The Rockford library has somewhat the same situation as we have here with the Dockside Grill. If every facet doesn’t fall into place it just doesn’t work. Borders is about three blocks away and does a great business in the coffee shop area. Why did this happen? In my opinion it is because of the library hours, opening around noon and short hours in general. The place looks closed even with the Daily Grind open. See the article excerpt below.
From the Saturday Register-Star online
ROCKFORD — Rockford Public Library is looking for a coffee shop operator to replace Meg’s Daily Grind at the East State Street branch.
Meg’s lost money at the 6685 E. State St. library location, said owner Jodi Erickson, and will not renew its contract with the city’s library system.
“It just didn’t work,” Erickson said. “The people at the library are just fantastic, but it just wasn’t the right blend for us.”
Meg’s last day of operation at the library is today. The library put out a request for proposals earlier this month to find an operator for the 1,800-square-foot coffee shop inside the East State branch.
“We really like the idea of a coffee shop in our library,” said Emily Hartzog, library spokeswoman. “Our goal is to enhance the experience of the library user.”
The library owns all the equipment and furniture in the shop, Hartzog said, so all it needs is an experienced and licensed operator to come in and run the business.
“They pay the library to be there, but the space itself and the equipment belongs to the library,” she said. “It is a great example of a public-private partnership.”
Meg’s contract with the library calls for it to pay the library 10 percent of its net profit each month. Library officials could not specify this week how much revenue the contract has provided.
posted by Ken Dillenburg