351 replies to this topic

[Matt R.]

I too wonder how much demand there will be for coffee shops, with no population growth, and declining numbers of baby boomers? Has anyone run the numbers?

They are all at A&W.

[Matt R.]

I can’t imagine being a min wage barista and caring enough about that job to seek job security and benefits through a union.
Why don’t they just get a better job?

It’s the tips.

[Mike K.]

They are all at A&W.

Not McDonald’s?

We need someone to run the numbers. Also, I blame developers.

[Barrister]

Actually how many coffee shops are there in the CoV? 

[FogPub]

Surprised they're sinking the one in Cook St village, it usually seems busy whenever I'm down that way - and it's not all just overflow from Moka House across the street.

[Barrister]

I am also surprised about Cook street village since that area has a lot of street traffic and seems increasingly popular. Wondering if a determining factor might be a lack of a drive through? Imagine they re simply looking at gross sales and profitability. I actually like the coffee at Mocha House the couple of times I was there.

[Bambam]

Based on the numbers and demographic at the joint me and my klatch go to on weekends I think a lot of the old time boomers are hanging about at Tim's; we go to the one down the street from Mayfair on weekends, and its stuffed with boomers (and beyond) with a few strays from the 30-40 demographic. Depending on the time it can be tough getting a table for the 3-4 of us. Not so many young'uns.....

[lanforod]

Maybe those folks aren't spending a whole lot. 4 standard coffees while the boomers sit and gab for an hour isn't making the restaurant much money.

[Bambam]

That is true at most one or two of us maybe grab a BLT wrap or a juice in addition to the coffee. I have another buddy I meet at the Hillside (mall) Tim's and its not so different there. More seating naturally but if anything depending on the day the demographic is even older. Never liked Starbucks for the usual reasons - crap coffee, inflated prices etc. Loved Second Cup which I first encountered in Edmonton years ago but I don't think there are any in Victoria anymore?

[aastra]

It looks weird to see the windows of the Fort and Blanshard Starbucks papered over. Matt, jump in there and open some cool cafe or something. Mike K. can probably bankroll it with no difficulty.

[aastra]

From way back in this thread:

 

 

March 8 1994: Restaurants: Starbucks opens its first location in Victoria on Friday, at Fort and Blanshard. It will be open 6 a.m. to midnight weekdays, from 7 a.m. weekends and close at 10 p.m. Sundays.

 

Check those hours. 6am to midnight every day and we all just took it for granted. But in the 2010s the hours of many Starbucks locations which had typically been open to at least 10pm were gradually cut back to 9pm, 7pm, and even as early as 6pm. The 1990s and early 2000s were a different world, before everything got scaled back and dipped in molasses and otherwise slowed to a crawl.

[Mike K.]

By Monday early AM following the closure, the Starbucks logo was already gone and no semblance of Starbucks was visible. They wasted no time.

It’s such a high profile location that I’m sure something will come along quickly.

To aastra’s point about operating hours, labour was easier to source and wages were more realistic. Now you’re expensing $80/hour in labour for four staff if you can get them, plus benefits, EI, CPP, health plan. How much revenue can you generate over an hour at 9PM, let alone profit? I’m surprised there are as many businesses as we see open past 8, that don’t serve booze. Booze at least has recurring revenue from the same seat but you’re only going to have one $6 coffee.

On a recent walk through downtown on a business day evening, I noted LoJo was deserted. Market Square was a ghost town aside from Whistle Buoy at roughly 5PM. That new Duer jean store had several staff just staring into phones. Not great. Downtown needs workers back.