Office Cafe

Third Place Success Formula

Who says that you can’t have great personal service in the mall? I know that around the world, people are working to make their “third place” the very best that it can be. And who would figure that one could find a sense of community amid the constantly hurried pace of the mall? One guy that is really making it happen for The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida is Jeremy, at the Starbucks near Macy’s. (The Gardens Mall has three Starbucks Cafes, each with its own vibe).

One visit and you will see a man dedicated to making the customer feel welcome, the employees feel valued, and coffee drinks served to perfection. (Yes, they do serve coffee, in addition to a healthy dose of “third place” spirit)!

There are many places that talk about community and making a great “third place,” but when one stands out, I thought you might like to know about it.

Many people from all around the country (and the world) visit The Gardens Mall. If you are one of them, please visit Jeremy and let him know that you appreciate a place with such a good atmosphere. One visit and you will know why I think that Jeremy has found the Third Place Success Formula!

Tags: Enjoy, Relax, Think

Office Cafe at Starbucks Cafe

This was a beautiful sunny South Florida day. This afternoon, Marla and I spent some time downtown at CityPlace. We sat outside the Starbucks below the Harriet Himmel Theater, which is home to our church’s CityPlace Campus. People were leisurely walking back and forth, shopping, sipping on coffee, eating ice cream and watching the fountain dance to the music.

Today is Sunday, so I didn’t bring any work. But that doesn’t mean that my mind doesn’t wander to business once in a while. Today I thought about the new web server that I installed this week. In fact, OfficeCafe is running on that very server. It was a fun project. More on that another day.

Back to Starbucks. I can usually relax in this situation, and today was no different. But I am reminded that sometimes when I sit in such a place, I look around and think about the buildings around me, the businesses nearby and what improvements, if any, I would make. These thoughts lead me to think about my own businesses and what improvements that I could make today that would lead to a better business tomorrow. It is a good mental exercise. And to think, all I wanted was a cup of coffee! Could that cup of coffee really pay for itself? Even at these prices, it just might!

The thing is, it’s not always about the coffee. Sometimes, it’s about the place where you drink the coffee. We’re going to be talking about ways to mix the fun of the cafe with the productivity that can come from just being there. Won’t you join the conversation?

 

Tags: Enjoy, Relax, Think

Office Cafe Begins!

Hello! My name is David and I like to spend time in the cafe. For me, this is often the local coffee shop. In my travels, this usually means Starbucks, Peet’s, or Dunkin’ Donuts. I know what some of you are thinking: “How could drink one if you like the other? You must not be much of a coffee connoisseur!” Maybe yes, maybe no. I do have my favorites. But this discussion is not really about the coffee (this time, anyway). This discussion is about the place, and tips to help us enjoy doing productive work while we are at the cafe.

This is an “out of office” experience! Let’s enjoy the journey. Okay?

 

Tags: Enjoy