To me, a neighborhood spot, whether it's a cafe in Europe or here at Kahwa Coffee in downtown St Petersburg, is where you have a mixture of ages and backgrounds, a mix that's - well - just like a neighborhood.
Whether it's a Cheers type bar like The Rare Olive, or Kawha, or Starbucks - if you go at roughly the same time, you may see many of the same people. But if it's all the "on the way to work" crowd, or all the "Mom's afternoon out" crowd, it's limiting.
It's nice when you walk in to a place and they know what you want, how you want it, and who you are. We like being greeted by name. We like feeling special.
Remember that your clients like that, too.
Sharon, the Rare Olive? Now that sounds like my kind of place!
Hi Sharon, this week I have been at my vacation home in Stowe, Vermont and I have just the kind of coffee shop here that you mention. I have been there five times this week and just love it. It is comfy and cozy and so nice to sit and talk to the locals or other vacationers (it is a ski resort town). In today's rush and hurried world of big box stores, it is so nice to have a neighborhood feel where 'everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came'. Check out my blog posting on the local coffee house that I wrote this week.
You are exactly right. We bank at Wells Fargo, and whenever I go into the downtown branch of Los Gatos, the long-time teller there always calls me by name. That is the branch of preference for me because of her. . . .
Hi Sharon, with all the changes in the world, there are some things that don't and that is that people want to feel like they belong. I suspect that that will never change ( at hopefully ),lol. We like what is familiar and feels secure.
Patricia - yes, you'd like The Rare Olive. It's Tami and Amy's favorite place as they enjoy the regulars there.
Lisa - it's especially nice to be recognized at your vacation home town.
Mary - I'd think most places in downtown Los Gatos would know you enough to call you by name.
William - yes, they do. And I'm so glad that YOU belong!
Sharon the places where people know your name are usually pretty good otherwise they wouldn't know your name:)
Bill - that's one way to judge it!