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What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie,
Thanks for all your comments. I too have used the health department to discourage folks from bringing in outside items. However, when I checked with them the other day I learned they HAVE NO REGULATIONS regarding restaurant seating and tables. They recommend that the tables are cleaned and sanitized a minimum of every 4 hours! Consumers beware! Can you believe that? Behind that counter I practically have to wash my hands every minute and sanitize everything with bleach water after each use, but hey after it leaves the counter you all are on your own! It also turns out that my insurance already covers the outdoor and indoor seating areas so I will meet with the library to see how I can get those tables in the lease for as little money as possible. They are extremely interested in our success and I think are somewhat disappointed in the folks who said "if you build it we will be there". Not that we are struggling but I think that allowing people to bring in food and drink is very detrimental to what I'm trying to accomplish here. I will meet with them next week and keep you posted. For the most part if I ask people to leave they do so as they consider the library tables are something of a picnic ground. They do not know that I pay the library rent, how else would it work? There is another library coffee shop not far away and I know the owner, she has the same problem and I'm going to give her a call and see how she is handling this situation.
TTFN
Vicki
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie, I did check your site and congratulate you on your success. I am interested in how your business is structured. Currently I pay rent to the library and have to pay insurance, to the tune of $1600 + per year, on the space that I rent which is less than 600 square feet. There are six tables just outside my facility and 4 tables outdoors that are not included in the rent. Several times since opening people have brought in food and drinks that have been purchased outside of my business. Lately I have put signs on the tables stating that they are for Cafe del Sol Coffee & Tea patrons only and that product from other sources can be consumed inside the library. I have had a positive response to these signs as customers think it is rude for people to bring food and drinks into areas that I maintain. I have also asked people to take their food elsewhere. Legally I have no right to do this as these are not included in the rent. To include them would be a huge increase, possibly not in rent, but in insurance cost. I feel food and drink being brought to tables that I maintain is rude and extremely detrimental to my business as I offer these items also. Any thoughts or comments on this?
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie,
Vicki here! I would be very interested to know what you serve in your coffee shop. We have good loyal customers and all say they appreciate our being there. How many people do you have on staff? To many questions!
Vicki
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What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie,
Sorry it's taken so long to post here!
I had a meeting with our library board and they are in total support of our coffee shop.
They are also understanding of the public's desire to have a place at the library for family eating.
While they had planned for folks to come to the library and buy items from the cafe and eat or drink at the available tables, they did not plan for people bringing their own food. Since this is a public library they would like to accommodate their patrons.
I think they have decided to amend our lease, with no extra cost to us, to include the 6 tables in the entryway. The four tables outside are to be for public use.
This really works for me as I figure the outside tables are least profitable. Here in Iowa they are not used at all during winter and later this summer it will be to hot to sit outside. The tables are metal. I have also stopped maintaining those tables to discourage people from using them! Since they are not part of the lease I feel it's not my responsibility to clean off the bird poop, except for my customers who want to use them, of course!
I highly recommend you meet with your foundation people, they support your shop, yes? and find out what their expectations are for your space. Let them know how detrimental to your business the practice of customers bringing food and beverage into your coffee shop. I know you said you chase them to outside tables, that is good and you must continue to do this. I would encourage you to put signage on your tables letting people know which tables are for coffee shop use exclusively (with the support of the library) and which can be used for the public (hopefully none of them) and be very vocal about enforcing this decision.
I personally told a lady unloading her fast food onto a table the other day that she needed to take it outside. She replied that it was raining (it wasn't!) so I told her she needed to take it inside and she did. I let her know those are my tables and to move on!
Yes the table had signage that said tables reserved for our customers!
Once you let people take over your space they will continue to do so. Most customers appreciate the signs and feel people bringing food in are rude.
Get the support of your library and enforce it!
By the by, I spoke with another library coffee shop and they pay a bit less rent that I do but they only rent the counter and the space behind it so the serving portion of the shop is library property but they still maintain it and ask people to leave if they are busy. They said while they allow people to bring in food and drink it is rare and they really hate it when people leave their trash to be cleaned up! Can you imagine?
Look forward to hearing how you're doing
Vicki
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie,
Thanks for all your comments. I too have used the health department to discourage folks from bringing in outside items. However, when I checked with them the other day I learned they HAVE NO REGULATIONS regarding restaurant seating and tables. They recommend that the tables are cleaned and sanitized a minimum of every 4 hours! Consumers beware! Can you believe that? Behind that counter I practically have to wash my hands every minute and sanitize everything with bleach water after each use, but hey after it leaves the counter you all are on your own! It also turns out that my insurance already covers the outdoor and indoor seating areas so I will meet with the library to see how I can get those tables in the lease for as little money as possible. They are extremely interested in our success and I think are somewhat disappointed in the folks who said "if you build it we will be there". Not that we are struggling but I think that allowing people to bring in food and drink is very detrimental to what I'm trying to accomplish here. I will meet with them next week and keep you posted. For the most part if I ask people to leave they do so as they consider the library tables are something of a picnic ground. They do not know that I pay the library rent, how else would it work? There is another library coffee shop not far away and I know the owner, she has the same problem and I'm going to give her a call and see how she is handling this situation.
TTFN
Vicki
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie, I did check your site and congratulate you on your success. I am interested in how your business is structured. Currently I pay rent to the library and have to pay insurance, to the tune of $1600 + per year, on the space that I rent which is less than 600 square feet. There are six tables just outside my facility and 4 tables outdoors that are not included in the rent. Several times since opening people have brought in food and drinks that have been purchased outside of my business. Lately I have put signs on the tables stating that they are for Cafe del Sol Coffee & Tea patrons only and that product from other sources can be consumed inside the library. I have had a positive response to these signs as customers think it is rude for people to bring food and drinks into areas that I maintain. I have also asked people to take their food elsewhere. Legally I have no right to do this as these are not included in the rent. To include them would be a huge increase, possibly not in rent, but in insurance cost. I feel food and drink being brought to tables that I maintain is rude and extremely detrimental to my business as I offer these items also. Any thoughts or comments on this?
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Julie,
Vicki here! I would be very interested to know what you serve in your coffee shop. We have good loyal customers and all say they appreciate our being there. How many people do you have on staff? To many questions!
Vicki
What are your coffee shop expectations?
This coffee shop is my business. Yesterday a meal, none of it purchased from me, was consumed at tables that I clean and maintain, also sandwiches were consumed and several people walked in with beverages purchased elsewhere. I serve all of these products that could easily have been procured at our location. Now, lets pretend you HeartofGlass, are the owner of my place. You pay employees minimum wage (yes they do need tips). I have just come into your place with a friend and my friend gets a cookie for $1 and I have brought in my own PB & J sandwich, which you can also make for me. I sit there with my friend and use your table, your internet, your napkins and ask you for a glass of ice water to go. How long can you stay in business when you have rent to pay and $50,000 in equipment as well as product to purchase that you hope to sell and employees to pay, utilities etc. After I have lingered a few hours using the net, I decide to leave and now you have clean up the table I used and sweep up the crumbs from the floor where I dropped my sandwich. By the way I also used your bathroom so you need to go clean that up also.
I would be interested in knowing how you keep this business viable.
Vicki
What are your coffee shop expectations?
I'm thinking also of adopting a waitress/waiter style for awhile. Put menus on the tables and have approach customers at tables to see what they'd like to order. I think they'd get the message. Since our place is so small delivering the order to the table is no problem.
Also, lately the tips have been poor. We need a campy statement to put on the tip jar (ex. Tips for poorly paid baristas!) Something to get attention. By waiting on tables more tips might be left.
Vicki
FYI: We will make you a fresh drip coffee any time. I use the melitta cones. (This for chardonnay who might request this at the current coffee shop) Right now we just place then on top of the cups but if we overfill we don't notice. I know I can get a drip station but they are obnoxiously expensive, take up a lot of room and usually require drainage.
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Update on the new location!
Thought I'd pop in with an update on how things are going.
Most of the suggestions above had and will continue to be implemented. We opened the first part of December 2008. Business is continuing to grow and we intend to offer afternoon tea on Sundays.
While nearly all is good the one major dilemma I must now deal with is freeloading. The footprint of my shop is very small, less than 600 square feet. The library provides outside seating and seating in the lobby outside my shop. I maintain tables that the library provides for me. My only responsibility to those areas are keeping the tables clean.
The dilemma comes with people bringing their own food into ALL of the space.
Let me go back a bit. When coffee shops became popular they were something of a unique phenomena. Now we have gourmet coffee being served at every convenience store (similar to mine? NO!) Pushing a button on a machine and having every ingredient magically appear in the cup is not what we do here! Starbucks and Caribou on every corner and all good restaurants in town serving great product, mostly ours! Competition has increased within the business so I feel the need to offer more. We do offer fresh baked goods every day, they are purchased in frozen batter form and we bake them. Also have smoothies, ice cream and we do make fresh sandwiches and soup. Will stop the soup soon and make salads.
People bring in their own food and drinks and use the tables inside and outside that I maintain, they even bring their stuff into my small space. Sometimes no purchase is made and many times the purchase is insignificant (water, a cookies)
Would it be prudent for me to place signs on the tables stating that they are for coffee shop patrons?
People are allowed to take food and drinks into the library and they can play card games or majong (sorry, spelling!) at the tables inside the library.
Help is requested please!
Vicki
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
Ok, so please remember that kids get loads of candy for Halloween. Fun size bars can add up to a substantial amount of loot!
When my daughter gets home we put all of it on the table, then we take turns and make out choices as to what our favorites are. At some point we decide we have enough and the rest goes to the office the next day. Remember, some of those people were not home and did not buy treats to hand out, no leftovers, and some don't have kids to snarf their stash, they need that stuff at the office.
I usually throw most of out around Thanksgiving time anyway. It just doesn't get eaten!
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Hello!
Wow, love all your support!
One of the benefits in being at the library is that the wifi is already there and it does work in the coffee shop, I have seen people using it in the space already. Outdoor seating is available and there are only 3 comfy type chairs available in the shop. Other areas, outdoor & extra seating outside of the coffee shop are small tables and chairs. In the library itself there are large tables and comfy sofas and chairs. People will be permitted to take coffee and other beverages into the library but I am not sure about food.
Some comments: in our current location we pay $2000 - rent, $600 -gas & electric, $80 - Wifi, triple net (building taxes, common area costs, lawn cutting or snow removal, and repairs to the building, insurance) - this can range from $600 - over $1,000 per month, insurance for inside the premises - $200, add in the smaller costs (credit card costs are approximately 6.5% of the amount charged) and misc. At any rate, cost is about $4,000 before I open the doors.
I only mention this as our average sale price is less than $5 (credit card companies charge more for small sales). In our current location the majority of our sales are less the $5. Examples: coffee $1.70 - 16 oz. , smoothies - $3.55, tea - $1.70, latte - $3.50. Customers get one drink and proceed to use our space for several hours. Sometimes they only get a cookie - $1.00) While I like the fact that they come to our facility, this business is not nearly enough to keep the place open.
I am certain that this will be different at the library as I will be cutting overhead by 80%.
I only mention this as we have had people come into our coffee shop, bring their own food and drink, use our restroom facility, our Wifi, drink our water, and sleep on our sofa or just use our place without any monetary contribution!
We have served sandwiches and baked goods and we do serve tea and offer soymilk, yes organic. The challenge is serving a consistent product.
Employees each make a sandwich the way they like it and some of them don't make them at all! (they tell customers we are out of sandwich fixings). I originally made healthy whole grain and tasty muffins made from scratch. The public generally buys the huge, fluffy 700 calorie muffins which cost 2 x as much as the healthy option and are also 2 x as large.
I now usually get pre - mixed muffin batter that I thaw and bake. I also have been getting. Cookies are also frozen and baked at the shop. I now get sandwiches in a grab and go carton, chicken salad, tuna salad, ham or turkey with cheese. These are made fresh locally. I am wondering if I need these at all?
Love the idea of the small cups at first, we do have ceramic cups for those who want, and the free juice for the kids is great.
Please continue ideas, comments, and suggestions!
Vicki
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
I disagree about a lot of the candy items mentioned here.
I, for one, LOVE the fun-sized (or mini, if you prefer) candies. It's a tiny bit of something insanely tasty, enough to give pleasure without causing tummy pains. When I was a young'un and I went trick-or-treating, one house gave out mini Clark bars. Yum-o-delish! I polished those off first.
I think the chewy peanut butter kisses taste absolutely divine.
Candy corn, I think is plenty of tasty, as are the candy pumpkins made of candy-corn base. Think little dollops of hardened cake-frosting.
As for apples and raisins, those I didn't mind in the least.
However, some items, I do agree about.
Toothbrushes -- a boring reminder
Religious pamphlets -- disappointing and WEIRD to boot.
Packages of "normal" food -- oh, for crying in Manhattan, what kid wants to receive a can of baked beans or a box of oat bran in his little plastic jack-o-lantern.
One time I received cough drops -- and not the Ludens or Pine Bros or Smith Bros or F&Fs, which are tasty and could pass as hard candy (as can the Ricolas). These were nasty little green pellets that were -- and tasted like -- MEDICATION. Like I said, for crying in Manhattan! For crying in Manhattan, Chicago, and San Francisco
Oh well. At least I didn't get a ROCK
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
If I didn't live in an apartment building with no kids in it I'd be giving out and full sized candy bar AND a red bull to every kid. HAHAHA!!! HALLOWEEN IS FOR KIDS! SUCK IT PARENTS!
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Hi Vicki..I am an Iowa girl. but have lived in the Southwest a long time..so glad to hear that you are located there:) It is so beautiful in Iowa inJune and July...minus the humidity of course!! I grew up outside of Dubuque-You?
Here's an update for you-for some reason the food issue lessened a bit when I wrote "No Outside Food Please" on the large whiteboard sign at the entrance of our cafe. We have had signs on each table since we opened 3 years ago but find that folks ignore them...see last posting, right?!
Anyway, we have no walls separating us from the rest of the library..oh how we wish we did. So it seems that while the Library staff here (who are valued regular customers and truly wonderful folks) support our no food policy, they allow or overlook food and drinks in other Library areas. Hard to draw a line on the floor and say "See? This is the Library and THIS is the cafe..Food is okay here but not over THERE." And there is our food dilemma-even with Library support.
Also, to make our lives more interesting, the Library is under renovation for the next year...80 computers were available and now that is down to 30...and 2 of these 30 sit in the cafe. Again, the way we are constructed means that people waiting for these 2 computers (reserved at the reference desk) sit at our tables and do not purchase any cafe items.
Then, our safe is far away from my office where I do the money managing everyday...I now have to make my way thru these folks carrying the money bags...imagine how secure that feels.
The lady in the office next to mine is a grant writer and organizes the use of our large meeting room. Oftentimes, she is on a teleconference or hosting a "webinar". Throngs of people outside our offices waiting for their computer times are NOT conducive to business. Because you know Mr. Youtube and his teenage buddies are all using the same computer and commenting or playing the latest rap video without considering the others around them. Also, people walk into our offices (Labeled STAFF ONLY!!!) looking for the printers tied to these 2 computers.
I was told today that these 2 computers would be removed from the Cafe-hooray-can't happen soon enough. So, one difficulty down...just the food and messy people to go! Hope you are hanging in there! Have a great weekend-Julie
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Vicki-Pleeeease share any suggestions your friend can pass along! Yesterday, two young men came into our cafe toting a large green cooler and TOLD me (they did not ask for assistance or request my permission) that they were going to be leaving their large cooler in the cafe while they were studying in the library for most of the day. WHAT? We find that more and more folks consider the library as a dining destination -bringing their own food and drinks, or provisions in the case of these two men.
SIlly me, but my first thought when I leave KFC (as if!) with my dinner bucket IS NOT "Hey, let's eat this in the Connections Cafe at the Tempe Library!" Help-any comments and suggestions are welcomed!
As for sanitizing...yeah, we know:) -makes us better consumers if that's all that it does. Continued good luck to you and your exciting venture-do keep me posted...I'll be sending the picnic folks packing til we chat again!! Julie
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Hi Vicki-Oh boy do I have a few comments about the outside food and drink!! Since we are located inside the public library there are food and drink restrictions already in place re: maintaining clean surfaces for computer use, books, and study areas. However, once some folks enter the cafe space all bets seem to be off! We have had entire families come in toting their Taco Bell items, fried chicken and even a 6pack of brewskies! We do have signs posted that are pretty blunt in stating "No outside food please" but ...?! I do try to gently remind folks that the Maricopa County Board of Health makes the rules and we must follow them. I do offer these folks a table on outdoor patio but as we approach the AZ summer weather that becomes less of an option. Perhaps that solves a bit of the problem for us. Making the Board of Health the"bad guy" does seem to work with most folks.....so far!
Our Library is beginning to undergo renovation of the lower level which houses, among other things, the entire children's area. This area has been relocated to just near our Cafe and means that we now have to become more family-friendly...and that opens up other cans of worms...but also, how do I handle the mom of the toddler with the little box of Cheerios? That IS outside foood, right? I am a mother myself so I have compassion for the situation...best thing for us is to create a "Kid's Cafe" area with smaller furniture and a kid's menu from the items we already stock...or at least that's the idea so far.
To answer your question about our business structure, I can tell you that we are funded by the Friends of the Tempe Library-see their website also. I do know that we also have grant monies from the Virginia Piper trust...but never enough!!! We do also have non-profit status but I am not sure how those details work.
I hope this info is helpful-got a little long winded! Have a great weekend! J.
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Vicki-Glad to hear from you. Log on to our website at www.tempeconnections.org to see our menu, etc. I currently have a staff of 9 super people of all ages and backgrounds but with great customer service skills in common. We have been in operation for 3 years on May 19th and welcome any suggestions for ways to celebrate beyond a big old cake and coffee special:) Keep the questions coming! J.
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Just found this site and wanted to respond to the folks opening a coffee shop in the public library. I have been managing our Cafe inside the Tempe Public Library, Tempe AZ since August 2008. Maybe you have moved on in your business and decided to try other things...may not even see my comments ...wanted you to know that we have had great success and hear from our friendly customers daily how appreciative they are that we are here in the Library and wish others would consider doing the same thing. Good luck!
What are your coffee shop expectations?
It sounds like it's a small place, but for me, my advice would be to invest in good staff. Just because a 16 year old can pull some espresso, doesn't mean he or she can interact with the customers. I don't want flaky service, I don't want giggling employees who nominally pay attention to me while talking with each other. I love the idea of a daily quiz, first five people who answer correctly receive a free cup of coffee, or something to that effect. Hire genuinely friendly people without attitudes who are knowledgeable about coffee and not pretentious, and you'll have people coming back time and again.
What are your coffee shop expectations?
I know this sounds obvious, but some places only serve milk in their coffee and I hate milk. It has to be light cream or half and half or I will not go back. Also, if you have a self serve station to put in your own cream/sugar, please make sure it's well stocked. I hate going into a place and not a drop of cream is left for me to put into my cup.
What are your coffee shop expectations?
This is the Internet so I will be honest:
1. You say you will evict people who make negligible purchases. What if I don't want something, but I am with a friend who does? You will lose my friend's business if we both decide not to come in, as a result of your no freeloading policy. Also, what if I just buy a cookie one day or plain coffee because my friend wants a sandwich but I have my own pbj--do I not get kicked out but a single person with a coffee does? Do you kick out me but not my friend? What if I want a sandwich one day, a cookie the next--if I get kicked out because my purchase is deemed negligible I am not coming back for anything.
This is a coffee shop, not a restaurant.
2. I hate tip cups with cute phrases like 'money for tuition.'
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Even more effective might be a sign on the door or near the entrance that says "no outside food and drink". I know this seems a little off-putting, but in my experience, if someone has already walked in and found a table they want to sit at, they will ignore table tent signs. Good luck with this!
What are your coffee shop expectations?
@Vicki...yes, I would put table tents or some other signage indicating that at least the tables inside the shop are for shop patrons. You may have to 'police' the area for a bit...but after awhile people will get used to it. If they need further explanation, perhaps pointing out to them that if you don't make any money the tables will not be available because the doors to your coffee shop will be closed may be necessary.
Good luck!
What are your coffee shop expectations?
Even though it's been posted several times already, good fresh hot coffee. The last 3 times that I have been out to eat my coffee was served to me luke warm. It's such a turn off. I usually have my lunch around 3 pm and it seems that after the lunch rush places just either forget to make fresh coffee or they just don't care.
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
if you lived in a wealthy neighborhood you'd know that the richest homes generally give the worst treats. in fact, sometimes they even post armed guards to keep the kiddies away.
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
Necco wafers aren't chalk for chrissakes...they're just DUSTED with chalk! Once you suck that off, they're mighty tasty...especially the ones that taste vaguely like clove. Who's with me???!!!
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
Necco and tootsie rolls are my favorites...
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
i gauged my take on halloween on how many smarties I got - the more the better! Neccos and smarties are not the same thing... I'm with you on the candy corn though - in all its forms including those little pumpkins
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
Mounds and Almond Joy have GOT to be put on the list! Giving coconut to a child is pure torture, IMO. Worse than fruitcake! Last year, I took my daughter to a house where the family was leaving to spend the rest of the evening taking their small children trick-or-treating. The man said, "We're leaving. Want the rest of them?" and proceeded to dump a large bowlful of Almond Joys into my daughter's bag. Ewwwwww! Each year, my kids give all of their Almond Joys and Mounds bars to our hairdresser because she's the only person we know who likes them. This year, she's dieting. Do you suppose any of our our local homeless shelters would want them?
The Jesus pamphlets really cracked me up. We live in the Bible belt. One year, someone handed out play money with a picture of Jesus on it. My son was 3 or 4 at the time. When he pulled it out of his candy pile, he said, "Look, God money!"
My husband thinks it's mean to give a kid Cinnamon Red Hots, too (and he likes spicy food!).
Whatever happened to Zots, Marathon Bars, Bubs Daddy? Are Slow Pokes and Sugar Daddys the same thing?
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
Tootsie rolls are delicious and do not belong on this list.
I can agree with the rest, kind of, except for the fun sized candies. No, they are not a fun portion, but they are delicious! And honestly, what are we to expect as free hand-outs?
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
I love fun sizes...that's the best way to get lots of different candy bars!!
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
the only thing necco waffers are good for is roofing on gingerbread houses, the only other thing is, toothbrushees, at leest you have an extra???????????????? : ' ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
anybody heard of "you get what you get and you dont get upset"
jeez you act like this is life or death here!
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
I have always loved Necco Wafers...AND Bit O Honey! My favourite though, was Sugar Daddy's and Sugar Babies. Licorice nonpareils as well. I still make caramel apples, they are wonderful. I'm addicted to anything caramel. We usually have a party on Halloween, and invite the kids and the parents. We make up a 'goody bag' of candy for each child, and send a plate of cupcakes, cookies (All decorated for Halloween) and caramel apples home with the parents. Everyone has a great time, and the parents know that even the homemade goodies are safe. (We also serve 'real food' before distributing the candy and cookies.) In my opinion, these days parties are a much safer alternative for the children.
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
In Canada we call Smarties Rockets, equally as unpleasant. Smarties here are like M&Ms.
Top Ten Worst Halloween 'Candies'
does anyone else absolutely love caramel apple pops??
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Julie,
Sorry it's taken so long to post here!
I had a meeting with our library board and they are in total support of our coffee shop.
They are also understanding of the public's desire to have a place at the library for family eating.
While they had planned for folks to come to the library and buy items from the cafe and eat or drink at the available tables, they did not plan for people bringing their own food. Since this is a public library they would like to accommodate their patrons.
I think they have decided to amend our lease, with no extra cost to us, to include the 6 tables in the entryway. The four tables outside are to be for public use.
This really works for me as I figure the outside tables are least profitable. Here in Iowa they are not used at all during winter and later this summer it will be to hot to sit outside. The tables are metal. I have also stopped maintaining those tables to discourage people from using them! Since they are not part of the lease I feel it's not my responsibility to clean off the bird poop, except for my customers who want to use them, of course!
I highly recommend you meet with your foundation people, they support your shop, yes? and find out what their expectations are for your space. Let them know how detrimental to your business the practice of customers bringing food and beverage into your coffee shop. I know you said you chase them to outside tables, that is good and you must continue to do this. I would encourage you to put signage on your tables letting people know which tables are for coffee shop use exclusively (with the support of the library) and which can be used for the public (hopefully none of them) and be very vocal about enforcing this decision.
I personally told a lady unloading her fast food onto a table the other day that she needed to take it outside. She replied that it was raining (it wasn't!) so I told her she needed to take it inside and she did. I let her know those are my tables and to move on!
Yes the table had signage that said tables reserved for our customers!
Once you let people take over your space they will continue to do so. Most customers appreciate the signs and feel people bringing food in are rude.
Get the support of your library and enforce it!
By the by, I spoke with another library coffee shop and they pay a bit less rent that I do but they only rent the counter and the space behind it so the serving portion of the shop is library property but they still maintain it and ask people to leave if they are busy. They said while they allow people to bring in food and drink it is rare and they really hate it when people leave their trash to be cleaned up! Can you imagine?
Look forward to hearing how you're doing
Vicki