Spring Break
Business percolates in cafes
Cindy Krischer Goodman-->McClatchy Newspapers
Issue date: 10/11/06 Section: News
Real estate agents congregate at the Aventura Starbucks, meeting with prospective customers in a safe environment. Lawyers chug their morning coffee at Starbucks in Coral Gables, hashing out details of agreements before heading to the nearby courthouse. Small business owners court investors at the Barnes & Noble in Plantation, midway between Miami and Boca Raton.
"The social reality is that these are very comfortable places," said Bob Preziosi, professor of management at H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University. The younger generation in particular, he said, is intimidated by throwing ideas around a wooden conference room table. "(Coffee shops) are a lot less inhibiting than traditional offices."
That is why Diane and Paul Allen, owners of a commercial real estate marketing firm, are meeting with their 20-something Web designer at the Barnes & Noble cafe in Plantation instead of their Weston office.
"It's a lot more relaxed a setting to view and compare files."
Others use Wi-Fi cafes to work without distractions from co-workers, phone calls or even from kids.
Linda Kurtz, a pharmaceutical representative and working mom, retreats to bookstores and coffee shops in between sales calls.
"I can crank out work and eat lunch or drink coffee without interruptions."
But don't be fooled - these Wi-Fi cafes have their office politics, too. Farooq Javad knows this to be true after spending months trying to get a business started from his laptop at Barnes & Noble in Pembroke Pines. "That's the prime spot over there," Javad says, pointing to the wall. "It's kind of like the corner office because it's where the outlets are."
Over at this "corner office," Serge and Rafa have commandeered a table for hours, days actually. The two are crunching numbers, entering data and putting finishing touches on a business plan that will help them expand their two-year-old technology company.
This lingering is a conundrum for cafe managers. Borders spokeswoman Holley Stein acknowledges some managers have had complaints from patrons who resent table hogs or loud cell phone talkers. Signs on the cafe tables discourage people who use Wi-Fi without making a purchase. But managers never ask anyone to leave.
"We consider ourselves a community gathering place for people to use for what they like," Stein said. "We want to be welcoming."
Some small cafe owners have developed a strategy for dealing with lingering patrons, asking politely with frequency whether her or she needs food or coffee.
Miguel Del Villar, manager of the Starbucks on Coral Gables' Miracle Mile, said he knows most of the people who use his coffee shop as virtual offices and caters to them. Most buy lots of coffee.
"I'll go up and ask them if they are finished with their cup and if I can throw it away for them and if they want more. We want them to come here more than their office."
Del Villar says the long hours his shop is open adds to the draw, luring people who want to leave work but don't want to face their commute.
"We've created an environment that is relaxed but where they can still be productive."
"The social reality is that these are very comfortable places," said Bob Preziosi, professor of management at H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University. The younger generation in particular, he said, is intimidated by throwing ideas around a wooden conference room table. "(Coffee shops) are a lot less inhibiting than traditional offices."
That is why Diane and Paul Allen, owners of a commercial real estate marketing firm, are meeting with their 20-something Web designer at the Barnes & Noble cafe in Plantation instead of their Weston office.
"It's a lot more relaxed a setting to view and compare files."
Others use Wi-Fi cafes to work without distractions from co-workers, phone calls or even from kids.
Linda Kurtz, a pharmaceutical representative and working mom, retreats to bookstores and coffee shops in between sales calls.
"I can crank out work and eat lunch or drink coffee without interruptions."
But don't be fooled - these Wi-Fi cafes have their office politics, too. Farooq Javad knows this to be true after spending months trying to get a business started from his laptop at Barnes & Noble in Pembroke Pines. "That's the prime spot over there," Javad says, pointing to the wall. "It's kind of like the corner office because it's where the outlets are."
Over at this "corner office," Serge and Rafa have commandeered a table for hours, days actually. The two are crunching numbers, entering data and putting finishing touches on a business plan that will help them expand their two-year-old technology company.
This lingering is a conundrum for cafe managers. Borders spokeswoman Holley Stein acknowledges some managers have had complaints from patrons who resent table hogs or loud cell phone talkers. Signs on the cafe tables discourage people who use Wi-Fi without making a purchase. But managers never ask anyone to leave.
"We consider ourselves a community gathering place for people to use for what they like," Stein said. "We want to be welcoming."
Some small cafe owners have developed a strategy for dealing with lingering patrons, asking politely with frequency whether her or she needs food or coffee.
Miguel Del Villar, manager of the Starbucks on Coral Gables' Miracle Mile, said he knows most of the people who use his coffee shop as virtual offices and caters to them. Most buy lots of coffee.
"I'll go up and ask them if they are finished with their cup and if I can throw it away for them and if they want more. We want them to come here more than their office."
Del Villar says the long hours his shop is open adds to the draw, luring people who want to leave work but don't want to face their commute.
"We've created an environment that is relaxed but where they can still be productive."
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