Help. I’m running out of options. See, there is a Local Fellow Schemer with whom I meet on occasion. We scheme about all sorts of things, such as how to collaboratively create capacity for community. And we have had a simple plan to meet at a different coffee shop for each meeting. To date, we’ve met at
- Bean Hollow in Ellicott City
- Orinoco Coffee House off McGaw Road
- Blue Cow Cafe in Thunder Hill
- Mad City in Hickory Ridge
- Lakeside Cafe in Town Center
- Casey’s Coffee in Dorsey’s Search
- and, tomorrow, at Bagel Bin in Wilde Lake.
Sarah and Desmond’s in Historic Ellicott City is closed/being renovated. Starbucks and others of that ilk are, of course, corporate-owned. Where else can we go? We’re running out of options for locally owned cafes. Any suggestions?
10 Comments
December 5, 2007 at 3:55 am
You could try Noah’s Cafe on route 40 west of 29 in Ellicott City (south side of 40, next to the Sunoco station). It’s where Noah’s on the Side used to be; apparently they sold the location to new owners and let them keep the Noah’s name. They serve coffee, sandwiches, and various dessert items (from a local supplier).
December 5, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I like Vintage Coffee House on Main Street in Mount Airy.
I think you are confusing “corporate-owned” with “franchise”. Of course, I don’t see a negative aspect to either.
December 5, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Thanks for the suggestion, Freemarket. And, no, I am not confusing “corporate-owned” with “franchise,” as you surmise. I understand that there are national brand franchises, such as The Daily Grind, in Maple Lawn. Starbucks locations, however, are corporate-owned. http://tinyurl.com/2pforo
December 5, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Nearly every business out there is corporate owned. That is how owners limit their liability.
December 6, 2007 at 12:06 am
Touché, Freemarket. Now, back to your original definition: Wouldn’t “corporate-owned” and “franchise” would be the same thing given your latest comment? The term I seek here is “company-operated,” as in Starbucks locations are always company-operated and are never franchised. My bad.
December 6, 2007 at 2:28 am
The term you seek, as I understood you, is “cookie cutter”. Franchises are by definition, all alike. Not necessarily so with just corporate owned. A rectangle is a square, but a square is not a rectangle.
December 6, 2007 at 5:07 am
English Premier Coffee on Centre Park Drive. Sweetheart of an owner and often live music on the weekends.
December 6, 2007 at 10:45 am
David’s Natural Market Cafe in Wilde Lake open 11am-4pm
December 6, 2007 at 10:53 am
The Breadery, Ellicott City off of Route 40 West
Yummy! (Cafe + Bakery)
Closed on Mondays
Open Tuesday – Friday 6am-7pm
Open Saturday 8am-5pm
Open Sunday 8am-2pm
http://www.thebreadery.com
December 7, 2007 at 1:15 am
While I appreciate your thinking, Freemarket, the term I am seeking here is, actually, “company-managed.” As I understand it, franchised retail locations have a different legal and accounting relationship to a *mother brand* (I made that term up) than company-managed retail locations do. My original quest and question was in relation to my search for local, locally owned coffee shops. I do differentiate between a franchise, which is often, but not absolutely, locally owned and a company-managed location. All that said, I have been spotted in a Starbucks more than once. Even as recently as last week!