Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Canton on December 7, 2009 at 12:59pm

I'm opening up a cafe in a completely untried area in downtown Fresno. As things go (we open feb. 1) I will let you know. Don't forget, you can't base anyone else's business for your own. EVERY situation is different due to location and quality.

Permalink Reply by Marek on December 28, 2009 at 7:22pm

Agreed with first poster, asking what rents are is like asking how much a car costs. A Rolls Royce for $50,000 is cheap... a Honda... not so much. Best advice I can possibly give you is just go there and SIT... for hours and hours and hours and hours... and hours.... just watch, learn... pay attenion. All the answers you need will come to you... I do it whenever we open a new location. I walk the area for blocks and blocks, I look at everything and then I just park my butt and watch the traffic, the people... what they're doing... other merchants. Don't be afraid to ask questions "people love to talk"... You might think you've got the greatest location since sliced bread... until you talk to the lady in the shop next door and she says... Oh yea, there have been half a dozen coffee shops open and close in the area and it never seems to work...

Permalink Reply by Mark on January 8, 2010 at 10:03am

Yeah that's great advise...also just stop by the local merchants and ask the employees your idea of opening a cafe in the area...see what they think. But ask them, do you think many people other then themselves would be open to it. Ask what the neighborhood is like, etc...

Marek said:

Agreed with first poster, asking what rents are is like asking how much a car costs. A Rolls Royce for $50,000 is cheap... a Honda... not so much. Best advice I can possibly give you is just go there and SIT... for hours and hours and hours and hours... and hours.... just watch, learn... pay attenion. All the answers you need will come to you... I do it whenever we open a new location. I walk the area for blocks and blocks, I look at everything and then I just park my butt and watch the traffic, the people... what they're doing... other merchants. Don't be afraid to ask questions "people love to talk"... You might think you've got the greatest location since sliced bread... until you talk to the lady in the shop next door and she says... Oh yea, there have been half a dozen coffee shops open and close in the area and it never seems to work...