Starbucks??

RonMexico

jbkenn has made some very valid points in fairness and while I am sure you didn't mean to discourage anyone from starting up their own business it is better to know these things in advance instead of enduring endless headaches down the line.

The amount of legislative bollox that is involved in running a business in this country is mind boggling. It is particularly difficult for small independent businesses who do not have the same resources as multi-nationals and other corporate chains. And yes - the regulations are frequently so off the wall you would be left scratching your head as to the lack of logic involved.

That said - the very best of luck kilburn, a java's type place is sorely missed in this city and I would rather see a place like that situated in the market area instead of starbucks. In fact if the city council had any cop on they would offer lower rates to independent businesses to encourage more of these outlets to open up and breathe life back into the city. Maybe then the place will regain its soul which has been so clearly diminished by the endless amount of UK chain stores that make the place no different from any other small city in the UK.

Amazotheamazing

RonMexico wrote: »

That said - the very best of luck kilburn, a java's type place is sorely missed in this city and I would rather see a place like that situated in the market area instead of starbucks. In fact if the city council had any cop on they would offer lower rates to independent businesses to encourage more of these outlets to open up and breathe life back into the city. Maybe then the place will regain its soul which has been so clearly diminished by the endless amount of UK chain stores that make the place no different from any other small city in the UK.

I agree completely.

I would love to see Limerick City Council being ultra proactive and offering out sites for tender for cafes with no rates for say 3 three years provided certain conditions were met and a member of council staff on hand to walk the new owners through the legislative requirements.

Aidric

Just saw yesterday the Cafe Noir have opened a new branch on the junction of O Connell St & Mallow St.

Poxyshamrock

Starbucks could open in much better locations than the Milk Market

Off the top of my head:

Fergusons Chemist, O'Connell Street
o2, O'Connell Street
Barratts, Cruises Street
Fuschia Queen, Thomas Street.


The list goes on.

munstergirl

Limerick has so many coffee shops, too many maybe. I don't know how they are all staying in business.

And no where in limerick really stands out, that i'd be thinking can't wait to go back there.

I do like my starbucks.

Itsdacraic

Aidric wrote: »

Just saw yesterday the Cafe Noir have opened a new branch on the junction of O Connell St & Mallow St.

Ya, that is open a few months I think.

RonMexico

As pointed out above, Limerick has too many coffee shops. One of the reasons that business in this country is struggling is that the custom is spread out too much. We are swamped with grocery outlets, coffee shops, hotels, euro stores, phone stores etc etc. Limerick simply does not have the population to support all of these places. You might say that surely the weak stores will be forced out of business by stores with better prices. That doesn't appear to be happening as most places have more or less the same prices. Instead all of the above are struggling due to a diluted footfall.

Think back to Limerick circa 1995. We didn't have even half of the above stores. You might say that the population of the city has increased since then but really it hasn't increased enough to warrant the explosion of copycat businesses across the city. What Limerick needs is variety and more unique independent businesses. Not more copycat stores offering the exact same services as several other stores a stones throw away.

panda100

Does anyone know where I can get Tazo Tea in Limerick?Its the one they stock in Starbucks and its yummy!

mags16

RonMexico wrote: »

As pointed out above, Limerick has too many coffee shops.

But none of them are any good. And many aren't open at night or on Sunday mornings. I am a decaff girl and it is nigh on impossible to get a good one. The best decaff in Limerick is the one you get on the way out of Limerick, from the kiosk at the train station!

I remember when Imassa opened and everybody thought it was terribly fancy. I order a decaff and am offered "instant" :eek:.

metamorphosis

panda100 wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can get Tazo Tea in Limerick?Its the one they stock in Starbucks and its yummy!

The fake starbucks in UL does tazo tea if i remember correctly, chai teas too. They are closed though until the new term starts.

RonMexico

Yeah any new coffee shop would need to stand out from the crowd and offer a service that is not already catered for as you have outlined above. Same goes for every other new business.

A run of the mill coffee shop just won't cut it anymore.

kilburn

Icky Thump wrote: »

old Javas didnt roast their own beans

never said Javas roasted their own beans, I said layout like Javas.

My god some misery guts here, I have plenty of business experience .
Thanks Ron and Limerick_Lass for your support.

I want to open a different type of coffee shop. Couchs, books, wifi relaxing atmosphere, a place people can hang out at weekends or in the evening. Most importantly its going to be smack bang in the middle of the city.

supermommy

kilburn wrote: »

I want to open a different type of coffee shop. Couchs, books, wifi relaxing atmosphere, a place people can hang out at weekends or in the evening. Most importantly its going to be smack bang in the middle of the city.

This would be awesome. Please do this..this town needs a late night coffee shop.
You go to the states and places like starbucks are full of teens with nothing better to do, hanging out trying to look cool drinking their latte's...
It beats the alternative..drinking their faces off in a housing estate somewhere, causing trouble..
:cool:

panda100

ULstudent wrote: »

The fake starbucks in UL does tazo tea if i remember correctly, chai teas too. They are closed though until the new term starts.

Nah they don't.I've been out there last few weeks and just got Barrys.
Ah well, will get some next time in Dublin.

Kilburn, Limerick is crying out for a place like that!

the drifter

kilburn wrote: »

never said Javas roasted their own beans, I said layout like Javas.

My god some misery guts here, I have plenty of business experience .
Thanks Ron and Limerick_Lass for your support.

I want to open a different type of coffee shop. Couchs, books, wifi relaxing atmosphere, a place people can hang out at weekends or in the evening. Most importantly its going to be smack bang in the middle of the city.

Pleas Please Please open one that stays open late....its a sad state that if you want to meet someone after work 90% of the time its going to be in a pub!!!

Vanolder

kilburn wrote: »

never said Javas roasted their own beans, I said layout like Javas.

My god some misery guts here, I have plenty of business experience .
Thanks Ron and Limerick_Lass for your support.

I want to open a different type of coffee shop. Couchs, books, wifi relaxing atmosphere, a place people can hang out at weekends or in the evening. Most importantly its going to be smack bang in the middle of the city.

Very badly needed in Limerick. Best of luck with it... Sell chai lattes and I'll be into you!

Builderfromhell

A late night, independent funky coffee shop would be a great assest to the city. However, it is worth noting that places that sell food and drinks on a self seve basis and have a quick turnover make money. A coffee shop where you can sit for an hour with your book, or chat with friends while listening to good music is more of a social service than a business. You can't make money from people spending 2.50 and taking a whole table for an hour.
Regrettably, places that are relaxing and agreeable have difficulty surviving.

munstergirl

kilburn wrote: »

never said Javas roasted their own beans, I said layout like Javas.

My god some misery guts here, I have plenty of business experience .
Thanks Ron and Limerick_Lass for your support.

I want to open a different type of coffee shop. Couchs, books, wifi relaxing atmosphere, a place people can hang out at weekends or in the evening. Most importantly its going to be smack bang in the middle of the city.

Maybe i am a misery guts but how are you going to make €€, you know people can spend hours over 1 cup of coffee. Free wifi won't make you any €.

I'm all for new business in limerick, the town does need something in the evening, but pubs sell coffee, they are struggling, and i said already limerick has so many coffee shops, and book shops are also fighting for business. Next time your in town have a wander around all the book shops, and see how much the cash register is ringing.

Maybe i am a misery guts, but i think i am just being realistic.
Best of luck in your new venture!

RonMexico

I've been saying it ever since Javas closed - it is sorely missed. The trick is to balance the aforementioned profit versus hangout spot. They don't have to be mutually exclusive. If you can get that balance right you are on to a winner. I have plenty of ideas on that front.

Itsdacraic

RonMexico wrote: »

I've been saying it ever since Javas closed - it is sorely missed. The trick is to balance the aforementioned profit versus hangout spot. They don't have to be mutually exclusive. If you can get that balance right you are on to a winner. I have plenty of ideas on that front.

I dunno, "hang out" coffee shops are generally frequented by stoner/waster/eternal student types and if it's money you are trying to make this deomgraphic ain't exactly going to put your kids through college.

munstergirl

Some of the best coffee shops i have been to are in italy, where you order your coffee, drink at counter + leave, fab coffee, + cheaper too!

dave 27

i think this is a really good idea, Limerick has a huge young population and nearly 30,000 students, if something with a big profile and enough advertising opened it could be a great success!

lasno

A new Italian coffee shop opening soon in Little Catherine street.

Vanolder

dave 27 wrote: »

i think this is a really good idea, Limerick has a huge young population and nearly 30,000 students, if something with a big profile and enough advertising opened it could be a great success!

Exactly, it's all about marketing... Small societies, or talk groups are calling out for a venue like this in the evening and Student deals also... open mic night, poetry etc etc.

RonMexico

Itsdacraic wrote: »

I dunno, "hang out" coffee shops are generally frequented by stoner/waster/eternal student types and if it's money you are trying to make this deomgraphic ain't exactly going to put your kids through college.

No offence but that is stereotypical rubbish. That "demographic" piss their disposable income up against the wall every night of the week because there is no place to "hang out" besides bars/clubs who seem to welcome them with open arms.

kilburn

would love to hear your suggestions and ideas on what makes the perfect coffee shop. Have you been to one the you particularly liked outside of limerick

bigpink

lasno wrote: »

A new Italian coffee shop opening soon in Little Catherine street.

Any more details on this?Proper coffee shop or a get in em at lunch time place

bigpink

I think i said in another thread Javas,Captain jacks,The Milk Bar,cafe on the row all tried the late night and it didnt work.I remember javas use to stay open till 4am but this was cut back to round 9 or 10 pm max

kilburn

bigpink wrote: »

I think i said in another thread Javas,Captain jacks,The Milk Bar,cafe on the row all tried the late night and it didnt work.I remember javas use to stay open till 4am but this was cut back to round 9 or 10 pm max

maybe location was the problem

bigpink

bigpink wrote: »

Any more details on this?Proper coffee shop or a get in em at lunch time place

kilburn wrote: »

maybe location was the problem

Javas was on Catherine street but only yards from the thomas street/little catherrine junction
Captain jacks was thomas street new building there but across from the cornstone restaurant
Cafe on the row is on bedford row

Surely these are great city centre locations?

Limerick_Lass

Anyone remember Banana Phoblacht (Apostasy) in Galway... was a great late night coffee shop with a little library, poetry readings, music and you could meet any type of character in there. closed now :mad:
But something like this be super in Limerick.
Maybe even a cafe and wine bar like Tribes in cork.

bigpink

Limerick_Lass wrote: »

Anyone remember Banana Phoblacht (Apostasy) in Galway... was a great late night coffee shop with a little library, poetry readings, music and you could meet any type of character in there. closed now :mad:
But something like this be super in Limerick.
Maybe even a cafe and wine bar like Tribes in cork.

When was that open in Galway?also why did it close down?

Limerick_Lass

Was open for many years... I used to go there when I lived in Galway. Not sure why it closed.

RonMexico

I could be wrong but didn't Javas close because it was bought out so the site could be developed?

MissHoneyBun

Itsdacraic wrote: »

"hang out" coffee shops are generally frequented by stoner/waster/eternal student types

Well seeing as we're making assumptions here, I'd say posts like yours are generally made by narrow-minded, billy-no-mates types.

Mr E

As a non-drinker, give me a coffee shop and some good conversation over a noisy, boozey pub any day.
Not a stoner, not a waster, and my student days were well over a decade ago.

MissHoneyBun

Mr E wrote: »

As a non-drinker, give me a coffee shop and some good conversation over a noisy, boozey pub any day

Totally agree. But in this country, you're clearly some sort of social misfit if you don't spend your weekends falling around a pub with a pint in your hand :rolleyes:

kilburn

Limerick_Lass wrote: »

Anyone remember Banana Phoblacht (Apostasy) in Galway... was a great late night coffee shop with a little library, poetry readings, music and you could meet any type of character in there. closed now :mad:
But something like this be super in Limerick.
Maybe even a cafe and wine bar like Tribes in cork.

must check out tribes where is it

bigpink

Must tell my OH check out Tribes aswell,they are looking at a coffe shop idea in Limerick also just trying find ideas and investor/partner etc

Limerick_Lass

kilburn wrote: »

must check out tribes where is it

Do kilburn, its on Tuckey St in the city, they also have a website

Amazotheamazing

Banana Phoblacht closed during the last genericification of Galway, around 2005 but it was a great spot.

I think both sides of the argument have valid points, it would be very hard to make money off people nursing one cup of coffee for an hour, on the otherhand, a place like that would generate loyalty which would make regulars more likely to go there.

I like the idea of a book exchange type thing, but I don't know if people are honest enough to leave good books when they take good books.

there's definitely a market for a place like this, if you can get it right. What would you call it? I'd love to open a cafe with the name "Samarra", simply because one of my favourite books (and parables) is "Appointment in Samarra". (book or parable doesn't have much to do with coffee though)

Itsdacraic

RonMexico wrote: »

No offence but that is stereotypical rubbish. That "demographic" piss their disposable income up against the wall every night of the week because there is no place to "hang out" besides bars/clubs who seem to welcome them with open arms.

Get a haircut you hippy

RonMexico

Kind of hard when you have a shaved head. Also Limerick would benefit if there was more hippies and less knuckle dragging trash.

L.T.P.

Itsdacraic wrote: »

Get a haircut you hippy

A narrowminded & ignorant statement if ever I saw one.

zuroph

L.T.P. wrote: »

A narrowminded & ignorant statement if ever I saw one.

its a joke., I thought you people were meant to be chilled out.

L.T.P.

zuroph wrote: »

its a joke., I thought you people were meant to be chilled out.

Oops too quick off the mark today, so sorry goes to ITSDACRAIC

Maybe if you pass over some of those pain killers I'll chill

Insect Overlord

Maybe a combination of an express counter of passing trade and relaxing area for people to read/write/chat would be the best solution to getting in the required trade.

Berty

kilburn wrote: »

must check out tribes where is it

Limerick_Lass wrote: »

Do kilburn, its on Tuckey St in the city, they also have a website

Visited Tribes today whilst in Cork. Really nice place. Nice Elektra Coffee machine.

Negative. I asked the "Barista" what Coffee she was using and she hadn't a clue and couldn't find a bag to find out. :mad:

Itsdacraic

Berty wrote: »

Visited Tribes today whilst in Cork. Really nice place. Nice Elektra Coffee machine.

Negative. I asked the "Barista" what Coffee she was using and she hadn't a clue and couldn't find a bag to find out. :mad:

Maybe she just said that so the pushy sales man would leave her alone

Berty

Itsdacraic wrote: »

Maybe she just said that so the pushy sales man would leave her alone

Probably but that's the life I lead.