So I drove through the Walmart parking lot where our favorite little neighborhood coffeeshop resided. When SDXB lived here in the’Hood, we used to trot over there every couple of days to loaf over a cup of (excellent!) coffee before we went about our appointed errands.
The place was situated right across the street from John C. Lincoln, a large regional hospital. The little shop’s proprietor figured if he could produce a superior product and also provide some top-flight bakery, the hospital’s employees and patients would cross the road to patronize his place. Plus a large Walmart store also stood on the same corner — presumably some of its customers would come in.
Well…I dunno how valid those theories were. But it seemed to be working: the coffee shop was in business for several years.
So SDXB and I used to go over there every few days: at least two or three times a a week, often more than that. Though the place was never full to overflowing, there were always at least a few folks in there, no matter the time of day. We did enjoy it and were happy to have it in the neighborhood.
But…after SDXB moved out to Sun City (a 40-minute drive from our parts), I pretty much stopped going there. Eating out (or sipping coffee out) by myself doesn’t appeal to me — mostly I go out for the company, not for the food.
Well, obviously SDXB and I were not single-handedly keeping the guy’s place in business. Hafta say: I could not figure out how he managed to stay open. Money-laundering, maybe? 😉
He evidently couldn’t — not forever, anyway. ‘Cause he’s closing down now.
He probably took out loans to start up the business and keep it going until it could catch on. And…well…no doubt when that money ran out, he must have had to shut the doors.
{sigh} It really is hard to imagine why he figured people at a large regional hospital would come across the street to buy coffee and sweet rolls at his place, when those facilities invariably have restaurants and coffee bars on the premises.
Strange.