In a world where coffee shops seem to outnumber stop signs, locally owned Thatcher's Coffee in Vancouver's Grand Central shopping center is proving to be a shining example of how to stand out.
Thatcher's opened less than five months ago, and people are already lining up in droves for a taste. Once you step inside the shop, it doesn't take long to see what their business model is all about.
An ounce of local here, a dash of organic there – and don't forget to top it off with some sustainability.
"It [buying local and practicing sustainability] just seemed like the right way to do business," said Jamie Erdman, general manager at Thatcher's Coffee. "It wasn't really a question of ethics or anything, it's just the way you do good business."
And despite the tough economy, Erdman said business has been good.
"We've had a wonderful response from the community," she said. "Coffee is an indulgence, but I think it's an affordable indulgence. It's also a social thing and an experience."
That experience, Erdman said, is what turns a first-time customer into a repeat customer.
"What makes up someone's experience is all the little details put together," she said. "You can get a good cup of coffee at a lot of places, but maybe your server doesn't smile at you or appreciate your cup. There are so many little things that can determine whether a person wants to come to your store."
When it comes down to the details, Erdman said everything is thought through at Thatcher's – and when she says everything, she means it.
"Everything is fresh," Erdman said. "Many of our ingredients come from the farmer's market and our baker uses sustainably harvested flower. Our coffee beans come from Ristretto Roasters in Portland and the chocolate we use is local, organic, fair trade and gluten-free. Two-thirds of our pastries are made at Nuvrie in Northwest Portland and the rest is baked in-house. We compost all our food and coffee waste and the wood on our walls is from Oregon and Washington."
Thatcher's also uses compostable cups, offers free WIFI and even has a children's play area.
"Our big focus was having a space for everyone to feel comfortable in," Erdman said. "Having the kid's space really makes us unique. People are so appreciative that there is an area for them to play in and parents don't have to feel like their children are bothering anyone."
In addition to the children's space, the store was designed to have a very modern and clean feel without sacrificing comfort. You'll find chairs upholstered with coffee bean bags, welcoming light fixtures made from recycled coffee pots and a garage door that can be opened on nice days to connect customers to the outside.
"Because the store is big and done so nicely, people frequently walk in and ask if this is a chain or a franchise," said Erdman. "When we say it's a locally owned business they look at us like we're lying, which is really funny."
Erdman said Thatcher's is very committed to Clark County and Southwest Washington. She hopes to open a second location sometime in the future.
