Through my friend Paul, I had a wonderful conversation with a coffee shop owner on Cape Cod a few weeks back and a few things from our chat are memorable. One of those things is the socio-economic philosophy of famed Barista-trainer Bruce Milletto.
In one of his “how to run a coffee shop” seminars, Bruce taught Kathy that much of a community dynamic falls around “the third place” for people. The first place is home. The second is work. But that third place is where people go to get their news, gossip and perhaps some primary provisions. Its that place that really resonates with people. It has to be popular. It has to fit comfortably into routine. It has to feel like a natural place for many types to go – it’s gotta be special. It’s often either a bar or a coffee shop.
If you look at Kathy’s place, it is very much a people place – built from an actual Cape-style home, it has nooks and crannies and tables-all-about – where people can gather as needed and have their public or private conversations. Newspapers and magazines lay everywhere. There’s coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider and lots of quick-but-fresh goodies that allow people to stay as long as they wish… a grab-n-go or an all-morning-hangout. Kathy solidifies her place in her town by having all of her baristas memorize the names and associated prized drink of every patron. She loves her community. She keeps track of everyone and brightens the mood as necessary (I hear she’ll even talk dirty to the men “who need it”).
I love this theory and it rings true. Reminds me of Woodstar in Northampton. Espresso Love in Edgartown. Or even, gulp, Bentley’s in Woodstock.
This is one of the things I miss by being in the city. The combination of anonimity and very few popular but locals-only “nooks” in NYC break-up the community into smaller and non-social cliques.
My friend Susannah opened what she thought would be “that type” of mom/pop café on 107/Amsterdam years ago, called “Zanny’s.” Susannah moved on and speaks little of it – but it’s still there. Tess and I go there weekly. It has a wonderful feel and much of what I described above. But it just… can’t… convert the locals to open up and build that community that makes the world smaller and more welcome. Starbucks tries this but it is just not authentic. There is not as much love in that “place.”
Note to self when considering such a place. Make it authentic. Give it some nooks. Keep the coffee fresh.
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