Java's Cafe Bar on Campus - your say

Java's Cafe Bar

Hi there,

just to let you know that we are currently getting ready for our move to UL to run the club/bar there. We were hoping you could give us a bit of feedback as to what you want to see in Java's Cafe Bar. What type of drink, food, music, entertainment, interior etc oyu would like. We are taking the space formally known as An Phluais. Around 1800 sq ft of space next to the new SU Shop. Look forward to your comments.

Mossin

You could start with some alcohol.....

sceptre

Crêpes.

French's is close to across the road from where I live but that's not too convenient for college. Serve crêpes during the day and I'll be happy.

As an aside it's good to see you guys asking around where you can about what people want. Obviously it's good for business but it's also good for people getting what they want, which can't be a bad thing. I don't see an equivalent post on the ulsu forum though, which might be an idea for additional feedback.

Java's Cafe Bar

There will be alcohol - however we have a small space so we'll be limited slightly so please feel free to list favourite drinks etc. Bottled and draft.

With regards Crepes - as French's Cafe is our sister cafe, we have the expertise to do it the only drawback is it has to be cooked to order rather than hot holding. We are planning to do the Crepes in courtyard from time to time to bring a bit of life to the area. e.g. Crunchie Crepes on Fridays etc.

Re ULSU forum I've just added that - thanks for the tip!

440Hz

Ooooh nice idea! Im all for this thread as long as it stays on the 'ideas' and not 'advertising' side of things. All the best with the new venture and thanks for finally bringing some variety to the campus!!

rmacm

Java's Cafe Bar wrote:

There will be alcohol - however we have a small space so we'll be limited slightly so please feel free to list favourite drinks etc. Bottled and draft.

Guinness

Cheers
Rory

*Edit - The crêpes sound like a good idea aswell, music wise I'd say something along the lines of an alternative to the Stables taste wise e.g. less pop stuff and more metal/other stuff that is not pop.

Amazotheamazing

Love French's crepes, good plan having them.

One thing I would love to see in Limerick, anywhere in Limerick, is the spanish style hot chocolate machines, where it's more akin to liquid chocolate than chocolate favoured milk or water. It is a complete mystery as to why they aren't popular in Ireland, every cafe in Barcelona seemed to have one.

failing that, good luck with the new project, will ye be re-opening anywhere in the city centre?

scitilop

Java's Cafe Bar wrote:

Hi there,

just to let you know that we are currently getting ready for our move to UL to run the club/bar there. We were hoping you could give us a bit of feedback as to what you want to see in Java's Cafe Bar. What type of drink, food, music, entertainment, interior etc oyu would like. We are taking the space formally known as An Phluais. Around 1800 sq ft of space next to the new SU Shop. Look forward to your comments.

When are you hoping to open this thing? Sounds like a good idea in theory. I hope you are planning on having it like Java's 5 or more years ago rather than in its last year when the standards, in particularly the coffee were abysmal. I had to laugh when I saw the website still said ye had trained barristas when the stuff ye were producing tasted like hot water with splash of milk and a hint of coffee essence.

That said I miss Java's especially those Cajun chips. What was in them?

Finally do you not think you were mad not opening somewhere else in town? There is nowhere to drink coffee or eat in Limerick, its a disgrace. Surely it has to be profitable. Anywhere half decent (countable on one hand) is always packed.

Java's Cafe Bar

Re Music: We will definitely be less pop than the Stables. We intend playing chilled out mixes during the day to encourage a cafe atmosphere. We plan also to run a number of acoustic nights one evening a week. The idea is to record these live and produce a CD at the end of the year. Like the one we did earlier this year see myspace.com/javassoundtrack to sample some of the music.

Re: Hot Chocolate - we plan offering the Hot Choc Mallow - although I have looked at the Hot choc as per Spain and Italy as mentioned already. The problem with that is the price. A mug would retail at 3.50 - 4 Euro is we used that chocolate. SO doesn't look like a runner.

Re: Coffee - I ill guarantee good coffee. We have sourced a large number of specialist coffee suppliers so we reckon we can offer a good brew. See www.coffeebeans.ie for selection.

Re: Locating in town - We have been propositioned with a few buildings however either the rent wasn't great or the location wasn't great. Also town is not as busy as it once was. Hopefully this will change if bigger stores locate to the city centre.

Re: Cajun Chips - these will stay.

Re: Opening date - we are hoping for Fresher’s week at the start of September.

I reckon our biggest challenge is getting customers to stay on campus at night rather than drinking at home and coming in for the last pint. Not sure how exactly to address this.

ninty9er

Java's Cafe Bar wrote:

I reckon our biggest challenge is getting customers to stay on campus at night rather than drinking at home and coming in for the last pint. Not sure how exactly to address this.

I imagine ye'll have to go to the SU for club status to sell certain drinks below cost at times if possible. Maybe a monday night as there's not really any hope of keeping people on campus on a tuesday or sometimes even wednesday.

As ye're the only real competition for Campbells I'd love to see ye inhialliate them on price because they are a complete rip-off. Maybe the odd acoustic gig might drag in people who wouldn't go to the stables normally.

Can I just add that it's great to see something coming on campus like this, but as it is a student oriented area on a university campus, ye might do better to keep prices lower and sell more than have them the same as the shop or other similar places off campus. I'm sure as a business person you'll know that 100 profits of 40c are better than 25 profits of 90c. And students being students...price is king. On bringing in the crowds..if ye did an off licence type service, but provided seating (i.e 6 dutch, a naggin and the like) ye could do very well. don't know if this is legal though!!

on the drinks front I'd say Corona would go down well, I don't really drink it myself though, maybe some imported stuff....Tsykie and Okicim...Kopparberg and the like.

my 2c

kaimera

Corona ftw with LIME please

LambDave

Having all the different Erdingers' is always a good idea. People seem to like it around UL and it was a big hit in the Scholars.

440Hz

LambDave wrote:

Having all the different Erdingers' is always a good idea.

uuhhmmmmm cloudy!! yuummmm

scitilop

ninty9er wrote:

on the drinks front I'd say Corona would go down well, I don't really drink it myself though, maybe some imported stuff....Tsykie and Okicim...Kopparberg and the like.

my 2c

Yes a good idea. Didn't Scholars do something similar. Also Java's another idea might be to try out (although it will really have to be very good to succeed) doing a good Sunday breakfast with free papers, etc. I heard it used to work well a few years back in UL. That place in dead at weekends but that's down to having no reason to go there anymore. If that worked a few years back I can't see why it wouldn't work now. Since then there are hundreds more students living on campus and also the Library is open on Sundays too.

In relation to the city centre, what about putting Java's back where it was when the new building goes up. Not sure if you've noticed but a lot of places in town are more packed now since Java's closed - possibly because of less choice.

cooperguy

During the day will it be like the coffee shop up in the main canteen (but with alcohol!!) that basically does coffee and and pastries and stuff or will it actually serve things like rolls and sandwiches and things because it would be much better like that.

Night time the music should be good but not so loud that you cant talk!! You say your going for a chilled out atmosphere at night thats a good idea however be careful that its not too chilled out!!! If it is then alot of people will stay away because it wont have the atmosphere before going into town. Getting the balance right is important. How much of the courtyard are you allowed take up with seats and tables?

All the standard beers and spirits should be stocked (im assuming your going to do that anyway). What time are you allowed serve alcohol from, is it midday the same as the Stables?

Finally have you any plans for events for RAG week? And will you be doing anything for Xmas days (I know it would have to be very early this year)

Java's Cafe Bar

Re Day time - the plan is to open for 10.30am with coffees pastries Croissants , Cookies etc. Start hot food from 12-3 and 5-7pm. Serve drinks till late - although we'll keep the coffee espresso machine on all night as well.

Re Music - plan is chilled out till after dinner 7.30pm and after that it will be a bit more upbeat - we may even play a whole album from the same artist!- so would welcome suggestions please. The balance being right is going to be a the challenge - readers of this feel free to advise.

Re Out side seating - we will have some of the courtyard not sure how much exactly - however should be able to use the spaces that are covered at the moment.

Re Rag week and Xmas Days - not sure what yet. We have given a few suggestions to the Ents people who promise to get back to us.

Re Sunday's - we're trying to avoid Sunday opening as it is a killer however we'll look at anything.

Re Drinks served - please keep letting us know what drinks you'd like as we have only a small space and may have to limit some bottled beers (draught looks fine).

d_mc_a

This is only a small thing but, Try and get UL to throw a Wireless Access Point in there too. It'd be nice to have somewhere sit, drink coffee and do some college work with your laptop.

Burning Eclipse

d_mc_a wrote:

This is only a small thing but, Try and get UL to throw a Wireless Access Point in there too. It'd be nice to have somewhere sit, drink coffee and do some college work with your laptop.

QFT,

would seal the deal for me.

Java's Cafe Bar

Re- wireless - we have already made enquiries. There are a number of wireless routers in rooms above it n the Student Centre, so we've started making equiries. Thanks for the suggestion.

Funkstard

This sounds great, it seems an attempt is being made to provide an alternate late-night venue on campus other than the pub. I would highly back the wireless internet also. I'm over in Vancouver for the summer, and coffee houses are packed with people sitting inside/outside with a coffee doing some quick work on their laptops. The courtyard outside the SU is alive now with the new shop, putting a canopy with seating outside the café for warmer weather would be another welcome addition.

I'm not sure how much emphasis is being put on with providing food in the café, but if it is being thought about, an alternative to the obscene amounts of junk food for sale in Spar must be thought of. I'm not sure what you could provide, but some alternative and healthy options would be great.

I hope everything goes well with it, we really need something like this on campus. Good luck!

kaimera

re music: acoustic stuff is mint; obscure bands from the US even that people might not have heard of.

Buttons007

A cafe on campus sounds like a really good idea. Here's my two cents:

Re Furniture: Perhaps a mix? Comfy couches / bar stools / coffee tables

Re drinks - Could I suggest bottles of:
Bulmers
Bulmers Light
Kopperburg

Also you might consider leaving out alcopops altogether - they don't seem to be very popular with people anymore (I might be shot for saying this but its just a suggestion)

For the music - easy listening music would be good during the day. I'd love to have jazz music as well!

I think it could be a really funky arty type venue.
I'd love to see bright and bold colours in the furniture and art used.

kaimera

By & by, can I ask which company you have doing the renovations for the cafe bar?

PeakOutput

laidback djs who prefer the music to showing off their own talent would be good for this type of venue i reckon ...............pint bottles of bulmers..........loads of drinks promotions............live music once a week..............

all music in the background in general i think to allow for conversation

id love a bit of table service but thats probably asking too much

HEALTHY and FRESH FOOD during the day would be amazing

really deep couches to sink into

big tables to get a group around

dark corners to take the girl out of the group too

emmmmmmmmmmm what else,

*by the way i have no idea how big this area is*

no snooker or pool tables or arcade machines they suck the atmosphere out of a place i think

im sure more will come to me

Java's Cafe Bar

Peakoutput above is reading our mind. Yes to most of the above. Excepts Alco pops. If we can leave a bit of space for them we'll have it. We are quite open to anyone coming in no matter if they drink wine, coffee, beer, spirits or Alcopops.

Re - Drinks promo's I think our hands are tied a bit however we will be offering good value on certin largers etc. E.g. a Pitcher of beer with your dinner for a table will be good value. We also will stock new beers and fosters at the lower end of the pricing scale - this will be permanent pricing rather than a promo. While we won't be offering cheap drink we are hoping customers will realise that this not the only selling point for a good night. You may have a better time having a few drinks in Java's Cafe bar where you can meet new people while your at your best than getting boozed up at home and coming for one before the club.

Re Table Service this will not work for numerous reasons (chasing customers with bills and having to cook to order with a same kitchen are a few reasons).

Re Interiors fitters - we are not decided yet although close to choosing between two now (was four). We are running out of time and things move slowly.

PeakOutput

see my pm java by the way just in case you have not already.


also re table service can the waiters / waitresses just do drinks table service after like 6pm or something? if they came and just took drink orders and took money before they brought the drink it should work fine but iv never really worked in the service industry so dont know myself. i just know it would help relieve the innevitable squeeze at the bar if you do hit the big time

440Hz

This really is great advertising in a non-advertising sense!! So... do we get some free drinks or something for being nice and letting this run hehe

cooperguy

440Hz wrote:

This really is great advertising in a non-advertising sense!! So... do we get some free drinks or something for being nice and letting this run hehe

Haha I was goin to suggest something similar except I was going to say we should all get a drink for all our great suggestions

440Hz

cooperguy wrote:

Haha I was goin to suggest something similar except I was going to say we should all get a drink for all our great suggestions

lol!! back to the back of the queue non-mod-type

the "special" people get to go first... uhmmm that's you Rory, 'special in the special sense' hehe! sorry

PeakOutput

weekly / bi weekly comedy night has t be done i think

ninty9er

PeakOutput wrote:

weekly / bi weekly comedy night has t be done i think

Seconded