Why do I want to open a cafe?

With all of this potential career upheaval, the point remains to be examined--why do I want to open up my own cafe? Here's my own personal brainstorming session on the subject.

• I would be able to bake my own goods. Cookies, scones, maybe muffins and anything else that strikes the fancy.


• I could have tasty blended drinks--coffee, chai, hot chocolate, and cider. Nobody really does cider drinks, but they could be amazing! Possibly not as versatile as coffee, but there's great potential there. Ooh, and let's not forget submarinos. Or Italian sodas. And the horchata. There's a wealth of good cafe drinks to be concocted.


• I like the idea of having my own business. I could be a small business owner. I'd get to be the boss and have my own employees and do the hiring.


• I love going to cafes and having an alternative to the bar/pub nightlife. Cafes provide a space to work, read, play on your computer, whatever. They're nice places to meet up with friends when you don't feel like having a big night or dealing with the crowds (which is pretty much me all the time).


• I'd like to provide that kind of space for other people to come to. Comfortable, friendly, familiar. A place where you could have a chat with the person working or...not.


• I see other cafes and think, "I could do this better."


• I eat cafe food and think, "I could do this better."


• I think it would be fun to pick paint colors, comfy chairs, other collected and recycled furniture that would join together to create a mish mash that is both eco-friendly and different. A value village of furniture (fully washed and cleaned before they come in the building). I like the idea of local and beginning artists' work up on the walls.


• I like the idea of a non-profit cafe, where the proceeds would to go non-profits that I think are doing good, efficient, effective and important work. Organizations that don't squander their money on admin and fundraising instead of spending it on the programs they're supposed to be working on.


• I like the idea of inviting my friends from overseas over. They can work in my cafe, bake, make yummy cafe drinks and earn some moolah while they're traveling. I often imagine Dorita, Cami and Brandon working at my cafe and it makes me excited.


• I could see if people like my baked goods enough to buy them. I give away cookies all the time and of course people like them--they're free! But would they actually walk into a cafe and buy them? Or would they ever get a craving for something I make? To date, it seems that the answer is no because no one else ever seems to crave cookies. Not my kind of cookies. Not here. Though that probably has something to do with the fact that their cookies are of the small, crunchy variety and they weren't raised on my kind of sweets.


• I am such a cookie enthusiast, I think I could spread the cookie love and convert people into cookie lovers.


• The cupcake fad has gone on for long enough. Cupcakes are pretty and tempting--especially when they have candy or another little piece of temptation on top. But really? In my opinion, cake isn't as fulfilling as a cookie. It's time for the cookie to take its rightful place in the cafe/restaurant world. Cupcakes--done. Doughnuts--done. Cookies? Untapped potential. So many varieties and endless possibilities for invention. I could crack that. I can bake whatever cookie you can throw at me! (Except maybe the macaron. I don't know if I want to crack that sucker, it takes too long.)


• I bake with love. Maybe people would come to a cafe where the food has a bit of love tucked inside.


• I could have inspirational quotes here and there, maybe on coasters, to keep the positive energy up.


• I could build in some sort of connection to travel. Don't know how, but it's doable.


• I could have all kinds of resources to what I consider to be the best/most effective non-profits for people to look into.


• I could have books for people to stick their noses into while they're slurping and nibbling.


• Board games would certainly be there for amusement. Giant jenga could be fantastic.


• People like Molly Moon and the Top Pot doughnut guys inspire me.

More bullets to be added as the inspiration strikes.