Summertime can often be very tough on many businesses near the University of Arizona that rely on students. Many have come up with their own "summer survival guides," which include different strategies to keep business afloat when things get slow. Some open earlier, others close later, and others get creative in ways to attract customers.
However, there's one spot just off of University Blvd. -- Caffe Luce -- that doesn't change much up, and it's business model has worked for more than a decade.
"Some days are definitely a lot slower than others," barista Kyle Gabdard said. "But overall we still do pretty well. We're in the positive."
Nothing like a hot cup of coffee on a hot summer day, am I right? Tonight, hear how this business near the U of A keeps the cash flowing when triple digit temps are showing @kgun9 pic.twitter.com/IvNNDnP8BL
— Max Darrow (@MaxDarrowTV) May 13, 2018
While this barista brews fewer lattes, he says it's alright. The slow drip of customers is to be expected, and they prepare for the quiet summer days during the year.
"We all have learned to save, during the school year, to get through," he said.
They still have plenty of regulars, who are not students, come by for their daily cup of coffee, Gabdard said. Many of them prefer to brew at home though, so they swing by Caffe Luce to buy their roasts in bulk, which the barista says helps out a lot.
"We do have quite a few wholesale clients as well, so it's not just the walk in customers," he said. "That is a bigger part of our business during the summer."
Even though the hot and quiet summer months are tough, he says its nothing out of the ordinary for the shops in the area.
