Cafe Idea.

[GrangerJoe]

If anyone out there would think this is a great idea or not let me know. This is not the most original idea ever but I was thinking of starting a Late Night Cafe. Where people go to study and socialize and etc. The only music that would be playing is Lofi Hip Hop so you can really get the vibes out of it. There would be no lights and instead there would be colored lighting. Like Orange and White, Blue and Purple, Red and black schemes that switch out every now and then. And obviously there would be food and drinks while you study,talk with friends, stay the night out. I was thinking hours it would be open is 7PM to 4AM, and instead of opening this in the city maybe a collage campus so I can get a variety of Young customers. Not all adults would go out at 2AM for a coffee in my opinion and +++ most collage students could use the place to study when they need it. It would be a great atmosphere.

[mccfluff]

how do you study with no lighting?

[emmie]

surely those students study in the day time, night time is for sleeping off those hangovers, at least that's what im told.

[GrangerJoe]

@mccfluff, Well not necessarily what I meant. Instead of normal lighting use club lighting like schemes. For example as said: White and Orange, Blue and Purple, Red and Black.

[emmie]

are you in UK and have you looked up property licence laws, as these can be pretty stringent.

[mccfluff]

which isn't great for studying, sorry but if i have my head in the books i want to be able to see, not have some orange/purple/red flashing over me

go to a club and try and study

[Prudie]

It may work as a meeting place for the night owls - the one thing that would never happen in that atmosphere is studying. By playing constant hip-hop you may be limiting your clientele.

[emmie]

doesn't sound good enough to study in to be honest, flashing lights, sound system going, you need peace and quiet in reality.

[GrangerJoe]

@Prudie, well Lofi Hip Hop isnt what it sounds like. It's soft music usually played with a beat. I actually used it a lot for studying. It's not like actual "Hip hop" club music. Kinda the opposite really.

[GrangerJoe]

Again I'm not really aiming for a club. More of a late night-get-together for the night owls who just want a peaceful place to meet with soft music going. Thinking I would find most of those people in a younger audience. And to correct myself. I wouldn't have flashing lights just put filters on the lights where its Colored instead of just...well a normal light. Aiming for a night street look instead of a...well club look.

[Mamyalynne]

Check your finances, set up costs, overheads, insurances, sourcing suppliers and paying for fixtures and fittings.

Run the idea past a few Colleges and get the opinion of some students.

See what the feedback is then make your decision.

[bednobs]

i think if i was studying i would prefer to do it with minimal distractions. If i was going out for the night, i would prefer to do it in a bar/club so your idea would be the worst of both worlds to me.

[Cloverjo]

GrangerJoe, have you ever run any kind of cafe before? Perhaps you should try that first and then think about quirky extras.

[Buenchico]

If you're in the UK you could have problems getting a licence. Any premises where hot food or drink is sold between 11pm and 5am require a licence under the Licensing Act 2003. If you're planning to sell alcohol then you'd obviously need both a premises licence and a personal licence anyway. Local authorities are often reluctant to issue late-night licences and, if they do so, inclined to impose onerous conditions. (Such as requiring the use of SIA-licensed door supervisors to control entry to the premises, which would add considerably to your costs).

Further, many college authorities would be reluctant to rent space to a business operating on their campus which might be seen as likely to leave students too tired for their morning lectures. (Also, it's unlikely that most colleges would have suitable premises available to rent anyway).

Lastly, students aren't a great target market when looking to bring in business every night of the week. Students might be able to find enough money to, say, go to a club once per week but they're unlikely to want spend money on food and drink in the early hours on other nights.

[yogi-bear]

Hi Joe,

In my opinion, not a very good idea at all for a number of reasons, to which I will elaborate.
Firstly, College students ( I think you may be USA based, as we call them Universities in the UK) and Colleges normally finishes around 6:00pm even earlier depending on lesson times. They like studying with no distractions and what you mention, are ALL distractions, from the coloured lights idea, and the bizarre darkness parts....they study at their University campus, mainly in the library, and in their accommodation on site, or off it, if live away.....the last thing they're going to need is the sort of environment you describe.

Most Students are on a tight budget, and use their evening time to socialise in Pubs and Clubs, Cinema, Bowling etc. alcohol and good times is what they want...just can't see you attracting enough to make you a living.

Secondly, other potential punters/clients will be far and few between, maybe just maybe, depending on your location, be busier at certain times of the year, but not justifying your outlay and input....at that time of evening/morning.

I have had three of my four children go through College, and then, University..two graduated, one still at Bristol...my fourth is in College at the moment....moving on to University in 2019.

I have shown your question to my 22 year son, who's here visiting....he thinks it's not a good idea too, for similar reasons....hates the lighting idea.

Why don't you plan to open a coffee/snack shop, near shops and a College/Uni campus, open daytime hours and hopefully will do well,once established.
There are plenty here, in the Brighton/Worthing area of Sussex,UK, that are always busy, throughout the year.....best of luck to you. ☺

[naomi24]

Lots of rules and regulations involved in the catering trade. I suggest you check those out before deciding on décor, music and lighting. Your local council can help.

[GrangerJoe]

@All, Just to make things clear. Yes I am from the US and Ik this isnt much of a US sight so different rules may apply. Opinion wise a lot of students on campuses usually go out to libraries or public spaces with resources to study or people who like to party. I was thinking of maybe taking half of both. Again it would have to be a quite space. Again playing soft peaceful music for example...: Lofi hip. So far a lot of you request it is not the greatest idea so i'll work on it and see what happens. At Least I'm getting advice and so far it's more on the "bad idea" sign. But again I see the whole thing differently so depends. Thank You for helping me out :)

[tonyav]

Best of luck with your enterprise ( if you go ahead with it ), however bare in mind that students don't usually have much money to spend so don't expect to become a millionaire with it.

[GrangerJoe]

I never expected to become rich from it. I just wanted to have a small business that I could run and I always though a Cafe would be fun. Just wanted to know how a small amount of people would react to the idea :).

[tonyav]

In that case as long as you make a living and are happy doing it, then why not give it a go.

[GrangerJoe]

I already know a lot on how businesses so It couldn't be to hard to set up and get the licenses. Only problem is will I be successful or not.
Then again I haven't tried yet. Maybe not a collage campus but mostly in an area with a good amount of youth. Neither day anyone say that Adults couldn't go but I feel the appeal would be mostly to youth.