New Coffeeshop in Hilo? (Kilauea: to rent, university, camping)

[alaskangrown]

Me and my partner are considering opening a new coffeeshop in Hilo. After living here for awhile, I've noticed that the downtown area really lacks a really good shop. I've some ideas for what could make one really successful there, but Hilo-ites, what do you think? Does in need another one? Do the cruise ships come in enough to get tourist traffic? One thing I don't know much about is the cruise ships/how many people they bring in, and for how long....

Just a thought-what you think?

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by alaskangrown

Me and my partner are considering opening a new coffeeshop in Hilo. After living here for awhile, I've noticed that the downtown area really lacks a really good shop. I've some ideas for what could make one really successful there, but Hilo-ites, what do you think? Does in need another one? Do the cruise ships come in enough to get tourist traffic? One thing I don't know much about is the cruise ships/how many people they bring in, and for how long....

Just a thought-what you think?

Considering the population size and the coffeeshops that are already here (ie. 2 "standalone" Starbucks, 2 Starbucks located in other businesses, Hilo Sharks Coffee, Bay Front Coffee, Just Crusin' Coffee, and a couple of others), a new coffeeshop in Hilo might have a difficult time. As for getting tourist traffic from the cruise ships, they serve coffee onboard the cruise ships and passengers might not want to squander their limited time in port by going to a coffeeshop. Here are the schedules for the cruise ships are arrive at Hilo Harbor for 2011 and 2012...
http://hawaii.gov/dot/harbors/file-l...cruise2011.pdf
http://hawaii.gov/dot/harbors/file-l...cruise2012.pdf

However, if you believe that you and your partner have an excellent idea for a coffeeshop that can survive amidst the competition and have adequate funding, go for it...

[Razzbar]

From what I've seen, you will probably get more business from the crew members of the cruise ship than from the passengers. And the ships make the rounds, so you will recognize them as regulars after a while.

As for building a business on coffee to tourists -- naw. Coffee is a way for working people to avoid work. Tourists already are avoiding work, so they don't feel the need to take a break. They're already on one.

[hotzcatz]

Do we have that many coffee shops in Hilo? There's the Starbucks over behind PK mall next to the veterinary's office and that other one on Kiluea street over across from Domino's pizza and Finance Factors. I can't think of any more than that. There's the venerable Bear's Coffee which has been around a long time although they are over on the Wainuenue end of town. The one, "just cruis'in" is more or less for drive by customers only, isn't it? Shark's is more of an ice cream place, isn't it? Tiny without a lot of seats, too. So basically, I'd guess the competition would be Starbucks and Bears, the others aren't exactly sit in sorts of coffee shops.

I think it would depend on what kind of coffee place you were thinking of having and it's location as to whether or not it would thrive. A coffee shop which was more of a meeting place might go over well and perhaps the University crowd would be more of a viable target than the cruise ship folks.

Usually, cruise ships are only in port for half a day. They also push all sorts of land tours to their passengers during the cruise so a lot of their passengers go directly onto tour buses as they exit the ships. Add in the free food and coffee on board the ships, the cruise ship passengers have very little reason to look for food off the ship. Cruise ships can also decide to go somewhere else next year too. Their itinerary can change from year to year and having them as the sole support of your business plan might be risky.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Do we have that many coffee shops in Hilo? There's the Starbucks over behind PK mall next to the veterinary's office and that other one on Kiluea street over across from Domino's pizza and Finance Factors. I can't think of any more than that. There's the venerable Bear's Coffee which has been around a long time although they are over on the Wainuenue end of town. The one, "just cruis'in" is more or less for drive by customers only, isn't it? Shark's is more of an ice cream place, isn't it? Tiny without a lot of seats, too. So basically, I'd guess the competition would be Starbucks and Bears, the others aren't exactly sit in sorts of coffee shops.

There's a Starbucks in the new Safeway and there's another Starbucks in the new Target that's right next door.

My favorite coffeehouse in Hilo was Kope Kope that was located in the Hilo Shopping Center on Kilauea. Unfortunately, they couldn't make a decent profit and ended up closing down a while ago.

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

I think it would depend on what kind of coffee place you were thinking of having and it's location as to whether or not it would thrive. A coffee shop which was more of a meeting place might go over well and perhaps the University crowd would be more of a viable target than the cruise ship folks.

Usually, cruise ships are only in port for half a day. They also push all sorts of land tours to their passengers during the cruise so a lot of their passengers go directly onto tour buses as they exit the ships. Add in the free food and coffee on board the ships, the cruise ship passengers have very little reason to look for food off the ship. Cruise ships can also decide to go somewhere else next year too. Their itinerary can change from year to year and having them as the sole support of your business plan might be risky.

Instead of targeting the cruise ship passengers, it might be worthwhile to target folks that travel by air and look into opening up a Seattle's Best or Coffee, Bean and Tea Leaf franchise at or near Hilo Airport. Approximately 4,500 passengers pass through Hilo Airport every day...

[hotzcatz]

Oh, I guess we do have more Starbuck's than I knew about. I don't go to Safeway or Target so I guess that's a good reason I didn't see them. Isn't there another Starbuck's almost literally across the street? Sheesh!

How about opening a "Hilo's Best" coffee shop and serve local coffees? Hilo airport doesn't seem that busy, though. Do that many people really go through there? There aren't a lot of folks waiting around for a connecting flight, though, in Hilo. One is usually either coming or going but not waiting.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Oh, I guess we do have more Starbuck's than I knew about. I don't go to Safeway or Target so I guess that's a good reason I didn't see them. Isn't there another Starbuck's almost literally across the street? Sheesh!

Yes, one of the "standalone" Starbuck's is across the street at the Prince Kūhiō Plaza.

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

How about opening a "Hilo's Best" coffee shop and serve local coffees? Hilo airport doesn't seem that busy, though. Do that many people really go through there? There aren't a lot of folks waiting around for a connecting flight, though, in Hilo. One is usually either coming or going but not waiting.

Surprisingly, Hilo's airport is relatively busy at certain times of the day and according to the State of Hawai'i, Department of Transportation approximately, 4,500 passengers per day pass through.
Airport Fact Sheet - ITO

[nothing0829]

I also want to know about this, can anyone give us the answer?

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by nothing0829

I also want to know about this, can anyone give us the answer?

The short answer is, "No, Hilo does not need another coffeeshop."

However, I don't want to discourage creativity and innovation. Dealing with the local government and starting a small business on the Big Island is onerous enough without trying to compete against juggernauts like Starbucks in an oversaturated market.

[hotzcatz]

However, Hilo could use another gathering spot. If it were a meeting place instead of a coffee shop it might go over. I'd think somewhere easily accessible by the college students. I wonder if you could try it at the Hilo Farmer's Market to start? Get a scattering of small tables and chairs, serve coffee, sandwiches, malasadas, cut up fruit, etc., and give the shoppers a place to sit and nibble a bit. Dunno if you'd have a problem with folks camping out at your tables or not, you may have to have a set time limit of fifteen minutes if there are people waiting for tables or something. Starting at the farmer's market, you'd not have to rent a shop until you got the kinks worked out and figured out what was profitable.