Convenience Is King in a Commuter’s World
As we return to a sense of normality post-COVID, we now have more commuters keen to hit the streets with more and more staff heading back to the office, as well as more customers looking to break from their screens and see, touch and feel their shopping in real life. A sacred part of many workers’ morning routines is going for the beloved coffee run, meaning we have a higher influx of consumers on the go who don’t have time to sit down and enjoy a long breakfast. Hence, we’re now witnessing a shift in consumer needs with people demanding quick service and convenience. Given the rapid “in and out” flow of customers, not all cafes need a large tenancy to seat customers and we’re seeing the rise in popularity of small-format cafes. So with that in mind, we’re diving headfirst into the top small-format hospitality spaces that are serving on-the-go customers, as well as serving customers with the best fit-outs.
In case you missed it, Nodo is expanding once again, this time introducing a brand new quick-serve kiosk to Brisbane’s West Village. Delivered by Unita and designed by the geniuses at Cameron & Co Architects, the new kiosk beautifully aligns with Nodo’s signature aesthetic. Featuring honed stone, blackbutt panelling and a reflective copper finish, the kiosk gives quick-service customers the sense of being at one of Nodo’s multiple cafes, all with the convenience of being at a corner tenancy.
Another caffeinated success story is none other than Industry Beans.
Built by Unita and designed by March Studios, Industry Beans’ Adelaide Street location is like their Newstead cafe’s little brother. Occupying a cozy 46sqm tenancy on one of Brisbane’s busiest streets, Industry Beans Adelaide Street mimics the design of its QLD flagship counterpart, affording customers a sense of familiarity. As mentioned earlier, the cafe is located a high foot-traffic area, surrounded by public transport, making it one of the key pillars of its success. Location, location, location is crucial! This means, the Industry Beans team have a constant flow of customers throughout the day, combine a great fit-out with their signature roast – perfection.
A final small format cafe that is serving our local commuters is Cafe Cre Asion in Darlinghurst, NSW. Quietly nestled behind the main road, Cafe Cre Asion is serving up Japanese cuisine, like Matcha tea, sandos and more. Despite its small size, Cafe Cre Asion’s fit-out draws heavy influence from Japanese design with the space’s soothing wood finishes, while contrasting it with smooth and concrete walls. To open up the space, there is a floor-to-ceiling window that enables airflow and for space to make it feel bigger and brighter.
If you want to open a small-format cafe, there are several elements that you should never overlook. From your location to your fit-out, they all can make or break the success of your space. Quick service cafes like Nodo, Cafe Cre Asion and Industry Beans bring a refreshing take on how we design and build cafes to suit new consumer needs and make us excited for new spots opening up to curb our caffeine needs.