominic
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Default Came close to actually buying space for a cafe/tea shop...

Dominic T. wrote:
> But the owner of the space wanted coffee and sandwiches to be served
> as well... I almost caved, but just can't do it. I am fairly certain
> that coffee is a necessary evil to stay afloat, but I just don't want
> the smell or the associated noise. I'd rather not do it at all. So
> sadly I passed.
>
> I'm not against serving some basic coffee (but high quality like Blue
> Mountain, etc.) maybe 2 regular and a decaf that rotate BUT the smell
> is just too strong and would overtake everything else which is a
> dealbreaker. I think I just have to keep working the numbers and
> figure out a way to make tea-only work, which right now seems like it
> would have to be some other separate venture like art.
>
> Very frustrating and I have agonized for so long, I can totally
> sympathize with anyone who has ever taken on this quest outside of
> Teavana.
>
> - Dominic

Why not have the coffee machines only in a certain area with vents above
it? Perhaps not perfect, but should help. Just a thought

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Default Came close to actually buying space for a cafe/tea shop...

On Jun 9, 11:45*am, Wissnod > wrote:
>
> Why not have the coffee machines only in a certain area with vents above
> it? Perhaps not perfect, but should help. Just a thought
>


Kinda my thought... I had thought of brewing the coffee in the rear
and then just having it in air pots up front to serve from. I think
the issue is that everyone wants lattes/cappuccino which requires all
of the noise and smell... I'd bet that even if I did sell regular cups
of coffee no one would buy them. It has to have a ratio of 0.1 ppm
coffee to 16 oz. of sugar/cream/water/syrup.

eh, the time wasn't right I guess... it'll happen when it happens. I
mainly didn't want to compromise my goal after as much time, thought,
and effort I have given it over the years. I'd rather not do it.

- Dominic
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Default Came close to actually buying space for a cafe/tea shop...

I was talking to the owner of my local tea shoppe who incorporated in
January so he can sell franchises. I was talking to him about the
apparent lack of tea shoppes in the San Diego area. He said something
curious. He said you need a population of 100,000 with no competition
to support a tea shoppe. Im sure that was within a given radius which
wasnt mentioned. From what Ive seen even if you do survive youre
doing it for the love not the money. If you get people in the store
theyll usually buy something. My phone company now is sitting up free
wifi spots around town. The closest two are Starbucks and a McD. Ill
mention to the local owner he should look into it. I think you need a
value added enticer.

Jim

PS A guy set up a coffee stand right in the middle of a nearby empty
retail center parking lot. When I saw this I said great idea. Right
on a busy corner with easy in easy out. I never saw the guy sell a
cup. Less than 1/4 of a mile away with horrendous access there is
always a line of cars buying something at Starbucks. Imagine this you
place your order on one side the building, you drive around the around
the corner and you could be ten cars deep in a single lane with noway
out. Anytime I go by always cars stacked up. The Starbucks went in
after the guy closed.

On Jun 9, 9:02 am, "Dominic T." > wrote:
> But the owner of the space wanted coffee and sandwiches to be served
> as well... I almost caved, but just can't do it. I am fairly certain
> that coffee is a necessary evil to stay afloat, but I just don't want
> the smell or the associated noise. I'd rather not do it at all. So
> sadly I passed.
>
> I'm not against serving some basic coffee (but high quality like Blue
> Mountain, etc.) maybe 2 regular and a decaf that rotate BUT the smell
> is just too strong and would overtake everything else which is a
> dealbreaker. I think I just have to keep working the numbers and
> figure out a way to make tea-only work, which right now seems like it
> would have to be some other separate venture like art.
>
> Very frustrating and I have agonized for so long, I can totally
> sympathize with anyone who has ever taken on this quest outside of
> Teavana.
>
> - Dominic

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Default Came close to actually buying space for a cafe/tea shop...

On Jun 10, 8:31*am, wrote:
> I was talking to the owner of my local tea shoppe who incorporated in
> January so he can sell franchises. *I was talking to him about the
> apparent lack of tea shoppes in the San Diego area. *He said something
> curious. *He said you need a population of 100,000 with no competition
> to support a tea shoppe. *Im sure that was within a given radius which
> wasnt mentioned. *From what Ive seen even if you do survive youre
> doing it for the love not the money. *If you get people in the store
> theyll usually buy something. *My phone company now is sitting up free
> wifi spots around town. *The closest two are Starbucks and a McD. *Ill
> mention to the local owner he should look into it. I think you need a
> value added enticer.
>
> Jim
>
> PS *A guy set up a coffee stand right in the middle of a nearby empty
> retail center parking lot. *When I saw this I said great idea. *Right
> on a busy corner with easy in easy out. *I never saw the guy sell a
> cup. *Less than 1/4 of a mile away with horrendous access there is
> always a line of cars buying something at Starbucks. *Imagine this you
> place your order on one side the building, you drive around the around
> the corner and you could be ten cars deep in a single lane with noway
> out. *Anytime I go by always cars stacked up. * The Starbucks went in
> after the guy closed.
>
> On Jun 9, 9:02 am, "Dominic T." > wrote:
>
>
>
> > But the owner of the space wanted coffee and sandwiches to be served
> > as well... I almost caved, but just can't do it. I am fairly certain
> > that coffee is a necessary evil to stay afloat, but I just don't want
> > the smell or the associated noise. I'd rather not do it at all. So
> > sadly I passed.

>
> > I'm not against serving some basic coffee (but high quality like Blue
> > Mountain, etc.) maybe 2 regular and a decaf that rotate BUT the smell
> > is just too strong and would overtake everything else which is a
> > dealbreaker. I think I just have to keep working the numbers and
> > figure out a way to make tea-only work, which right now seems like it
> > would have to be some other separate venture like art.

>
> > Very frustrating and I have agonized for so long, I can totally
> > sympathize with anyone who has ever taken on this quest outside of
> > Teavana.

>
> > - Dominic


Yes, you certainly need extra value and in my opinion even a totally
different but complimentary revenue source in the same space. I'm a
tech guy so good wifi is a given, even a public computer or two. My
extra would be art. Both my own and on a consignment-type basis so
that it was essentially a rotating gallery and tea shop. Neat Japanese
and Chinese snacks and items as well... stuff you can't readily find
outside of a few ethnic markets that I really love.

The amazing thing is that in my area we actually have no Starbucks
within a 5 mile radius (yes, I know amazing) and only a single DD in a
bad location. But certainly not 100k+ people. There is a high school
and a hospital as well as some larger medical centers.

I actually think a smaller cart/kiosk is probably the better way to go
financially and to lead into a larger venture but you just lose the
whole concept then and it is just such a compromise. However it may be
a good way to gauge public interest without a massive outlay of cash.
it is amazing though how people will bypass an amazing small vendor
for a garbage chain product. We have this cool local coffee shop
"chain" (3 stores spread around Pittsburgh) that has the most amazing
coffee and drinks yet barely stays afloat beyond the occasional
hipster. *I* even used to get their coffee drinks because they were so
good, and I don't even really enjoy coffee. Hand-selected beans, hand-
roasted, organic/fair trade, and top quality ingredients not packaged
syrups AND it is less than Starbucks yet people happily walked right
by it to go an extra couple blocks for SB. It's gotta be tough.

I have no interest in becoming rich from it, but I also could not
stand to steadily hemorrhage money. I've run the numbers and it is
very tough to keep the volume needed to even eek out a basic profit
without charging ridiculous sums. I really and truly would love to
talk with some tea shop owners in areas outside of major cities
knowing now what I know. It has to make for great tales.

- Dominic
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