Tacoma Urbanist
Aug. 22, 2008 at 12:13am
Red Alert : Save Neighborhood Coffee House on Sat.
This from Andrew Bacon and the Feed Tacoma calender:
Join the Neighborhood Coffeehouse on McKinley Hill at the corner of 34th and McKinley Streets for an open house, visual art installation (brought to us by David Hume) and sidewalk chalk will be provided.
We're still looking for more exhibitors, so contact me if you're intersted in showing your art or performing.
This neighborhood needs your support!
Contact Info
Andrew Bacon
editor@tahomaorganizer.org
510-299-7235
Location
Neighborhood Coffeehouse
Tacoma (McKinley Hill)
723 E 34th St, Tacoma
Save Neighborhood Coffee House!
Let's not mince words. Neighborhood Coffee House needs all of the help it can get. This is, or should be, the neighborhood command center for East Tacoma.
Every neighborhood needs an independent coffee shop as a civic venue for planning neighborhood and art activities.
Blackwater Cafe continues to serve as a great cauldron for many political and artistic activities such as Frost Park events and the Tacoma Files.
See previous post on Neighborhood Coffee House and Espresso
Here was their pre-opening video:
comments [12] | posted under Tacoma
Comments
 by jenyum on 8/22/2008 @ 8:28am | It's a shame they're having trouble, when it seems the neighborhood wanted a coffee house so badly.
Is it just the economy, or do you think there are hours/pricing or other issues that could be addressed? |
 by andrewbacon on 8/22/2008 @ 9:45am | Their prices are actually quite low - about a dollar less per specialty drink than chains or other independent coffeehouses.
The main issue is that the neighborhood needs to be jump started. There is very little foot traffic, very few businesses, and the history, or perceived history, of the neighborhood doesn't help much. I'm working with them as a pro bono marketing/promotional/logistical consultant because I believe the neighborhood really needs businesses like this to open and stay open. In order to revitalize a struggling neighborhood, it takes a lot of people cooperating and maybe even going out of their way a little to buy their coffee in the morning :-). The best thing everyone could do is attend the event tomorrow, and make a commitment to stop in every week or so and have a coffee. Also, having meetings of any groups, whether formal or informal, at that shop would help as well. The owners of the shop knew that they were opening in a tough spot, and they have done way more than their share, taking a former drug/squatter house and remodeling it inside out - they've made the investment in the community - it's our turn to pick it up and help them out! Thanks! Andrew Bacon editor@tahomaorganizer.org |
 by lo on 8/22/2008 @ 10:05am | I live in the neighborhood and I have to say that a lot of my neighbors and I were thrilled at a walkable independent coffee shop, until we went in. The coffee was not good, the pastries dry and just bad, slow service and one of the owners and his friends occupying all comfortable seating each time we came in. It was pretty obvious that although great idea and beautiful remodel that neither of the owners had any coffee shop running or espresso making experience. And now with all of the neon paper signs, plastic flags etc it is looking more and more like a tacky used car lot than the nice, hip coffee shop it could be.
I plan to give them another shot this weekend because I really wanted to support them and really wanted them to succeed, but a coffeeshop with bad coffee isn't going to make it no matter how much any of us would like a local spot in the neighborhood. I find myself driving by the neighborhood coffee shop and out of my way to find a good morning coffee. |
 by NineInchNachos on 8/22/2008 @ 10:09am | have they tried bikini clad baristas? |
 by izenmania on 8/22/2008 @ 10:31am | Quite a valid argument... for all the talk of supporting local businesses, there seems to be this expectation that we should support a business even if we don't like them, just because they are local. |
by NineInchNachos on 8/22/2008 @ 10:37am | support GOOD local businesses! |
 by Erik on 8/22/2008 @ 11:11am | I have been there once when they first opened. The place is very nice. The coffee business is getting pretty competitive these days. The expectations are getting higher every year. I should go back and see how they would rank in the Tacoma Coffee Showdown: i.feedtacoma.com/Erik/blackwater-satelli... ... for all the talk of supporting local businesses, there seems to be this expectation that we should support a business even if we don't like them, just because they are local. I don't drive by there much, but if I lived in the area, I would try to keep the place afloat for neighborhood self interest and preservation at a minimum. |
 by Altered Chords on 8/22/2008 @ 11:14am | I had a mocha w/ an extra shot of esspresso there and it was great.
I give their coffee the Altered Chords "good" rating. Because of their interest in imporving the neighborhood I give the coffe shop the Altered Chords "superior" rating. These Altered Chords ratings are highly coveted and not dispensed willy nilly. BUT if the partner I met wears a bikini I will probably move back to Philadelphia and never revisit the Pacific Nortwest let alone Tacoma. |
 by Twisty on 8/22/2008 @ 11:52am | I'd hate to see this place go, but I think some improvements are in order if the owners expect it to survive. For starters, they need to have the place open on Mondays. That's a no-brainer. |
by Altered Chords on 8/22/2008 @ 2:19pm | I/we/people DO need extra caffeine on Mondays. |
by Erik on 8/23/2008 @ 10:34am | Tacoma Mamma weighs in today with some good questions: Help Save a Struggling Local Coffee House Stop by Neighborhood Coffee House at 34th and McKinley today between 11 and 3 for an open house and art show, and help a struggling local business. I'd love to hear from some McKinley residents about the Coffee House. Do you go? Did you go? What do you think? What would make you visit more often? www.tacomamama.com/article.php?story=200... |
by Erik on 8/23/2008 @ 7:00pm | Here's a picture from the event www.flickr.com/photos/tacoma-urbanist/27... Long live Neighbors Coffee and Espresso! |
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