Columbia Citizens

Hi Brian,

I was at Top Pot on Summit this weekend and said to my brother, "We really need a coffeehouse in Columbia City." As much as I love the Bakery, it's a bakery and not a coffeehouse. So yes, please come to Columbia City. "For."

Victrola has a rule, no laptops on weekends. Top Pot was jammed with laptops and it felt like a library or a very atmospheric morgue. Conversation's still a good thing.

I read on your web site how kid-friendly Tougo is. Great! It's something I always liked about Vios Cafe. You probably already know how full of kids this neighborhood is.

My fiance and I loved your CD location and were sad to move from the area. We love columbia city and I'm glad to hear you're moving to this neighbourhood now.

where are you going to be? I think another coffee shop would be good, but may not be viable, depending on location. there is already the bakery, starbucks, and vita. When lottie's used to be just a coffee shop, they couldn't stay in business and had to turn into a bar too. i would also love a place that is open later where i can work. I am not for the ban on laptops unless you also have a ban on kids.

Hi Brian,

I hate to see so much work go into small businesses, only to see them 90% of them fail in the first three years, usually due to a poorly researched business plan. It's much more expensive to experience a business failure than to spend time up front putting together market research, forecasts, and a corresponding marketing plan.

I recommend finding out exactly why other local businesses are failing, before opening doors. If you aren't doing anything substantially different to prevent the same problem, than why would your situation be different? Hiring an expert in creating realistic business plans and conducting market analysis research might prove helpful.

I wouldn't look to the mainstream media to predict the economic outlook, as this information mostly represents the political agenda of five corporate conglomerates that are working in tandem. Look to trends in local housing appreciate rates (i.e., disposable consumer credit spending) and local unemployment numbers for more useful data to work off of. Predictive market experts such as Jim Rogers are also helpful to follow.

Good luck!!!

Brian,
I invite you to create an account here at columbiacitizens.net so that your posts are no longer labeled as anonymous.
:-)
Look at the very top right of the screen and there are links you can follow.

Please open Tougo Two, Tougo Too, Tougo II in CC. We live on Beacon Hill and are fans of Galaxie, but we go to Tougo from time to time because of the great kid space. There is no good coffee place in CC currently - the bakery makes terrible coffee IMHO. We have always felt very comfortable at Tougo. Our nanny used to take our son there a lot too. And the coffee is good!

Hmm!

thanks

Hey Brian -

My son Henry and I LOVE Tougo in the CD and would definately frequent one in Columbia City. I don't have any facts or figures to back this up but I can't imagine that you couldn't make a go of it here. Although there is a starbucks and the bakery, neither are particuarly kid friendly or the comfy kind of place you'd feel good about hanging out with a toddler. Case in point, My Coffeehouse on Madison has made it happen and they have lots of coffee competition in the area.

A couple ideas - i recently got back from a visit to KY and visited a GREAT family oriented coffee house there. It was very Tougos in feel but bigger, with two levels (only separated by a couple steps), two kids areas (one for smaller kids and gated on the main level) and a train table on the second level, and lots of seating areas for adults. Programs for kids in the day and adults in the evenings (music, movies, talks etc). Beer on tap for the evening as well. They host events, like community oriented and philanthropy things and will be showing the election returns. I don't know what kind of space you will have and how much building you can do, but it was a really great model. Lots of community groups meet there because the space is so conducive.

Regardless, we welcome the addition of Tougos to Columbia City!

Hi, Brian,

Maybe a little late to the conversation, but I'm another Columbia Citizen with kids who would love to see Tougo come to our nabe. Is the project still moving forward?

I used to drop into the CD store once in a while as I was walking home from work on Capitol Hill in the afternoon….I work in SLU now and I believe I saw Tougo's name on the site of the former Illi on Westlake. Did you choose another site, or are you taking over the town? The latter, I hope!