Some latte stands feel buzz from economy

The morning cup of joe has become a luxury item in the past few years, with the rise of espresso houses around the area.

No longer a cheap staple to have with bacon and eggs, coffees have morphed into a meal unto themselves and – depending upon how you like them – can cost upwards of $5.

But in a weak economy, Starbucks is reporting a 28 percent decrease in its second-quarter profits. The cost of gasoline is sky high, and the costs of milk and coffee have risen as well.

It’s enough to make folks want to brew up a pot of drip coffee at home and take it with them in the mornings, skipping the pricey lattes and mochas.

Dustin Waterbly of Rockies Espresso Co., 1206 S. Hayford, Airway Heights, said the economy has had an effect on the business he’s been a shareholder of for the last three years.

“It’s forced us to be a little more creative,” he said. The espresso stand has been offering new customer packets for first-time visitors which include a coupon for half-price for the next drink.

Waterbly noted that being a smaller espresso business has its advantages in that they can offer cheaper prices to their customers than the big-named places such as Starbucks.

He added that he knows that if someone has a bad experience at a big coffeehouse, chances are good that customer will eventually return. At a small, locally-owned shop, they have once chance to make a good impression or lose that customer forever.

Along with special offers for new customers, Waterbly said the coffee stand is planning special events this summer that will draw more customers. The three shareholders of the corporation, Waterbly, Anthony Perry and Genna Gay, are all firefighters in Spokane Valley and will have a fundraiser in the parking lot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

There are also plans in the works for a boxing match in the parking lot.

“Hopefully it will get better,” Waterbly said.

When asked if the economy or gas prices have had an effect on Bahama Joe’s, 115 W. Betz, Cheney, co-owner Heather Blake had a different perspective on what has affected their sales.

“It (the economy) has, but I don’t think it has because of the gas prices,” she said.

Blake and her husband, Tyson Blake, started the shop in 2000 but last August turned the management over to someone else. The deal didn’t work out, so the Blakes came back to Bahama Joe’s on May 1.

She said they have been running specials such as $2 drinks for mothers or $2 Mondays.

In Medical Lake, the smaller coffee shops do have the advantage of not having to compete with Starbucks.

“I’d say we’ve been pretty consistent throughout,” said Brian Perry, who is part of a family that owns Morning Brew, 715 E. State Route 902, Medical Lake. “Our regulars, they’re pretty regular.”

He said he hasn’t noticed any drop in business since the economy began to weaken.

“The regulars are still coming by at the same time of day,” he said.