This was the original Seminole Heights blog with commentary about life in and around the urban neighborhood of Seminole Heights in Tampa, Florida. Musings about other topics as my mood permits. The blog is essentially inactive since I moved to Lutz. Go to The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog - www.seminoleheightsblog.com for active content.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Coffee Bean II?
Interestingly, the "For Rent" sign at the old Coffee Bean Cafe/Vivian's Whistle Stop/Rigo's Eatery/ice cream joint, etc. has come down.
It has been rented, rumour has it to a Spanish family who are looking to do a deli, sandwiches etc. They need to get the place exorcised, nothing has worked there yet..
I know I'm in the wrong place but I need to ask if anyone has seen a little black dog (1/2 miniature pinscher/ 1/2Boston terrier) lost at MLK and Central He was wearing a studded black collar, his sister is pining away for him and Mike the owner is very unhappy....there is a $150 reward. Call Mike Peterson 787-6176. Many thanks!
About a week ago I ran into the owner of the building in Publix and he told me he was giving up on waiting for someone to open a restaurant there. He had been holding out for that.
But now, He was either planning to expand the antique mall into the space or rent to some kind of shop.
So, I'm not so sure about the Spanish Restaurant info, unless things have changed that quickly.
a good coffee shop with desserts and good music, books and magazines would be great there. The problem is that not enough people in the neighborhood are supporting business there.
The Coffee Bean was an excellent concept, had amazingly good food and atmosphere. The only reason it died was POOR SERVICE. I would eat before going knowing that it woudl take forever to go. (If possible, they were as bad as Viva La Frida)
Oh Christ, I hope he doesn't increase the size of that Antique shop. Don't get me wrong, I bought one of those great old style metal fans that will sever your fingers there last year. I just think to increase the sprawling mass of loved items into a space that could be much better served as a restaurant is foolish.
Bring back the Bean! Bring back the Bean! *
*and yeah, they should have it exorcised. I know of a good witch doctor in the area.
We loved the Bean, were doing breakfast there regularly on weekends. The service was sometimes slow, but it seemed the biggest problem they had wasn't a lack of business, but keeping employees(don't know if it was them or the employees) but we would be there shortly after the door opened and they were always apologizing for the cook being late, calling in, etc...) I agree that something serving coffee and ice cream in the evenings with comfortable seating should do well. We frequented a place out west that had espresso/coffee and ice cream and had the most comfortable chairs, couches, and lots of magazines, and free wireless. It stayed busy. The chairs at the Bean combined with the slow service probably was better for the business of local chiropractors.
anything's better than that debacle called frida's. that place is ridiculous. i wish someone who had a clue would either take over or bring in another restaurant.
I have to agree with the comment on Frida's...the service gets worse each time I go there. There is so much potential there, it's a shame to see it wasted.
I agree, Frida's has some of the best food in town, but the Crappy service keeps me away. If I knew I could always rely on consistent service, cold beer and good food. I would go several times a month.
People should never "support" businesses. Businesses succeed or fail not on the actions of their customers but on their own choices, effort, and luck.
Saying the neighborhood doesn't "support" a business and that's why they never work there is shifting responsibility from the owners to the customers and that's just silly.
According to the Small Business Association, roughly 60% of all small businesses fail in the first three years. The Coffee Bean was run by someone that had never run a restaraunt before. That it failed was no surprise, regardless of how nice the guy was (is). When Rigos was sold to Cal, Cal tried to change what Rigos was and lost the existing customer base. Then he moved the restaraunt to Osborne and never regained profitability. Rigos was in the black 6 months after opening on Knollwood and made a tidy profit for Rigo. The Whitstle Stop just blew on threw, I'm not sure they gave it enough of a try to even know for sure what went wrong there. Sugardaddies seemed like a good fit next to a highschool, but it was always empty, so perhaps not.
It isn't what the neighborhood does that makes or breaks these places, it's what the owner does. It's their job to provide a product their intended customers will want to buy. No one should be made to feel guilty for not buying a shoddy product just because it's local.
FYI -- this is in the green building at the corner of Osbourne Ave. and Florida Ave.
ReplyDeleteIt has been rented, rumour has it to a Spanish family who are looking to do a deli, sandwiches etc. They need to get the place exorcised, nothing has worked there yet..
ReplyDeleteI know I'm in the wrong place but I need to ask if anyone has seen a little black dog (1/2 miniature pinscher/ 1/2Boston terrier) lost at MLK and Central He was wearing a studded black collar, his sister is pining away for him and Mike the owner is very unhappy....there is a $150 reward. Call Mike Peterson 787-6176. Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteuhhhh... please not more spanish restaurants. Tampa has more than enough.
ReplyDeleteAbout a week ago I ran into the owner of the building in Publix and he told me he was giving up on waiting for someone to open a restaurant there. He had been holding out for that.
ReplyDeleteBut now, He was either planning to expand the antique mall into the space or rent to some kind of shop.
So, I'm not so sure about the Spanish Restaurant info, unless things have changed that quickly.
a good coffee shop with desserts and good music, books and magazines would be great there. The problem is that not enough people in the neighborhood are supporting business there.
ReplyDeleteThe Coffee Bean was an excellent concept, had amazingly good food and atmosphere. The only reason it died was POOR SERVICE. I would eat before going knowing that it woudl take forever to go. (If possible, they were as bad as Viva La Frida)
ReplyDeleteOh Christ, I hope he doesn't increase the size of that Antique shop. Don't get me wrong, I bought one of those great old style metal fans that will sever your fingers there last year. I just think to increase the sprawling mass of loved items into a space that could be much better served as a restaurant is foolish.
ReplyDeleteBring back the Bean! Bring back the Bean! *
*and yeah, they should have it exorcised. I know of a good witch doctor in the area.
We loved the Bean, were doing breakfast there regularly on weekends. The service was sometimes slow, but it seemed the biggest problem they had wasn't a lack of business, but keeping employees(don't know if it was them or the employees) but we would be there shortly after the door opened and they were always apologizing for the cook being late, calling in, etc...) I agree that something serving coffee and ice cream in the evenings with comfortable seating should do well. We frequented a place out west that had espresso/coffee and ice cream and had the most comfortable chairs, couches, and lots of magazines, and free wireless. It stayed busy. The chairs at the Bean combined with the slow service probably was better for the business of local chiropractors.
ReplyDeleteanything's better than that debacle called frida's. that place is ridiculous. i wish someone who had a clue would either take over or bring in another restaurant.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the comment on Frida's...the service gets worse each time I go there. There is so much potential there, it's a shame to see it wasted.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Frida's has some of the best food in town, but the Crappy service keeps me away. If I knew I could always rely on consistent service, cold beer and good food. I would go several times a month.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 7:22am --
ReplyDeletePeople should never "support" businesses. Businesses succeed or fail not on the actions of their customers but on their own choices, effort, and luck.
Saying the neighborhood doesn't "support" a business and that's why they never work there is shifting responsibility from the owners to the customers and that's just silly.
According to the Small Business Association, roughly 60% of all small businesses fail in the first three years. The Coffee Bean was run by someone that had never run a restaraunt before. That it failed was no surprise, regardless of how nice the guy was (is). When Rigos was sold to Cal, Cal tried to change what Rigos was and lost the existing customer base. Then he moved the restaraunt to Osborne and never regained profitability. Rigos was in the black 6 months after opening on Knollwood and made a tidy profit for Rigo. The Whitstle Stop just blew on threw, I'm not sure they gave it enough of a try to even know for sure what went wrong there. Sugardaddies seemed like a good fit next to a highschool, but it was always empty, so perhaps not.
It isn't what the neighborhood does that makes or breaks these places, it's what the owner does. It's their job to provide a product their intended customers will want to buy. No one should be made to feel guilty for not buying a shoddy product just because it's local.
Cappy's verses Front Porch or Viva's - 'nough said!!
ReplyDelete