Looks like there's a new coffee shop on the Durham scene -- this one just steps from the Broad Street Cafe, but with a long and storied lineage.
Joe Van Gogh has opened at 1104B Broad Street this past Monday in a "pre-opening," a la Parker & Otis' recent bow, across the street from Clements Funeral Home and next to the old Randy's Pizza location. Although the name's new, it's owned and operated by the folks behind the Cup A Joe stores in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, and provides the coffee to the popular Weaver Street Market shops. (The Cup A Joe name couldn't be used due to legal wrinkles with the owners' one-time business partners, who operate Raleigh's Cup A Joe cafe.)
Joe Van Gogh on Broad will open at 6:30 weekday mornings at least (more soon on their permanent hours.) From the traffic on the Watts-Hillandale listserv, it's clear they have a strong following from long-time fans of their other locations, though many neighbors are also asking the big question as to whether two coffeeshops can thrive just a block or so from each other. It's a doubly-important question given BSC's increased focus on live music and entertainment in the evening, which has made Broad Street Cafe a real neighborhood destination.
Stop by and check out Joe Van Gogh -- they're offering 20% off prepared coffee drinks this week as part of their pre-opening celebration.
All things being equal, more related-to-each-other businesses are a great idea for a shared, short block. Being nearby, they build the idea of "hey, this is a fun block to be at" and/or "customers who go to one see and think about patronizing the other in the future." Consider an example: Federal and the James Joyce.
Posted by: Phil | June 21, 2007 at 03:55 PM
...or the Maxxx Adult Emporium and the Kangaroo Drive Post Office.
Posted by: Blazer Manpurse, BFA | June 21, 2007 at 05:53 PM