How do create theatre within your cafe?

blackbird · August 2011

We have been recently been talking with friends what makes customers come into some cafes and walk past and not go into others (apart from the coffee)?

How do successful cafes create theatre and ambience within their stores?

Anyone want to give their thoughts, it would be great for people to hear that are considering opening a cafe?

I personally think one of the factors would be presentation?

RichardM · August 2011

A cafe opened recently in my town, with good (great) coffee, reasonable food, and quick, friendly service. Word spread within a month of the good coffee, and they started doing really well. The owner is the barista, which is great, and they poached a few good staff. In terms of the ambience they don't use table numbers - They hand out painted egg cups, ceramic turtles - all stuff they openly admit they get from Vinnies. Their spoons are those hiddeous collectors spoons from such exotic places as Mt Isa, and Tenterfield....which they also must get from thrift shops (they use ACF cups, so it's not just a case of them being tight). One time we went there, my 3 year old nephew "returned" the "pretty spoon" to the lady at the counter. The lady smiled at him, and said "shhh" and put it in his pocket and said "don't tell anyone". The smile on his face was just so worth it. These kinds of things are just the owners putting their own heart into it, for little outlay, and creating talking points at the table. I think a lot of places try to hard to create what they think the customer wants. Have faith in yourself, create something YOU like, and chances are everyone else will love it too. (my opinion solely as a customer).

Cuppacoffee · August 2011

I don't think it's a sense of theatre at my place, but a sense of community. Apart from lots of interesting, sometimes whimsical things to see around the walls, it isn't what I call a marble and steel environment. People feel comfortable and it's an extension of their home. For example, we have 10-15 DVD's on the cake fridge, encouraging people to borrow them, swap, enjoy them and lose them - we don't keep tabs on who has what. Occasionally, with the parent's permission, I'll give a child a flavoured sipper straw to take home or a green frog cake. There's a drawing on the milk fridge door from one of my grandchildren that gets lots of nice comments. I've seen boyfriend and girlfriend get married, and consequently have held their children in my arms, and enjoyed 1st year old birthday cupcakes. One day I'll miss all this.

hiphipharar · August 2011

To me, quality of coffee and food is paramount. Ambience is next most important. Den's Cuppacoffee cafe has great ambience and the factor here, and in the one that RichardM mentions, is the owner adds their own touches to suit their style. It's not just about appearances though; the personality of the owner/operator has a part. I prefer genuine congeniality rather than showmanship. Location is another factor. Mecca (King St) is near a busy intersection and the tables are outside. I never stay for very long, but this is not completely due to the location. Cuppacoffee is a fair hike from where I live so I don't get there very often. I imagine cafe owners would like to have their customers comfortable but not too comfortable. They don't mind people lingering as long as they are buying. I usually don't stay for longer than 15 minutes at any cafe I attend.

blackbird · August 2011

Great to hear so many nice stories, i love the one about the Kid and the spoon, I bet they will come back and tell all their friends about it too.

Brett H · August 2011

As a working musician the biggest turn off for me in a cafe/eatery is live music. I go to a cafe o escape the real world and read/replenish or to socialize. Live music interferes with this because it demands or at the worst, begs attention. Don't get me wrong... Scheduled special performances that are advertised and promoted are a different thing and can turn an average cafe into an arty escapist cultural experience. What causes me to cancel a booking and go elsewhere is when we turn up and there is live music assulting the senses without prior warning, advertising or signage.

hazchem · August 2011

Atmosphere in a cafe or any venue is important. It cannot be forced, it must come naturally from you and your team. A natural extension of your personality. I like to think of the cafe as just a really large extension of my lounge room. Customers are friends over for a delicious brew & something they love to eat. There's a bit of background music, but not so loud we have to shout to hear each other. Always look to improve on our "there but not there" service that means a customer isn't intruded upon, but that someone is always right there as soon as they need something. I think its important to love it. Not just the things you produce, but having people around you as well. If you don't love serving people, you'll never create a good atmosphere IMO. Ambience is one thing, theatre another. Not sure I really want any theatre in what we do & how we present, but I guess it depends on how you define theatre.

askthecoffeeguy · August 2011

to me theatre is created when all the elements are in place: product, service, customer satisfaction I love it when I walk into a cafe and there is a real buzz of satisfaction of customers who know that they're onto a good thing, and service that is humming to me its also about what the customers contribute to the environment, and its the dialogue set up between staff and happy punters that allows a natural sense of theatre to take place any good operator ought to be able to gauge the vibe of the place at any point in time and make changes accordingly to ensure that everything runs smoothly - and whilst its not essential to be an extrovert to make this happen, it certainly helps. what is necessary is an operator who's a good listener and a skilled communicator, and who's willing to empower their staff with enough relative autonomy to allow them to get the job done on their own terms, albeit within stated guidelines the owner / operator / barista ought to be able to direct the flow of traffic, ensure that all tables are being adequately looked after, and know exactly where each table is at in the course of their meal, even if they're stuck behind the machine I increasingly make an effort to get out on the floor and to talk to my customers, or at least to ensure that they'e all being properly looked after and / or enjoying their meals and coffee, and wherever necessary I step in to make sure that everything is running smoothly, and make amends when it is not appropriate music also forms a big part of the action, and the songs you can get away with playing at lunchtime are not necessarily appropriate for early morning or late afternoon listening - and adjusting the music volume on the fly is also important so that folks an be heard p