A Small Place Called Tea N More

Its a small place without many thrills but with lots of simple coffee shop charm. Located off of a busy street, it bustles with evening activity of cards, conversation and laptop browsers. Unlike the many other coffee shops in the area this one is a little different. Instead of soups and sandwiches someone can expect to purchase fried rice and honey milk tea with boba.

Nothing in the coffee shop is expensive. The furniture is old and full of rips, tears, and other aspects of healthy use. A case of used books and games line one shelf and tables are plentiful. Together they create an atmosphere that is simple and warming to the local population. It has become a popular hang out for the Asian community. 

Successful businesses have something unique that separates them from other businesses in the same genre. San Diego is a city known for its mom and pop coffee and tea shops. In this market it can be difficult to complete without geographic diversity. Tea N More seems to have found their niche among the more laid back crowd.

7380 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
Ste 120
San Diego, CA 92111

 

Café 976 Develops Customer Experiences the Green Way

Cafes are a natural part of the urban landscape but Café 976 takes this idea to a higher level. The establishment offers a colorful servicescape brighter than what you might find in your grandmother’s garden. As a converted home Café 976 is retro, trendy, and environmentally friendly. Located a few blocks from Pacific Beach the café acts as a stopping point for locals and students. 

The foliage provides enough cover for a little privacy but not so much to restrict interaction with others. The furniture is old and brightly colored similar to what you might find in a garden but much more functional. The yard is sectioned off into little interaction areas around a tree, a courtyard, or deck. If you don’t like the company in one area move over to the next. 

A positive experience encourages customers to engage in word of mouth advertising. A study of coffee shops showed that managing customer experiences in the functional and emotional domains led to higher customer satisfaction and post purchase behavior (Nadiri & Gunay, 2013). Customer experiences will determine whether they will come back, invite their friends or say positive things about the establishment. 

Café 976 takes particular care over their environment and stands as an example of positive experience management. It is unique enough to create a brand that stands out but not so niched as to limit new customers. Offering a variety of soups, sandwiches and beverages you can take your items and relax in the garden. They balance unique and functional in a way that develops a stronger business model. 

Café 976

976 Felspar St,

San Diego, CA 92109
http://www.cafe976.com/

 

Taking a Beach Break at Newbreak Coffee and Cafe

After spending an afternoon on the sand smelling like coconut tanning oil beach enjoyers walk over to Newbreak Coffee and Café for their favorite beverage and snack. Offering homemade food and a street side location across from the beach it has earned its spot as a local icon. Foot traffic in the Ocean Beach area is robust with people browsing surfboard shops, beach clothing outlets and mom & pop restaurants.  It is a beach community that attracts a special kind of resident who rents a local apartment and spends their day on the water or an out-of- state tourist that fly in for a week to experience authentic beach life.

Food and beverages are the main attraction for Newbreak as customers walk across the street to grab something quick to eat before making their way back to the beach for some time in the sun.  Patrons can order eggs, omelets, soups, muffins and gourmet sandwiches.  Each of the items takes considerable care and effort to prepare adding to its quality.  Your watering mouth won’t forget their coffees, teas, lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos, and blended fruits. 

Providing a positive café experience is important for developing a return customer base. Established on the results of focus groups, a couple of themes make their way through the patron’s experience (Kauppinen-Rajsanen, 2013). Childhood memories, tourist experiences, social engagement and homemade food help customers find deeper meaning with the restaurant based on the self, place, food, context and time of the experience. 

Newbreak Coffee and Cafe provides a social atmosphere, homemade menu, and convenient location that encourage positive experiences. Restaurants are in the business of selling memories and feelings. A beachside dining experience that fits within the free flowing tourist lifestyle of Ocean Beach creates positive customer experiences through their senses that develop memories. 

The next time you are in the area and combing the beach or walking the pier you may want to stop by Newbreak Coffee and Café. Place your surfboard outside and walk in with your sandals. It is a casual atmosphere where customers are more likely to wear waist wraps and flower patterned swimming trunks than formal clothing. Sit outside in the sun by the street or inside next to their wood stove. Grab a sandwich and a smoothie and head back to the next big wave. Don’t forget to relive the experience for diner.

Newbreak Coffee and Café

1830 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard

Suite D, San Diego, CA 92107

http://www.newbreakcafe.com/

Kauppinen-Rajsanen, et. al. (2013). Remember eating experiences described by the self, place, food, context and time. British Food Journal, 115 (5).

Sights and Smells at Skybound Coffee and Desert Lounge

Skybound Coffee and Desert Lounge may have opened its door in May but is already getting public exposure as a sweet tooth’s and coffee lover’s pit stop. Offering organic coffee in small-batch production, pastries, gelatos and an emphasis on local products the market appears to be responding. Located near the busy activity of the Gaslamp District and a few blocks from the Westerfild Horton Plaza they appeal to vacationers and metro dwellers.

The coffee lounge is fairly simple by design and offers an artisan baker’s charm. A smorgasbord of pastries with puffy white frosting and creamy custard dance before your eyes. It is hard to pass by the display case and not feel the beckoning call of a sweet nirvana. If you are looking for something a little less zingy to the taste buds delve into a croissant or bagel.

In the restaurant business sweets are not just for looking at but also have a fragrance that raises the purchase amount. A study conducted by Krishna, et. al. (2014) found that smell in addition to sight of food produced salivation change in customers that led to higher cravings to eat more food. As it turns out showing food and allowing the smell to permeate the entire business is good for business.

In addition to its offerings Skybound’s success is based upon its core principles that help focus their decision-making. Each aspect of their operations, purchases, and activities relate to these core principles helping the business make a unique mark within the market. Their core values are: 

Quality – Quality organic drinks and small batch production. 

Service – Helping customers feel like guests. 

Organic – Offering organic products. 

Community – Encourage community relations. 

Passion – A passion for their products and services.

The offerings, environment, and management style of a business makes all the difference in the success or failure of a new establishment. Being environmentally responsible and offering local foods helps to create niche interest and showing positive corporate concern. Consumers will feel positive about helping their local communities and farmers the next time they purchase fresh coffee or slurp down a smoothie. 

Skybound Coffee and Desert Lounge

181 west market street

San Diego, CA, 92101 
http://skyboundbeverage.com/     

Krishna, et. al. (2014). Smellizing cookies and salivating: a focus on olfactory imagery. Journal of Consumer Research, 41 (1).

Claire de Lune Offers the True Coffee Lounge Experience

Coffee Lounges offer an inviting atmosphere with laissez-faire experience. Claire de Lune provides an eclectic environment where people of all ages and types sit, read, browse the internet and engage in conversation. Looking more like a living room than a coffee shop people will feel at home regardless of their attire and background. 

As part of the North Park community they attract a wide following. The street is busy with stores, restaurants, bars, and activities. Foot traffic is high and the coffee shop fits with local market demographics. People seem to congregate there as they make their way through the commercial area. 

Friday and Saturday nights offer free music for patrons. The genre of the music changes but can be in the African, Latin, Guitar, and similar strains. For the price of the coffee you can sit down and enjoy live entertainment by local musical talent. Few places will offer the same. 

Claire de Lune also attempts to be a positive influence in the area. They host amateur art in an attempt to raise the stature of the artists as well as draw visitors within their business. Both the business and the artists receive a benefit through greater exposure while adding to the décor of a traditional coffee lounge. 

Their interior design is well thought out. Lounge chairs are arranged in a manner that invite groups and people to get to know each other. The tables are sturdy and can accommodate one or two people. For those who enjoy being on the balcony or outside on the patio that option is available for them as well. 

2906 University Avenue

San Diego, California 92104

http://clairedelune.com/