www.CostaRicaTicas.com

very good observation of what people seem to be interested in, in the Gulch...I've thought the same myself

What's up guys? What's up Dean? Brought any cheesteaks to Colombia? Thanks for the replys guys. Anyway, I'm supprised not many feel that Starbucks would work in Costa Rica. It is wildly popular here. To be honest, it really is only a matter of time before many of the fanchises that dominate the market here move to untaped areas. They offer a better experience than your typical mom and pop store. Read the book "The Starbucks Way" last year and it really changed the way I think as a business owner. One of the things that blew me away was the concept that Starbucks is not in the business of selling coffee. In fact thier coffee kind of sucks, but instead they offer you an experience. For that little moment they take you away from your daily routine and you are in a jazzy Tuscany cafe. Costa Rica is about 20 years behind us in development. But lets face it, these business ideas are superior and them comming to CR is inevitable. Do you think it is a coincidence that nearly every city from New York to LA has the same stores: Best buy, Target, Walgreens, ect. I'm talking about proven business plans that have been battle tested in the US market. It's not a matter of would it work, but rather when will it happen. And who will do it? Of course I'm not talking about putting every penny you have into this. That is foolish. Investments sould be made as pieces of a portfollio with staggered risk. Before doing this you would need to be able to finance it propperly. Some of the previous posters have said that onlly booze, girls and gambling would work there, but these things are already in abundance in CR. I am talking about providing something that market needs.

Another thing to consider (maybe) is that Barrio Amon/Otoya isn't just us--it's a somewhat gentrifying area with art galleries, a complex of design schools, a couple of nice restaurants. Being in the vanguard is never easy and a lot of pioneers fail, their vision taken forward by harder-nosed businessmen (see Railroads, US). Great caution is of course is advised as the chance of failure is high, but that's not the same as "It shouldn't be attempted." This is as much a muse-following passion as opening one of those art galleries or performance spaces, just on a different plane. If you have the money to lose and all due diligence has been done--you go, guy. I might even stop in mydamnedself.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

There is a US style coffe cafe in Barrio Amon on 7th a block from HLH that gets no business. Bagelman's in Escazu does a big high end coffee business. Starbucks way overbuilt and the newer franchise owners are losing major money.

BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

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BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

I agree that a stand-alone probably wouldn't make it. However something on the order of the Borders model might (combining a book store/music shop [CD or instrument]/ art gallery/ or some other combo I haven't thought of) might at least be worth exploring, if only as a week-end venture. Also maybe co-op advertising with other types of venues (similar or not) can create a destination neighborhood (it certainly worked for Our Crowd.). It also worked in Philadelphia on Pine Street to create "Antique Row" and in any number of cities to create Jewelers Rows.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Mora Books, which is possibly the most poorly organized bookstore in the world, has been in business for a long time dealing primarily in used books in English. Just add coffee. The owner is almost never there so it might be a good fit for a lazy gringo. Not that I am calling anybody here lazy, other than myself. I'm so lazy even THAT business sounds like too much work.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

I hear ya...bunch of liberal homos sippin on there mochas and on there laptops..Every time i ve been to starbuck its like this..Geeky buggers think there so smart too..You ll hear them in deep conversation about culture and politics. Using very large words and such. I hate starbucks>>>>

I do not like the idea of more American chains in CR
yes it will happen but why be a part of that
Here is my two cents
To have a chance of success one must apeal to ticos and gringos as well
Ideas I have had
Coin op laundry ... Might pan out but the equipment ... nightmare
Bowling alley King pins or candle??? Who knows if it would work
Small store front with apartments upstairs?????????????? again
When you have to work in Pair o Dice it is not that
I think that I will get my income in the USA till I have a dirt nap
Come to think of it Dave you already had some problems in Costa Rica and that was with the oldest trade in the word
Unless you shit $100s
Plus no one has said a thing about a gringo getting income in Costa Rica
The banking system product availibilty ...etc ....etc

Imagine that--folks acting in Starbucks just like they did in Turkish or Egyptian or Viennese or English cafes 200 years ago--in other words, taking cafes back to their roots. The nerve of them! Next thing you know they'll band together to insure shipping or some such (Lloyd's of London was started in a coffee house). Better you should stick to convenience store coffee--I do too mainly 'cuz Starbucks is so overpriced, not because of the atmosphere.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Marketed to the ecotourist crowd a funky, non corporate cafe might work.

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I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

Majority of eco-tourists spend very little time in the gulch.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

lets recap here. So far today you have called 4.5 million people ignorant and Starbucks customers liberal homos.

Why not go for a trifecta and insultingly generalize another group before days end?

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

That is a question I should have asked.I was dying for a good espresso drink.

I am not what you would call a fan of alot of the people in the Starbucks around Austin..but there are alot of really good people in there without pretentions as well...and I do like the setting.I have spent many a lunch in Starbucks...never talked politics,but I did have a homeless deaf woman run over my foot with her rollaway suitcase...


I go for the strong espresso and the air conditioning.

All ticas are prostitutes?

There are McCafé coffee and pastry shops at select MickyD’s like the one in Curridabat -- over priced coffee and overpriced pastries – they do a brisk business.

The Bagelman’s in Barrio Dent area on the road to San Pedro is usually busy.

There are numerous over priced coffee pastry shops that are always full like Spoon’s and Mayeros. To me they are most noted for their un- stylish / uncomfortable decor.

It is likely that if you offer the elegant version of the old coffee house you would not sell much coffee and your comfortable chairs would be taken up by people accessing your free internet.