 
Supergay
Member
Username: Supergay
Post Number: 173
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 5:56 pm: |    |
"I found it interesting that a small coffee shop had 8 partners... is this true?"
Interesting isn't even the word ... |
Ndavies
Member
Username: Ndavies
Post Number: 1650
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 6:47 pm: | |
Well that closing didn't last very long.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20090210/B IZ/902100446/1361 |
Benfield
Member
Username: Benfield
Post Number: 96
Registered: 06-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 8:01 pm: | |
quote:"I found it interesting that a small coffee shop had 8 partners... is this true?"
Interesting isn't even the word ...
What is the word? Clusterfuck, maybe? |
Hubbardfarmer
Member
Username: Hubbardfarmer
Post Number: 44
Registered: 10-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 8:24 pm: | |
Yay! Glad to hear it's opening again. |
Lmichigan
Member
Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 4101
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 9:35 pm: | |
Ok, so first they say they are losing X-amount of dollars a day, and that's while it closed, and now they are saying that the business is revivable because they've been seeing sales increase. It'd be nice to have a nice, honest answer so that some of our BS detectors would stop blaring. |
Hubbardfarmer
Member
Username: Hubbardfarmer
Post Number: 45
Registered: 10-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 9:46 pm: | |
LMichigan: Those statements are not incompatible. You can have increasing sales yet still lose money. My guess is that they were able to convince investors that they were adjusting to the market and were making progress towards being profitable, and just needed a bit time and/or more investment to help cover the start-up costs. |
Cooper
Member
Username: Cooper
Post Number: 50
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 9:54 pm: | |
$280 a day isn't a huge loss, especially for a new business. They just need committed investors willing to wait for profitability -- and a good plan to get there quick. I trust they have both. |
Lmichigan
Member
Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 4104
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 9:58 pm: | |
Hubbard, I realize that they aren't incompatible, but the loss was originally given as the reason the place closed. This is a trust issue, really, and they aren't being frank. If they truly now have their house in order, it's good to see them back, but if they just hanging on and trying to convince their customers otherwise, they are insulting their customer's intelligence. |
Cjd
Member
Username: Cjd
Post Number: 14
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 10:33 pm: | |
Weird that they were "undercapitalized" so they trimmed down the number of investors??
Whatever the case, if they can get rid of the $3.85 brownies (really) and get some food with a reasonable combination of price and quality to go with the coffee, they just might survive. |
Kryptonite
Member
Username: Kryptonite
Post Number: 78
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 9:49 am: | |
Supergay, I noticed the mention of eight partners in the News article also. For such a small business that would seem to be disastrous. maybe some of the eight are silent partners not involved in day-to-day business? that's too many people with too many opinions. It would be comparable to Detroit Yes opening a small business.  |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 2107
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 3:24 am: | |
it's not reopening friday. They called the employees tonight. Shitty way to treat your employees. |
Detroitplanner
Member
Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 2244
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 8:45 am: | |
I would think it to be very short-sighted of this business to be closed now. In four weeks you will have about 100,000 people lining that part of Michigan Avenue as part of the St. Patrick's Parade, and that will be followed-up closely again with thousands going to Corktown on St. Pat's day. They have been advertising this place for several years and they have an opportunity to market themselves or show that they are just another fly-by-night with a bad business plan.
To close down while evaluating your business is a poor idea. Refocus on what sells, get rid of what don't, introduce new items. It ain't rocket science. |
Detroit_pride
Member
Username: Detroit_pride
Post Number: 41
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 8:50 am: | |
You also have all the detour traffic coming from the bridge that drives by everyday, as well as the detour of michigan avenue. Alot of traffic that won't be there when the gateway project is finished.
Also...$9 for a sandwhich, which is no means comparable to a sandwhich from Russel Street, Mudgies an/or Ephs! |
Melocoton
Member
Username: Melocoton
Post Number: 68
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 9:13 am: | |
Any ideas of a revised re-opening date? I really like the place, but all this mystery is a little frustrating. |
Kryptonite
Member
Username: Kryptonite
Post Number: 84
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 9:22 am: | |
What is the wait time for coffee there? If they specialize in 'slow coffee' maybe that's part of the problem. A lot of people like to grab a to-go coffee in a hurry, not many people have the free time to lounge around and wait for their java.
Coffee is a high-profit sales item, making it available quickly to go is the way to sell coffee.
True, the St. Patrick's Day parade and St. Patty's day are high traffic days along MI Ave. And the Friday before the parade the Gaelic League has special events.
Organic is always more expensive. I wouldn't think it would be a great approach in a lower income area. SW Detroit is not Birmingham or W. Bloomfield. |
Jonesy
Member
Username: Jonesy
Post Number: 543
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 9:40 am: | |
Kryptonite, they do offer a "Fast" brew for those on the go. My average wait time for their slow brews has been between 5-10 minutes, depending on the crowed. |
Kryptonite
Member
Username: Kryptonite
Post Number: 86
Registered: 11-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 9:47 am: | |
Good to know, I would like to stop by there some weekend that I'm in downtown and I'm not a person to wait for coffee except if they are brewing a fresh pot.
And info from another Jonesy no less. thanks |
Hunchentoot
Member
Username: Hunchentoot
Post Number: 120
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 12:34 pm: | |
Their sign had said that they were closed for renovations and would be open Thursday, with Thursday crossed out and Friday written in. When I saw the sign there was no evidence of renovation activity inside. Today they're still closed with a "Reopening soon" sign.
I don't want to offend anybody working there. I love the place and am a regular. But shortening hours and being closed unexpectedly is one of the most poisonous things to do for a business. It is worse than if they were out of coffee. I don't like people to lose their jobs, but if they're losing so much money per day, the answer is to go with what is working well -- coffee -- and axe what isn't -- the restaurant portion. With just coffee the place can be run with no more than two people per shift.
If you open a solid business in Detroit people will love you. They seemed quite successful based on the number of people coming in, but not when countered with the overhead. Mercury can thrive as a coffeehouse, but they have a lot to figure out as a restaurant. Long live Mercury Coffee Bar. |
Gsgeorge
Member
Username: Gsgeorge
Post Number: 717
Registered: 08-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 12:38 pm: | |
Well said Huchen. |
Professorscott
Member
Username: Professorscott
Post Number: 1788
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 1:17 pm: | |
My guess is they aren't going to reopen any time soon, if ever. I hope I'm wrong, but the evidence suggests I'm not. |
Big_baby_jebus
Member
Username: Big_baby_jebus
Post Number: 62
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 1:33 pm: | |
They went wrong by offering the whole foods crap in a town that doesn't know anything about what foods are good for them.
Why don't they just serve the Slows overflow crowd. Put a couple more cooks in the kitchen at Slows and run food orders over to Mercury Bar. PROBLEM SOLVED!!! They do this in other cities with popular restaurants.
I always try to go to Slows but if the wait is like an hour or more I just go somewhere else. If I could just go across the street to order I deff would. Other than that I don't see them being as successful as we would all hope.
/...my.2¢...\ |
Big_baby_jebus
Member
Username: Big_baby_jebus
Post Number: 63
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 1:40 pm: | |
Oh yeah...
STAY OPEN 24 HOURS?
There is less and less available in town at night, if one decent business was open 24 hours or at least until 1am I would be there all the time.
I'm sick of business that close early or don't follow there own posted hours. Makes me just turned off to a business when I get some friends together to go out and when I get there...Bubkiss, freaking closed even though the hours say different. |
Birdie
Member
Username: Birdie
Post Number: 90
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 2:47 pm: | |
good grief, chitaku! i'm sure they would like to be open and aren't trying to treat their employees poorly.
give them a break! |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 2108
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 4:59 pm: | |
I'm not giving them a break, they did me and my friends who worked there dirty. The whole thing is a big joke. |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1707
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 3:49 pm: | |
Still looked closed today, stools up, etc. |
Thecarl
Member
Username: Thecarl
Post Number: 892
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 4:22 pm: | |
we should make a list of restaurants remodeling/reopening in detroit, like "agave." |
Rhymeswithrawk
Member
Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 1713
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 4:25 pm: | |
Ooo! Ooo! Shield's. Your turn. |
Detroitchef
Member
Username: Detroitchef
Post Number: 105
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 4:39 pm: | |
The Cellars at the Ponchatrain |
E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 1523
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 1:06 am: | |
Post Bar, Grand Circus Park |
Iddude313
Member
Username: Iddude313
Post Number: 175
Registered: 07-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 1:50 pm: | |
Como's on Woodward |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 2109
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 6:34 pm: | |
Cadillac center |
1kielsondrive
Member
Username: 1kielsondrive
Post Number: 913
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - 3:27 pm: | |
So, what's the latest about the Mercury? Has it re-opened? Will it re-open? |
Gravitymachine
Member
Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1734
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - 3:32 pm: | |
it has not yet reopened |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 2123
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 - 4:34 pm: | |
it's not going to either |
1kielsondrive
Member
Username: 1kielsondrive
Post Number: 915
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 1:19 am: | |
Chitaku, why do you say that? Do you have confidential or inside information? You did work there, correct? |
Chitaku
Member
Username: Chitaku
Post Number: 2124
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 2:36 am: | |
I know it's not opening because my friend who worked there till the end was told so. They pissed away so much money before opening that I knew they were screwed from the get go. |
Reddog289
Member
Username: Reddog289
Post Number: 947
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 3:42 am: | |
Can't blame me for that. It took so long to open it, and such a short time to close it. |
Hunchentoot
Member
Username: Hunchentoot
Post Number: 123
Registered: 03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 6:36 am: | |
I don't know a thing about the issues that the many partners have to work through to sort things out, but if they are going to close for sure they should immediately turn the space over to someone else to continue with a coffeeshop in the same location. They most definitely had enough traffic to have a coffeehouse succeed in the same location under different management. |
Texorama
Member
Username: Texorama
Post Number: 361
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 9:02 am: | |
Agreed . . . especially with the demise of the Starbucks locations, Detroit is underserved with plain old shops that serve espresso drinks and little else. Set up good wi-fi, serve a good cup of joe, maybe get some muffins from Avalon, and they will come! |
Docterry
Member
Username: Docterry
Post Number: 154
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 1:46 pm: | |
Cafe con Leche has re-opened on Vernor near Scotten - M-F at 7am, Sat and Sun at 10. |
Otter
Member
Username: Otter
Post Number: 629
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 3:44 pm: | |
I have heard (from a friend) that the new space is rather plain-looking, but I liked it in its old space and I like Jordi. It is worth a visit.
O. |
Docterry
Member
Username: Docterry
Post Number: 155
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 5:07 pm: | |
Yes, I liked the old space, too. But the timing of the road work and the opening of the Mercado were a disaster in the making. I'm hoping he can make a go of it in the new space. |
E_hemingway
Member
Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 1546
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 27, 2009 - 7:07 pm: | |
The inside is a little bit on the plain side, although there are a few intriguing pieces of art on the walls and some other flourishes in it. Maybe Ladybug Gallery at the Whitdell could lend them a few pieces? It is in a much better location now. It fits in much better in that restored historic building with the big windows overlooking the park. |
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