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How To Start a Coffee Shop

15+ Great Coffee Shop Locations To Start Your Coffee Shop Business

 Finding The Best Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

 

How to Find The Best Location for Your Coffee Shop

*We’ll Keep Adding to This List To Provide You With More Coffee Shop Startups Ideas.

 

Location. Location. Location.

When it comes to starting a coffee shop business, your location means everything.

EVERYTHING.

Without choosing a great coffee shop location, your coffee business will have difficulty maximizing your sales and, therefore, being profitable. In other words, without a great location, your coffee shop will never be the business it was always meant to become.

Most retail business owners know the importance of location, so why is it so hard to pick the right spot?

Often, choosing a poor location results from poor planning, poor research, and over-estimating customer traffic.

You’ll want to spend the time to plan and research before settling on the “right location” for your coffee shop. You will also want to include counting customers, talking to neighboring businesses, doing market demographic research, etc.

With that said, in this post, we’re going to have a little fun. We’re going to generalize some potentially great locations or anchor businesses that you may consider opening up your coffee business near. Anchor businesses are those businesses that draw in a lot of people regularly.

With all things being equal, we have found that some geographical locations are better than others. Consider these neighboring businesses that you’ll want to start your coffee shop near.

Let’s take a look at a few below:

Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

Great Locations To Setup a Coffee Shop

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #1:

Open a Coffee Shop Near a Library

Libraries are great locations to start a coffee shop nearby, especially if frequented by local high school, college, and university students. Where young adults are studying, the chances are that they will be looking for good coffee and snacks to fuel themselves!

A steady stream of hungry, tired students needing their caffeine jolt makes libraries a perfect candidate location to set up your cafe or coffee stand nearby. Lots of foot traffic and lots of community groups can generate a steady flow of potential businesses looking for a caffeine boost. Highly profitable takeaway snacks, foods, and baked goods will pair well with this concept and location. From big libraries to small-town libraries, opening up a coffee shop near a library is a potentially excellent location to consider.

 

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #2

Open a Coffee Shop Near a Bookstore

Coffee and reading fit together like two peas in a pod.  

Opening a coffee business within a short walking distance from a bookstore can benefit your customers (and neighboring businesses).  

Additionally, having a coffee shop within a bookstore or a newspaper stand can also be complementary and supplementary for your bottom line and overall success. 

This is a case where the sum is greater than its parts. On its own, a bookstore can generate extra foot traffic, and the type of customer you want to attract. These include browsing shoppers who are often willing to buy, sip, and linger. While large internet companies have devasted local bookstores, those who survive have to add additional income streams and offer an experience for customers that they can’t get online: excellent coffee, community, and customer service.

 As independent bookstores struggle to stay afloat these days, they are great symbiotic businesses to work with and generate greater profits together than apart. For further reading, consider reading… Low-Cost Ideas To Start a Coffee Shop With Little Money.

 

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #3

Open a Coffee Shop Near a Post Office or Mail Service Center

People need to walk into the post office or mail service centers most of the time to take care of business, creating tons of foot traffic, long lines, and passing customers. While post offices bustle around the holidays, they offer a consistent market base.

A steady stream of foot traffic may provide an excellent opportunity to sell coffee, beverages, and food to customers who are simply dropping to pick up or drop off postal parcels. Due to the high rate of success of these coffee shop locations, mail services have actually added coffee to their mail service business. In fact, a mail service coffee shop is another great low-cost coffee shop business idea!

 

Best Place to Open a Coffee Shop

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #4

Open a Coffee Shop Near All-Night Laundromats

People who generally spend two or three hours waiting for their clothes to be washed and dried will be potentially great coffee shop customers. Having a cup of coffee and snacking on one of your cookies beats staring at the washing machine.

No doubt, providing a warm cup of coffee (or cold beverages), snacks, and even a restroom, will be especially appealing to laundromat customers. Laundromats are also zoned for commercial use, which means you may have an easier time setting up your coffee business next door. Additionally, setting up a coffee shop near a laundromat boosts the sense of community and safety in neighborhoods. Like the other locations mentioned, laundromats provide a steady mix of potential customers that would otherwise not be around to buy coffee.

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #5

Open a Coffee Shop Near a Pet Grooming Business

Have you ever waited for your pet to be groomed? If so, you’ll know that this potential coffee shop location makes total sense!

Having a coffee shop near a pet grooming business is similar to a laundromat. If you must wait for your pet to be groomed, you will likely drop them off and head over for a cup of coffee.

You may also decide to stay at the local cafe next door too and visit with a friend, do some work on your computer, or enjoy a cup of coffee while you check your email. Like the previous businesses we mentioned, a pet grooming business may attract foot traffic to increase sales. Consider working with the neighboring pet grooming business to give discounts to their customers.

 

Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #6

Place your Coffee Shop Near Boutique Shops

Shopping with a cup of coffee is so common that it’s often difficult to imagine not having a cup of coffee while you are out browsing for gifts, greeting cards, or other items along a row of boutique shops.

Having a coffee shop or cafe near a boutique shop is very complementary to these existing businesses. This may be the perfect coffee shop location! Foot traffic with people willing to buy is always a positive benefit when considering places to open a coffee shop – and boutiques are no exception. You will want to ensure that your concept pairs well with the type of boutiques that currently exist. 

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #7

Start Your Coffee Shop Near Museums & Other Cultural Points of Interest

Having a coffee shop near a museum is common. In fact, many museums now have their own coffee shop inside. However, if you can establish your business near a monument or cultural center, you may be able to benefit from the constant traffic that they generate.

Of course, being by such touristy areas may drive up the cost of your rental lease considerably, so consider all of your options. Even smaller museums or points of interest can help drive customers to your coffee shop that you would not otherwise have.

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #8

Set Up Your Coffee Shop Near Indie Music Stores

Coffee shops and indie music stores go together like cake and ice-cream. If your community has an indie music store (which has a healthy customer base), you may consider looking for a potential coffee shop location nearby. 

Many customers who peruse record shops or music stores love to have coffee in their hands while browsing for music. In many cities, used-CD and vinyl record shops offer a steady stream of customers that often would love to grab a cup of coffee before or after their shopping. One of my favorite record shops in Seattle, Easy Street Records, knew the demand existed for coffee and decided to start up a cafe right next door. It’s been a tremendous success that both brings in new customers and generates more income. 

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #9

Set up Your Coffee Shop Near Game or Comic Book Shops

Gaming shops are increasingly popular. Like other popular healthy businesses that bring in lots of foot traffic, gaming shops can benefit a neighboring coffee business.

There are some coffee shops that host “game nights” to attract customers and increase sales. Perhaps this customer-boosting strategy might also work in your town? Like locations near music stores, gaming shops find value in offering coffee and snacks to their customers to increase business and keep customers longer. If this location appeals to you, check out your local gaming stores and determine whether this location would work for your coffee shop business concept.

 

Best Place to Open a Coffee Shop

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location # 10

Open a Coffee Shop Near Sandwich Shops

Sandwich shops or other small eateries – as long as they don’t compete by serving coffee – can be beneficial.

In many strip malls across Southern California or other parts of the U.S., you will often find chain coffee shops with chain eateries. Often they complement each other, helping each other boost sales without competing directly with one another. Yet, in many small towns and neighborhoods, you will find potentially great locations to open a coffee shop near complementing businesses. A steady influx of customers throughout the is just what your coffee shop needs.

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #11

Open a Coffee Shop Near Home Décor Shops

Browsing for small gifts and home decor can generate foot traffic that can be beneficial for coffee shops or cafes.  Your customers and the owner of the home decor shop will probably be thanking you.  Both your business and theirs will work to boost foot traffic that may benefit both of you.

Consider the demographic here with these businesses. Typically, customers who visit home decor shops have discretionary income and want a complete shopping or browsing experience that includes artisanal coffee or high-quality tea. In addition to the customer base, a well-though coffee business can complement the existing business community.

 

Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #12

Open a Coffee Shop Near a Flower Shop

Everyone loves flowers. Everyone loves coffee. (Well, almost everyone!)

Flower shops may not seem like a good complement to a cafe, but a flower stand next to a cafe can actually be beneficial. Why? Because like the other ideas mentioned, the consistent foot traffic that flower shops or flower stands generate can be mutually helpful and positive for sales. When choosing the perfect coffee shop location for your business, you will want to focus on the existing customer base and other elements that make it easy to shop at your business. Things like security, parking, easy-accessibility are probably available near a flower shop. 

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #13

Open a Coffee Shop Near Movie Theaters

Movie theaters and coffee shops are the elements of a perfect date. Movie theaters can potentially bring in a steady, dependable customer base looking to grab a coffee cup before or after seeing a movie.

I am not talking about a giant corporate chain cinema here. I’m talking about the small, independent movie theaters that show foreign films or host the Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight.  Sure, a movie theater might provide their own coffee, but offering good coffee isn’t why they are in business. Their coffee is usually pretty horrible.  This is where your coffee business comes in: offering delicious coffee and a place to begin a date. Consider looking for independent theaters or playhouses in your city. Is there available commercial space?

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #14

Open a Coffee Shop Near an Art Gallery

Art galleries naturally bring in leisurely visitors who wish to grab a cup of coffee either before or after their visit.

Coffee shops provide an opportunity for patrons of art galleries to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee while visiting with each other. Art galleries, art stores, and even antique shops all bring in customers throughout the day and evenings. Consider the customer base at each specific location and the products they might be looking to buy. For example, art galleries that are opened later in the day may draw customers interested in lunch or wine in the afternoons and evenings. 

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #15

Open a Coffee Shop in a Business Center

Being located close to or inside a business center will guarantee you a steady stream of white collars rushing to their offices every morning. Many of them would prefer an aromatic freshly brewed cappuccino to a batch coffee or automatic coffee machines in their kitchenettes.

Besides regular workers, there will be many visitors arriving for business meetings, which will increase the number of potential customers.

Remember, this type of business will slow down on the weekends, so you might want to have a day off on Sunday (factor this when planning your coffee shop budget).

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #16

Open a Coffee Shop in a Transit Center

Steady foot traffic is vital for a coffee business. Opening a coffee shop at or near a train or bus station will make you visible to hundreds or thousands of people every day. And even if everyone doesn’t buy coffee from you, your location will greatly increase the chances of making a profit.

People getting ready for a trip might want to purchase some food, too, so you should add a selection of sandwiches, toasts, waffles, yogurts, etc., to your menu.

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #17

Open a Coffee Shop Near a Community Center

A community center offers various group activities that can ensure a constant customer base for your coffee business. From kids, parents, teachers, and community members, a coffee shop could do very well at these locations.

Often, coffee shops create mutually profitable partnerships with community centers. Local communities are constantly organizing various events, parties, or seminars, and they need somebody to provide them with drinks and snacks. Having a coffee shop that is the go-to coffee place would drive-up sales and a loyal customer base.

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #18

Open a Coffee Shop Near Gyms or Athletic Clubs

Athletic clubs are another great location for opening a coffee shop. Studies have shown that coffee improves physical performance and allows to burn body fat more quickly. Many people like to sit back and relax with a coffee drink, smoothie, and a healthy snack after training. Your business can provide this opportunity together with a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.

By the way, one Americano has zero-to-five calories if consumed without sugar and milk. For the sporting club visitors, you want to provide a range of healthy low-carb snacks, energy bars, protein shakes, and dried fruit and nuts. Of course, you will want to tailor your other products to meet the needs of this demographic. Offering smoothies, low-calorie beverages, gluten-free products could help drive up sales at these prime locations.

 

Best Coffee Shop Startup Location #19

A Coffee Shop Business and Hair Salon

Have you ever walked into an establishment to see a dozen people staring blankly at a magazine, waiting to get their hair done?

Why not offer a way to increase your sales by offering a coffee service? Not only will you completely change your location’s ambiance, but you will increase your profits too.  Also, your customers will be more inclined to come by more often, creating greater customer loyalty. A coffee shop next door to a hair salon always seems like a great location to open capture existing foot traffic from hair salons or other similar businesses.

 

Best Place to Open a Coffee Shop

Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

Looking For The Right Location For Your Coffee Shop 

What do all of the locations and symbiotic businesses above have in common?

All of these businesses require steady foot traffic to survive. The chances are that if they have successfully sustained their business throughout the years, then they have found consistent foot traffic that led to sales.

Your coffee business can often piggyback on their foot and vehicular traffic and even draw further traffic (and sales) to the area.

In fact, many of these businesses may welcome your coffee shop or drive-thru coffee stand. Your business, along with theirs, can form a symbiotic relationship that can last for years – and contribute real value to the people in your community.

When you start looking for your coffee shop business location, keep in mind that no location is perfect. Rather, you will need to determine the “best” location based on some factors (that may themselves change).

These include your costs, taxes, laws, and distance away from your home.

But the biggest issue might be your traffic. A boost in traffic will boost your sales, and therefore your profits (if your marketing, branding, and community outreach) are consistent and present. 

 

Where Should I Setup My Coffee Shop?  

 

Location Considerations When Opening a Coffee Shop:

• Foot Traffic 

• Vehicle Traffic

• Security & Lighting

• Parking and Accessibility

• Complimentary Nearby Businesses

 

Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

How To Research Your Future Coffee Shop Location

 

Walk and Talk and Analyze 

It also makes sense to visit the neighboring business and ask how business is doing. Ask if business is good or not. Are there any plans to renovate, etc.? Talking to neighbors or employees of neighboring businesses. Consider counting the numbers of customers walking near your potential business. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of each location and balance them with your coffee shop business concept.

Assess Your Competition

How close is your competition? Does it make sense to open up a new coffee shop when there is an established coffee shop a mile down the road? Will the demographics support two or more coffee shops in the area? 

Your Local Municipality

Once you decided on a locality, you should visit the city hall and speak to their business license department. It would help if you asked what is required to open up a coffee shop in that particular city. Often you will be given information on the city’s health department. It doesn’t hurt to give them a call and visit with them before settling in on a location for your coffee shop.

There are many variables, both at the micro and macro-economic levels. It is good to do your due diligence and investigate all aspects of your location. Consider everything from zoning issues, health department regulations, and taxes before signing a lease.

Locations to Start a Coffee Shop Summary

As you can imagine, the possibilities are nearly endless for choosing a great location for your coffee shop business! You will have to keep a close eye on all available locations in your neighborhood.

Remember:

• The best location to open a coffee shop may not always present itself right away

• Start your coffee shop location search early

• If you get help, don’t give up looking yourself

Any of these locations can work for your coffee shop business. You will just have to make sure that you do the necessary follow-up research that your location will work for your specific business concept.

Let’s summarize these great location possibilities for your new coffee shop business in the list below:

• Open a coffee shop near a library.

• Open a coffee shop near a bookstore.

• Set up a coffee shop near a post office or mail service center.

• Start a coffee shop near all-night laundromats.

• Open a coffee shop near a pet grooming business.

• Place your coffee shop near a boutique shop.

• Find a location near a museum or other cultural points of interest.

• Set up your coffee shop near an Indie music store.

• Start a coffee shop near a gaming or comic book store.

• Open a coffee shop near a sandwich shop.

• Place a coffee shop near a home decor shop.

• Set up a coffee shop near a flower shop.

• Open a coffee shop near a movie theater.

• Find a location to open a coffee shop near an art gallery.

• Open a coffee shop near a business center.

• Set up a coffee business near a transit center.

• Find a community center to open a coffee shop near.

• Open a coffee shop near a workout gym or athletic club.

• Set up your coffee shop located near a hair salon.

 

Best Place to Open a Coffee Shop

How to Find the Perfect Coffee Shop Location

We hope that this list allows gets your mind thinking about the perfect location to set up your coffee shop in your town or neighborhood. After you find you find the best location to start your coffee business, be sure, and do the follow-up research. This would include checking out the zoning laws, counting potential customers, looking at the demographics and target market in this area, among others.

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Locations to Start a Coffee Shop

Coffee Shop Startups is dedicated to providing you with the information you need to get your business planning started. Please continue to browse our free coffee business articles. Additionally, when you are ready, consider getting our Complete Coffee Shop Startup Kit.

* The information on this page is for educational purposes only. We do not offer legal advice.