Intelligentsia's Daring Venice Concept

by **Marshall** on Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:05 pm

Doug & Co. are breaking all known molds on the concept for their new Venice (L.A.) shop. http://www.foodgps.com/review/food-gps-exclusive-intelligentsia-venice/

by **zin1953** on Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:42 pm

I'm going to have to "see-it-to-understand-it," but it sounds like one of those things that looks/sounds good on paper, but . . .

by **shadowfax** on Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:10 pm

It reminds me of what Apple Computer Corp. did to computer retail, especially the baristas being mobile and carrying devices to allow customers to check out anywhere in the store. I fear the lack of tables somewhat, but the customer service model sounds just about perfect to me. Very, very cutting edge. I hope it takes on.

It's pretty funny to read about their vintage La Marzocco in this article. I've been wondering what they were going to do with it ever since I saw Dave's Flickr pics of it. Wow, wow, wow! Good luck to them.

by **Jepy** on Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:51 pm

I like it. It reminds me of the first time I went to a Wamu bank that was remodeled, no traditional line of tellers, just these pods of tellers. Nice

by **another_jim** on Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:19 am

I hope it works in traffic ... or maybe, this being LA, it will be the first reservations only cafe.

by **Ken Fox** on Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:41 am

Jepy wrote:I like it. It reminds me of the first time I went to a Wamu bank that was remodeled, no traditional line of tellers, just these pods of tellers. Nice

No doubt this contributed to WaMu's eventual "success" in the greater scheme of things :mrgreen:

ken

by **Boldjava** on Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:20 am

zin1953 wrote:I'm going to have to "see-it-to-understand-it," ...

I am glad I wasn't the only one that didn't walk away with model clarity. I am the type that had to go to class; couldn't get it from the text/budd's notes. I am not sure I want that much attention when I want a good Clovered or vacpotted SO or a cappa.

B|Java

by **timo888** on Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:19 am

... a barista will lead each customer along the concrete floor to one of four custom-fabricated "pods" to make a fresh drink.

Next to the pods, there's a drink rail, two steel supports and a plank of wood. ...that's where people will receive their drinks.

[The barista stays] with one person throughout ... As a customer, you can be as high maintenance as you want to be and not have a line of people behind you tapping their feet in line.

Each barista carries a mobile tablet so payment is possible at any point in the store ...

... there will be no tables or chairs [the intention being] to spur social interaction. You'll never find a person at a four-top table with a cup of coffee ...

It reminds me of the movie Earth Girls Are Easy.

If the place is full of customers, the barista will have to ring the customer up on his portable tablet after handing the beverage over. Is the barista going to touch money? Or will it be a credit/debit-card only affair?

The unserved customers tapping their feet won't be standing behind the customers receiving their drinks ... they'll be congregated at the main pod.

As a low-maintenance sit-down-and-read coffee drinker, the thought of being greeted by a barista and led to the coffee-preparation area, and then having no place to sit in peace, makes me cringe.

by **edwa** on Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:28 am

This will be fantastic for those Intelly fans who live near enough to walk, but believe me when I tell you parking will be the bigger challenge.

by **zin1953** on Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:47 am

There's no doubt that the Abbot Kinney location is great, but . . .

edwa wrote:This will be fantastic for those Intelly fans who live near enough to walk, but believe me when I tell you parking will be the bigger challenge.

In LA, always!


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