really? rule # 1 in the book the nordstrom way, never blame your customers. just sayin...

Ms. Ford says the business had a Facebook page and a website and that is suppose to draw foot traffic? I think this is a case of needing to get out there and meet the community and show them where you and what you do... not wait for them to find you on the internet or see a sign "outside the front door". I am sorry it was not successful but I also think the comment about lack of community support was inappropriate...

I tried to support Artist's Cafe, but after two visits there with lackluster (almost rude) service, and very little to choose from in the way of food, I had no desire to return. I do lots of morning meetings in Catonsville and there are at least two other restaurants that are much more customer-oriented and diverse in their menus.

This is yet another sad example of our community NOT supporting local business. Take a look up and down Frederick Road and you will see way too many closed store-fronts; indicating that whatever was once there was NOT supported by Catonsville residents. If the residents of Catonsville want to maintain the over-all quality of this community, then we ALL must support our local businesses.

That pretty much illustrates the reason they failed. She expected the business to come to them without getting the name and the message out there. It takes more than putting up a sign and a Facebook page to make folks want to stop in and check you out. Advertising in community theater bulletins, sponsorship of various community functions, etc...no advertising budget + (apparently) so-so service = no advertising at all. Word of mouth only works when you have something people want to tell others about.

I prefer to support local businesses over national chains. Would have enjoyed becoming a regular visitor to the cafe, but I could never tell when/if it was open. A BIG sign with the correct name and a BIG "open" sign with the hours of operation would have helped. I don't use Facebook, and I wouldn't have looked for a website for Artist Cafe, given that the signage still said Six Mile Cafe, which I knew was out of business. Please try again with better signage and a lot more publicity.

Let's get this straight: A coffee shop opens in a world already drowning in coffee shops but closes in nine months because - surprise - it can't draw customers. So, naturally this woman thinks she can open another coffee shop in the same location and magically have it succeed. Then when it inevitably fails - shocker - she blames the community for a lack of "support". Really? What a clueless and condescending sense of entitlement. Success in business requires providing a product or service people either need or want and doing so in a manner that is either better or more unique than the competition. Obviously this woman did neither. No wonder the business failed. The second lesson here is that there is a glut of vacant commercial space in Catonsville (and many other areas) yet certain local property owners and developers, joined by their willing accomplices in the county government, maintain their delusion that Catonsville needs and must have more commercial development. Wake up, people.

I went to Six Mile Coffee once and the food and service were mediocre at best. I never went back. Others already made valid points that I agree with regarding Artist Cafe. The biggest issue I saw was that you could not even tell if and when they were open!

Agree with B Stewart. They never clearly branded themselves, a website and a Facebook page don't always equal successful marketing. I patronized the shop once. The coffee was good, but I don't really think that the shop did a good job in differentiating itself as something special. The second time I tried to patronize the shop, I was unable to complete the purchase because I wanted to buy coffee with a credit card, but did not get to the $5 min to use a card. So I left without getting anything. And I understand that they wanted to avoid the charges affiliated with small credit card purchases, but that is a moot point--these balance out over purchase volume--which I guess they didn't have. I don't think they realized that they may have been making it difficult for people to be their customers.

The closing of Artist Cafe isn't about the local community not supporting its businesses. It is about people not supporting business that are not run effectively. Going to a lackluster coffee shop just to support local business will ensure a slow and painful death for that business. Catonsville certainly supports local business, as long as that business has a product, service, or atmosphere that the local community demands. IE: Catonsville Gourmet, Matthew's 1600, AWOL, Atwater's, SugarBakers.

Just wanting to "save" a business model that had already failed can be like trying to sail a sinking ship. I'm sorry the business owners learned some of these lessons the hard way.

I have to agree with just about everyone here. I even met with one of the owners and gave some suggestions. Catonsville is one of those communities that patronise businesses that get involved with the community. They should look at the business model of Atwater's. Get out into the community, be part of the community, give back to the community and they will come.

No one can depend on "foot traffic" these days; there just isn't that much in Catonsville. When shoppers do patronize a store on a regular basis, they park the car, take care of business and leave. Proper signage and publicity are essential, and location, location, location.
Look at Ellicott city, the "Town of Broken Dreams". They have tried everything from Midnight Madness, live music, special themes to list a few, but you will still see shops closing after a few months. Too many people open shops with wonderful intentions, but don't have enough monetary backup or business sense. I know, because I was one of them. My shop "Eye Candy-Gift Shop and Gallery" lasted for 6 years because I did freelance artwork on the side and I have a very generous wife who supported me. My location was on the west side of the "Judge's Bench".
Folks that went there did so with only eating and drinking in mind and not shopping. Most of the other shops were around the bend going east. Walkers stopped and turned around before they ever got to me.
I think the Artist's Cafe suffers from a similar problem; they are too far away from the other stores and restaurants. We have many fine pro and hobby artists in our neighborhood who could have been catered to. I never saw a coupon in any of tyhe circulars. I bet most people didn't even know you were there. And about some of the above reviews about service, that is unforgivable! Word-of-mouth is still the best publicity. I wish you well.

wow, glad to see that so many people understand the real issues @ hand here & are taking up for the community! you just gotta love Cville!!!

Take heed, Debbie and Andy, of these posts. They are all good advice!

So glad I wasn't the only "community" member slightly offended by the statements in this article. I also tried to show support for Artist Cafe, even after unfriendly, and at times downright rude service. I continued going in a pinch because small children in carseats + drive thrus = convenience, although otherwise would've stopped due to service. Sad to see a local business go under, but even sadder that the blame is placed on the community, when as all the other posters have said, there was no branding, marketing or customer service along with mediocre fare.

I frequented the drive through of the previous shop. It was great. I was sad when it closed, so I was really happy to see that there was a new coffee shop drive through. Problem #1. You need to open a coffee shop when people really want coffee--like on the way to work. That means you open earlier than 7 a.m. Problem #2. You did not provide good, fast service. I had to wait too long for a cup of coffee. I'm on my way to work--get it? I'm in a drive through. I expect it to be fast. When I asked them why they weren't open earlier, they got annoyed and said they worked "70 hours a week." Well, they were the wrong 70 hours. Not sure who did your business plan. I think that a drive through coffee shop there would be great. Maybe the Dunkin' Donuts which is so poorly located with no drive through should move there. Meanwhile, if I want a good cup of coffee and friendly service, I'll go to Atwater's.

I am. Wish I could think of something that would be successful at that location. I'm sure there's something. I didn't know about the article until I ran into the local coffee roaster at the farmer's market. He told me about it. He also said that he tried to get them to carry his local coffee, but they wouldn't do it. We discussed the irony of the owners complaining about local businesses not getting any support, when they would not support a local business.

This post will be deleted like with others I have already posted. I will voice my opinion again since this is a free country. Chris the prior owner is a thief and a crook. People like him deserve to be in jail for their actions. Six Mile coffee did not go under due to foot traffic or lack of community support. It went under because of the fallowing listed below. I must also mention that Mr. Stewart is spot on with his statements. People want to blame the public or the government on their failed businesses. In reality the fault always lies in the business who in these two cases lacked a lot common sense.
1. Chris stopped paying rent after 6 months of the location opening.
2. Chris wrote bad checks to the employees for months .
3 Months went by were employees worked for free with false promise. This creating bad moral.
4. Profits or money made from Six Mile were use to keep his bakery afloat.
5. Not to mention lawsuits and judgments Chris had before Six Mile even opened.

These are the facts. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from others mistakes. Karma strikes back like you see here . Sorry Artist Cafe.

Gosh Will! Time to let it go!