Coffee shops struggle with economy, McDonald’s
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Updated BY JOE POTENTE
When Katie Traxel and two silent partners opened Dunn Bros. Coffee in Kenosha in 2006, she thought her most formidable competition would come from upscale chains like Starbucks or Biggby Coffee.
On Sunday, she closed the business for good, lamenting the soft economy and what she perceives as a coffee consumer exodus to fast food outlets that have improved their coffee offerings in recent years.
“I really wonder if we’re seeing the end of the independent coffee shop, because of, like, McDonald’s,” Traxel said earlier this week, as she and two of her employees cleaned out the shop.
Dunn Bros., 6430 Green Bay Road, was the second locally owned coffee shop to close down in the last few weeks.
Mo’s Cafe, 5537 Sixth Ave., closed around the beginning of this month after several years in business. Owner Grant Simmons could not be reached for comment this week.
Others struggling, adapting
Other local java slingers say they’re not planning to close, though they acknowledge business has been tough the last couple of years.
“Things are down,” said Bobbi Duczak, owner of Harborside Common Grounds, 5159 Sixth Ave. “You have to tighten your belt more and watch your pennies.”
That’s what Duczak said she sees some of her regular customers doing these days.
Duczak said some who might have stopped in every day are now coming less frequently. Others might order only a cup of coffee, forgoing a pastry or a sandwich.
While she said she has absolutely no plans to close the shop that she started nearly 10 years ago, Duczak said her suppliers have told her they’ve seen roughly a third of their customers go out of business.
Carolyn Kirkby, owner of Carolyn’s Coffee Connection, 1351 52nd St., said surviving difficult economic times means being able to adapt.
For her, that meant opening up in an unlikely location, in a newly renovated building on a traditionally gritty urban stretch just west of the Union Pacific Railroad viaduct.
“I’m able to kind of do more over here and focus more on growing my business,” Kirkby said.
A drive-through window provides early-morning service to users of the nearby Metra station, and the coffee shop recently began selling train station parking passes.
Kirkby said she’s also marketing her business for parties and other group events — Carolyn’s hosted its first baby shower last weekend, she said. Beginning this weekend, she will close the shop earlier, at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays, to devote her staff to private events.
Personal service key
Jennifer Capponi is one Kenosha coffee purveyor who is not lamenting her fate.
The Daily Dose, 6010 40th Ave., which she opened in September 2007, has seen its business increase each year, Capponi said.
While she said McDonald’s and Burger King are competition, Capponi said her secret has been trying to offer quality and personal customer service that chains simply cannot provide.
“If anything,” Capponi said, “we are their competitor, all of us small guys.”
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Location... location... location...
By The New Geor
My guess is Dunn Bros didn't do well because they were in that monstrous mass of strip malls along Green Bay Road. No one wants to venture into that mess, dodge people and cars, search out a parking space, then stand in line. Most coffee pickups are people going to work or on a limited length lunch break. The people with more time to spare want a relaxed, quiet place to hang out. Dunn Bros in Racine seems to be doing quite well. It's housed in a former theater with friendly employees and a welcoming atmosphere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Make your drinks consistent, offer a variety of drinks and snacks, make the shop a place where people want to hang out, offer amenities such as free wi-fi, cushy chairs, and interesting decor, and have employees that really seem to enjoy their jobs. Just offering coffee is not enough.
Sign Of The Times
By Hugh_Girrod
I too, make a point of avoiding anything anywhere near that entire mall. Traffic is terrible, shopping carts blow into your car and it takes forever to get in and out. Those designer coffee shops have outlived their trendy usefulness.They're ridiculously priced and these places have made obscene profits for years.Time to move on to the next trend.
Another explanation
By my26centsworth
Perhaps more people are brewing their own coffee at home and filling up travel thermoses before leaving the house. I know in an effort to save money for myself I pack a lunch to take to work instead of going out every single day. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I would assume it's much cheaper to buy your own bulk rather than buy a cup everyday. When money gets tight, little luxuries like this are usually the first to go.
Mmmmm, coffee....
By The New Geor
I love going to Starbucks (39th Ave or Racine on GB Road) for my usual Mocha... but it has nothing to do with the name brand or the popularity of the business. I just like their Mochas. And I know I can get the drink made the same as it was the previous times. And, when I'm in a hurry, the drive-thru will only take 5 minutes at the most. When I want to relax at the place with a drink, I know that it's a comfortable atmosphere... no blaring reggae or country music.... where the employees are friendly, but don't bother you constantly. Location is a big part of it. The Starbucks by I-94 is not relaxing and generally can't have very fast service (they're way too busy). Some of the local shops lack parking, consistency, regular hours. Common Grounds is a nice place, but parking sucks (usually only go there when walking in the area). Mo's had a nice location, but never had regular hours or regular employees... they didn't seem to have a plan. McDonalds and Biggby's? Yuck. Like drinking a cup of sugar and whipped cream... nasty drinks.
Guess it's cold coffee
By two cents worth
Maybe if the public could of smoked in there they wouldn't be closing. But alas Breathe Free is doing such a golly gee bang up job. Congratulations Kenosha looks like you can't be "turgid" or smoke.
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