Bewleys is gone...yipee

giftgrub

Am I missing the point over the whole Bewleys thing?

All I've been hearing on the radio today is a load of old geezers going on about how great Bewleys is, how they had their confirmation there back in 2000BC.

Here's what I think.

Bewleys Grafton Street was a big noisy kip....I found it wasnt particularly clean...the overpriced coffee wasnt great...it was either too watery or too bitter like it had been sitting there for 3 weeks.

The staff were miserable...the food was stodgy at the best of times..you'd find cleaner toilets in a Baghdad jail.

And what about all those people protesting against the closure on Grafton street today? Dont they have jobs?

It was closed for financial reasons....4 million euro down the crapper....if dubs loved the kips so much they would have gone there more, then they wouldnt have had to close.

now...glad i got that off my chest

smoke.me.a.kipper

i agree gerry ryan going on about it this morning. and then said he hadnt been in there in years. prooves your point.

Uthur

Well said sir - excelsior to you!

angeldelight

I agree, I don't know how they expected to do well, they charged above average prices for very very below average food. Surprised they didn't close sooner actually

tinkerbell

Yah I don't understand the whole ruckus about it either. As regards all those protesting people, did they go to Bewleys all the time, enough to keep it in business? Obviously not since it was suffering huge losses.

What annoys me is how do people expect a business person to keep Bewleys open just for the sake of it when they are suffering losses - cop on like!!

Waltons

Didn't they make something like €400 million losses?
In all honesty, I don't think their die hard consumer base could really take responsibilty for that filling that gap. That's a lot of scones and cups of tea.
I can kinda see where the protesters are coming from but, to be honest, I don't care. It doesn't bother me if I'm going into a Bewleys or some other lookalike cafe to get a drink or have something to eat. I've probably only been there once in the past year.

ClareBear

Some massive queue outside there today....God I hate Grafton Street when it's busy! :mad:

Jim

Went in with a friend of mine last week, she wanted to go in "one last time" type of thing. Got myself a tiny glass of "fruit juice" and a chicken baguette thing. The juice was manky and the roll and chicken actually tasted like cardboard, actually.

The whole thing cost me over €5. Good riddence.
Isn't supposed to turning into a Starbucks or something?

daveirl

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Guy:Incognito

Waltons wrote:

Didn't they make something like €400 million losses?
.

Now that WOULD be a lot of coffee and scones.

FX Meister

You sure it's going to be a Starbucks? They ain't a franchise and last I heard they had no intention of setting up here. But then we did catch up with the rest of the world as regards drinking coffee. But wouldn't it be too big for a statbucks?

Jim

Oh no, I've no idea. I just heard that ..... somewhere.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

maybe it'll turn into a coffeeshop

Burago

There was an article in the business supplements a good few months ago about Starbucks wanting to open 50 places here! Bewleys on Grafton St. Is much too big for them. Think more along the lines of H&M, Zara or more British high street bollocks using the site.

Guy:Incognito

itll probably become a graham o'sullivans or something and be the same with a different name.

Jim

Giant O'Briens tbh.

JackKelly

i heard it was a starbucks as well.By the mad man protesting outside. That's the only reason im sad to see it go.Was in there just before it closed, they were singing songs and the whole lot.Damn Americans, first foot locker, now starbucks.

pickarooney

What's the craic with Starbucks? I've never seen one, but apparently there's one on every street corner in Americaland. Do people really need that much coffee? Do Irish people even drink coffee? I never asked myself the question until I moved here - I think the average Hollander drinks 1.8 litres a day. Anyway, Bewleys was always cack, so who cares if it's gone.

eth0_

FX Meister wrote:

You sure it's going to be a Starbucks? They ain't a franchise and last I heard they had no intention of setting up here. But then we did catch up with the rest of the world as regards drinking coffee. But wouldn't it be too big for a statbucks?

Erm...there are two Starbucks in Dublin, on the Microsoft campus. And one in Belfast. I heard from a reliable source that Starbucks are going to open in the old Bewleys on Grafton St. I can't wait!

JackKelly

pickarooney wrote:

What's the craic with Starbucks? I've never seen one, but apparently there's one on every street corner in Americaland

Its literal.There IS one on EVERY corner. When i was in one in san francisco, we left, looked across the road, and there was another one sitting there.

pickarooney wrote:

Anyway, Bewleys was always cack, so who cares if it's gone.

I care, as it will be a starbucks!And i really dislike starbucks

aodh_rua

Can't say I'll miss it. Lots of sentimental people remembering going there as kids but never since. They seem to have completely missed the coffee revolution, and no business can operate on their losses. I also disagree that the State should step in to bail them out - can you imagine explaining that to a patient on a hospital trolley.

At the same time, it will be a shame to lose another building to the British high street. Alas, for a building that size, the only other option is a superpub!

Tiriel

I worked in the Bewley's in Cork before it was closed down.. oh man did I celebrate!! after working in there I never ever ate in a Bewley's again.. say no more!! That was the one in Cork I suppose.. but heh they can't be that different..

ClareBear

Cork_girl wrote:

I worked in the Bewley's in Cork before it was closed down.. oh man did I celebrate!! after working in there I never ever ate in a Bewley's again.. say no more!! That was the one in Cork I suppose.. but heh they can't be that different..

Everyone says that about everywhere they work though lol

Sleepy

Just passed the one on Grafton Street and it's jammed with people trying to "Save Bewleys". Such a load of crap! It's a dive, badly managed and provides crap food. Personally I'd welcome Starbucks, at least they make a good cup of coffee!

Waltons

Whoops, not 400 mil. My mistake.
I heard it on the radio this morning whilst getting dressed. Wasn't listening properly.
Viva la Starbucks! Maybe...

Blackjack

I have to agree, Bewleys was fairly crappy as it goes. Overpriced Manky coffee, Overpriced Terrible food, freezing Manky premises and lousy staff. It is a little sad from a Nostalgia point of view but as regards what you got in there, no loss to be honest.
Not sure Starbucks would be too welcome though, they are on every street corner in the US (a process they call clustering AFAIK) which drives out all the local competition.

Rb

It's a pity its gone, imo, sure enough I hadn't been there in the last few months but like, as long as its not turned into some cheap fast food place I'm happy
Oh and, f<uk Starbucks.

dregin

"Starbucks" is in DCU aswell.

jonny68

Ill agree the food was overpriced,etc but it was a historic landmark in Dublin society and it is sad to see them close..... :rolleyes:

Agent Smith

jonny68 wrote:

Ill agree the food was overpriced,etc but it was a historic landmark in Dublin society and it is sad to see them close..... :rolleyes:

thats life




"and I, for one welcome our new starbucks overlords..."

Hobbes

pickarooney wrote:

What's the craic with Starbucks? I've never seen one, but apparently there's one on every street corner in Americaland.

Its how they do it that is annoying. (ref: No Logo)

Basically they would saturate an area with shops and then move onto another area once all the competition had been killed off. They would also set up shop right beside any other coffee shop in the area if possible and/or buy out any existing coffee stores leases from under them. In most cases without even the coffee stores knowing thier lease had been sold.

Its artsy-fartsy crap in store for the pseduo intellectuals who if they knew what they got up to probably would never buy coffee there again.

FX Meister

eth0_ wrote:

Erm...there are two Starbucks in Dublin, on the Microsoft campus. And one in Belfast. I heard from a reliable source that Starbucks are going to open in the old Bewleys on Grafton St. I can't wait!

wow, didn't know that. Technically Belfast doesn't count as they would see that as the UK, and I take it the Microdoft campus isn't publically accessible.

FX Meister

dregin wrote:

"Starbucks" is in DCU aswell.

No it's not

eth0_

And they're in DCU apparently.

Starbucks make nicers drinks than most pissy Irish coffee houses.

dregin

FX Meister wrote:

No it's not

Where did you come up with that? Sign's say starbuck's. It's the exact same setip as in M$.

FX Meister

Where about in DCU is it? According to Starbucks themselves they only have two stores in Ireland, one in Belfast and one in Antrim.

dregin

The main canteen.

Tiriel

ClareBear wrote:

Everyone says that about everywhere they work though lol

yeah but it was more how the owners treated the staff and the less than minimum wage.. among other things..

more the lack of respect they had for their staff than anything else!

flogen

Well they (starbucks) announced plans to open 30 stores across the country over the next year or two. The first regular one is in Belfast, I heard claims and counter-claims in relation to DCU, I'll have to check it out some time... anyone got directions to it from the Helix?

It would be mad to see Starbucks open over Bewleys (and do a Footlocker job... they announced the deal with Champion Sports, and had all the stores rebranded in about 2 weeks... mad stuff!). I dont think Starbucks would take that land though, it's far too big for that kind of outfit (or at least their first one). its a fast-drink place no need for so much seating. I know they have some, but not that much.

As for Bewleys closing, I dont know. They were losing money, they did severely lack service and quality and they were over priced so they kinda deserve to close (a half decent manager would have made good of that place, it should be popular by name alone, they should have been making profit on tourism alone!). It is sad to see a unique shop go from the city, and a piece of Irish culture disappear, but sadly we can't get all rosey eyed on these things, Dublin has moved on and Bewleys couldn't keep up. It may be part of our past but it's not as important as other landmarks or buildings.

flogen

FX Meister

dregin wrote:

The main canteen.

Are you sure it's not just a rip off? I've never been to the main canteen so I don't really know.

dregin

How do you mean claims?? It's either there or it isnt
I'll take a photo wth my next cup outside the helix and post

Blackjack

As far as I am aware, Campbells Catering is the least favourite for Catering Graduates to work for. I assume their ethos applied to Bewleys, hence the muck food and worse service.
Can anyone in the business confirm?.

dregin

FX Meister wrote:

Are you sure it's not just a rip off? I've never been to the main canteen so I don't really know.

No. It is definitely Starbucks. Heh I dunno why I'm tryin so hard here, i hate them. Their coffee rules my life tho :P

FX Meister

Yeah I love their Caramel Machiato. I remember one in manhatten I used to go to. When you were sitting down having your coffee you could look accross the road and see another one on one corner and another still on the opposite corner. Not exactly a great place to agree to meet someone.

JackKelly

they do have wireless networks in some of them though

snappieT

FINALLY SOMEONE SAID IT - One rep point coming your way.

I just hope that it doesn't do what it did on Henry Street, and turn into a Lifestyle sports to harvest more scumbags.

Re the Starbucks thing: I can't confirm it will happen in Bewleys old premises, but I do know that Gloria Jeans Coffee Houses will soon all become Starbucks - I can't wait! (I average 6/7 cups of coffee per day)

Finally, I heard on the news that they had over 4,500 signatures on the petition to keep it open. If each one of those nostalgic fools went in just once a week, and bought just a crappy overpriced coffee (and maybe a cake), Bewleys would make over €3200 daily from JUST THOSE PEOPLE - sure illustrates how much they really care!

Once again, thank you

super_furry

I'm another who won't be sheding a tear over the death of Bewleys. Horrid, overpriced 'food' and terrible service meant it was just a matter of time.

Lump

There's a starbucks on every corner pretty much in London... who cares at least it's clean and the staff smile and they serve decent coffee, the whole point of a coffee shop one would imagine.

John

JackKelly

lol. was just on the news....well, in one of the shots, standing on the balcony in bewleys!

Burago

Lump wrote:

There's a starbucks on every corner pretty much in London... who cares at least it's clean and the staff smile and they serve decent coffee, the whole point of a coffee shop one would imagine.

John

You'd swear there aren't places in Dublin already doing that. Coffee Society serve great coffee in really nice shops with friendly staff as do Butlers and O' Briens to a lesser extent.

Bewleys on Grafton St is a listed building so it'll be really interesting to see what becomes of it.

Mercury_Tilt

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