Café/wine bar in Tullamore

Darby

I’ve been pondering over opening a café/wine bar in Tullamore for some time now with a European/New York feel to it. It would be small and I would be focusing more on good quality coffee and scones/cakes/soups rather than the usual salad bar/panini lunch food. The concept is to create an Irish cultural, relaxing, friendly go to place with an informal, vintage décor unlike the franchise cafes - (which do have their own qualities). Also, I was playing with the idea of selling some small vintage home furnishings/paintings and books on art, design, food, culture, etc. However, it would be very risky in the current climate so I would need to know if there is a market for this in Tullamore. All opinions greatly appreciated.:)

motorman

To be honest I would be surprised if there is a market in the town for you. Plus you will have to compete with up and running coffee shops who have their regulars. I would also imagine that the consumer base for such a store has massively reduced over the last two years. The present cafes probably are not turning over much.
And just a note; I don’t see how European/New York style is going to resemble Irish culture in any shape or form??

boobar

I think if you get the right type of place set up - you'll get customers. I think it would be worthwhile travelling to see what other towns offer. Navan always impressed with me with their restaurants - for ideas you could head there, there's a coffe shop in the centre of town that specialises in bagels and good coffee (think it's called Xano) and also The Loft and Zuchinis Rstaurant. If Tullamore had restaurants like these (stylish, comfortable, contemporary) I'd eat out much more regularly.

An Ri rua

I would love to see a nice wine bar. I'd be a regular :-)

Definitely worth treading carefully though as there some not too dissimilar offerings out there; Delicious Caffe for example, run by a seriously clued in businesswoman, Anne Williams of DE Williams blood.
http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/08/13/story16290.asp

When Yaadgar used to be the "Courtyard Restaurant" and was in the original owner's hands, it could not be beaten in terms of produce, service, ambience and art exhibitions.

There is a niche to be filled. I'd just be wary that too many players have mini-pieces of your pie and with the recession / double dip / depression incoming, survival instincts will kick in. You'll always get your initial interested trade, but then battle commences to hold them!

Best of luck. I hope it all goes excellently for you. Location would be critical, as always. An excellent team launched a healthy food style eaterie near the Kilbeggan Bridge (Waterfront Café) but apart from HSE staff journeying downtown, I believe their trade was intermittent. Only walk-in trade possible in general. A LOT of thought went into that business IIRC.

Also, if you are travelling through Portarlington, check An Chistin opposite Matthews http://www.findarestaurant.ie/restaurantdetail.asp?restID=2843 Great decor. Great simple zesty food. Excellent service and ingenuity.

An Ri rua

An Chistin in Portarlington is now closed. So is Delicious Caffé in Tullamore after this week.

On another note, I was in The French restaurant in Portarlington last week with a few friends for lunch. Not bad at all. Just celebrated one year opened. No wine licence but a friendly bar next door

hairynipple

Maybe New York deli restaurant like you see on The Food Network.
A wine bar would not be a good business to open in Tullamore sorry to say...