It looks like Gloria Jean's has made it to Romania - they just opened up a store over at Plaza Romania. I am still waiting for the first coffee shop a la Starbucks, where I can quietly sit and have a chat or I simply plug in my laptop to the wi-fi connection (offered for free) and browse or work.
It looks like a far-stretched dream for Romania, but I think we may see it sometimes in the next 24 months. Call me an optimist, but this type of concept not only that is missing from the picture, but the demand in Bucharest is at least high. (of course not empirically, rather from my observations, or lack thereof of such a place where I could go and use my laptop while drinking coffee :)) We do have some coffee shops around but none like this. Of course, it will start like McDonalds did 10-12 years ago - high premium price backed by a superior value proposition. As far as I know there's a success story in Poland where a coffee chain shop of this type had its exit exactly to Starbucks after 3-4 years.
Any entrepreneur willing to take the challenge and make it happen to Romania? Let me know. :)
There is such a coffee shop in Bucharest. Wi-fi is not free as far as I know, but it is really cheap and I think you can work all you want. The shop is in the Union Business Center at the ground level. It's called Da Vinci L'Inventore. I can give you directions if you want.
Thanks for the tip, I know exactly where it is.
Well, I don't particularly work for Starbucks, but I do have many years experience in the "American Coffee House" buisiness and have just gotten my BA in German. If you are looking to start up a shop in Romania and would like some help, let me know. I have no real "capital" save my experience, love of coffee, Romanian & German languages and other such helpful things. If you would like (and could legally organize it) I would love to come out and help you set up such a shop. I think that Timisoara would be a great place to start. I know it is not some large metropolitan area such as Bucharest, but it DOES have a university and a great deal of German tourists coming in to visit. Please get back to me soon, as I am planning on what to do in the next few years. Thanks, Nick de Carlo
Dragos, The place you showed me behind University Square (I forget the name) was quite close to your description. While being expensive for Bucharest, the coffee was decent (I am a <a href="http://www.coffeegeek.com">coffeegeek</a>) and I managed to pick up the first open Wi-Fi network named "PLANET" during the two days there. Good to see you in CPH last weekend. /n
Hello, I will be visitiong Bucharest next week. I am in desperate need to find a place that offer wirelles connection. I read about Da Vinci? Where is actually located and how can be reached? Thank you for your help
That would be downtown, close to Universitatii square, approximately across from the Intercontinental hotel take the far end of Campineanu street, straight from Magheru boulevard.
Cool, I should be OK then. Sorry I am bugging with w/addt'l questions. That place "Planet" you mentioned in one of your replies, is a different place from Da Vinci? Also, are there any internet caffe that I could use as an alternative? Thanx a bunch
The place Nikolaj is mentioning is Cafe Cream, also in the Universitatii neighborhood, somewhere behind the Museum of Bucharest -- I never used it for the internet but it looks like Nikolaj's experience was good. Also, there's an internet cafe in Ness Cafe down in the Universitatii passage - you may also want to check this list for some other hotspots in Bucharest - the ones offered by a mobile carrier.
Thanx a bunch, Dragos. I just got to send my homework to my teacher who's very fiscal and does not care where I am in the whole galaxy. She must have the assignment, period. Also thank you for the link... I think I will be fine with just a coffee place that offers wireless connection.
Hello,
I'm glad to find this topic on the website as me and a friend of mine are looking for opening a Starbucks-like coffee shop in Cluj. I think this is a great market for coffee as the number of students is relatively big (estimated 100.000).I've been working as a Lavazza barista in Chicago downtown and now I'm eagerly searching for some investors. I have the skills and experience, we need people that love coffe and are eager to put some money in the business. We are thinking about trying the coffee-to-go concept extensively but we are aware that the coffe-to-go might not be present in Romania yet for some good reasons. For example, some people argue that Europeans are not delighted by the idea of buying coffee and consuming it on the street... for Europeans what matters the most is the experience of the coffee shop rather than the product itself. what do you guys think?
Vlad, We are opening a "To Go" style coffee house in Arad, Romania in the coming months and are currently looking for a store manager with experience in running a western style coffee house, and baristas with experience. If you are interested, please contact me at ron@threebeancoffee.com.
well, any entrepreneur willing to bring Starbucks in Romania is told we are not part of theri target, yet:)
and I quote people with money who really went to talk to them...
until then, Gloria( why don't they have something outside a MALL?) and cafe de mi finca;;)
...The first cafe will open in Bucharest beginning of '07 (they train in Athens the personel will come to work -- Greek-Romanian ladies). The have already found the building. From those they dont know, master franchisor for the Balkans is the Marinopoulos group (carefour, marks & spencer, sephora etc). All the cafe they open are owned by the Marinopoulos Group and they DONT give it as franchise. So, dont think that you can invest in this idea !!!
PS.I dont work for Starbucks. I am just looking for business opportunities in Romania (also focused in the cafe's scene).
Thanks.
Have you checked out La Cafenescu in Grozavesti? I'm a Canadian visiting Bucharest for 3 months and it's definitely the place to be. GREAT coffee, warm atmosphere and free wireless. A little off the beaten track, but a gem worth finding.
Meagan, I don't know that one but have been to another La Cafenescu in Alba Iuliei Square