Supporting a little pastry shop

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi everyone,

About a month ago, I went for a walk and noticed that there are now two specialty pastry/desert places dedicated to the same foods and they're about one block away from each other on a small street in a part of town that cannot support both. Now, the first has been there for a while and the other was just being set up.

I haven't gone in either and want to take my kids to one of them. The first one is super cute and inviting and adorably decorated...the other, clearly, is much more bland. Of course, superficial decor isn't everything, but I would suspect that based on looks, the cuter place probably gets all the business. The other day I again walked by and noticed a woman from the less fancy one closing up early and now feel kind of guilty picking the other one b/c of it's looks.

So, my guess is that one will go out of business. Which would you go to?

Maybe this is a silly question, it's just that I've seen SO MANY of the long-term well-known and loved establishments go under over these last few years and it's made quite an impression on me and which small-businesses I interact with.

 

[decodelighted]

Whichever has food that TASTES better.

 

[zoebartlett]

I'd pick the one that has the better food. I'm surprised that two little pastry shops are so close to one another. I hope they both make it. It's not easy starting up a new business.

 

[charbie]

Go with whichever has the best products.

My sister runs a small pie shop, and they are known everywhere in town for their phenomenal pies. There is a local establishment a few blocks away from where they opened that also has fresh pies, but people have been drawn to her tiny little shop bc they use locally grown, all natural, and often organic products. Sure beats cherries from a can.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Whichever has food that TASTES better.

Looked them up on Yelp. One has 3 out of 5 and the other has 3.5 out of 5. I'm not looking for a 5 star as part of the point is taking my kids to eat in that little section of town. It's a great, cute, location, however, there are not many eateries that are family oriented. In fact, mostly just retail shops and a few pubs.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I'd pick the one that has the better food. I'm surprised that two little pastry shops are so close to one another. I hope they both make it. It's not easy starting up a new business.

Yeah, I was really shocked at how much risk the person has taken opening up that second shop.

Weird thing: Just about a mile down from there, a tanning salon was set up and it ran for a few months and then went under. Guess what the next person who leased the suite did? Set up another tanning salon. lol That one lasted about the same amount of time.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Go with whichever has the best products.

My sister runs a small pie shop, and they are known everywhere in town for their phenomenal pies. There is a local establishment a few blocks away from where they opened that also has fresh pies, but people have been drawn to her tiny little shop bc they use locally grown, all natural, and often organic products. Sure beats cherries from a can.

There is a pie shop in town that is famous for it's pies. I'm not a huge fan of pies, but maybe I'll order one for next thanksgiving as I know they use all local ingredients. The other day I walked by there and could see them working with the dough!

 

[Skippy123]

Oh this sort of thing is right up my alley!!! I would be in heaven if there were 2 pastry shops!!!!
I would totally try both of them and then decide. I would first call the whole family together and for fun do a taste test at home and then vote for our favorite!!! Then the yummy one I would Yelp because I like good bakeries, restaurants, etc to stay in business! Happy taste testing MC Keep us posted on which one you liked the best

 

[packrat]

I'd check them both out and compare and then go to the one that had the best stuff. Funny, we have a little shop in town, homemade stuff like cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads..it's spendy but what I've had is good. (to me, it's *fancy*..like one thing is an orange cranberry chicken wrap, and they put grapes in the wraps. I'm easily impressed) Now, another shop opened about 2 blocks down. I've not been in it, it just opened recently but I heard they've the same exact things so I'd like to try it out.

 

[neatfreak]

Why is it a big deal? Just go to whatever one has the better food. Try both, see what you like!

 

[atroop711]

Whichever has food that TASTES better.

ditto this! I'd see which sells the best cupcakes, cannoli, coffee, ect..and give them my business. NOW if the one with the tastier goodies had nasty workers, I'd go support the competition

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Why is it a big deal? Just go to whatever one has the better food. Try both, see what you like!

I want to take my kids out for an official celebration so this will be a special treat type of thing rather than looking for a new haunt for the three of us. That's why I was thinking, "huh, which one?" for this occasion. I *don't* wanna go test both out ahead of time b/c I'm trying not to eat as many baked goods. lol

I'm just weird about small businesses because so many are going under. One of the most famous little shops that had been around since I was a little kid recently went out of business. Seeing a major landmark retailer leaving behind an empty shop is so sad

 

[marymm]

I guess I am unclear on why this is an issue -- if you are celebrating an official occasion and considering two unknowns, why wouldn't you choose the place with the inviting ambiance? Especially if you are taking kids, who respond to colorful and welcoming environments?

I tend to patronize businesses where I can get the best bang for my buck, choosing independent establishments over chains to the extent possible. But all things being equal (quality, price, customer service, etc.) I'd always give my business to the inviting and established independent shop rather than the upstart competitor who deliberately chose to locate in the same neighborhood (hoping no doubt to steal away business from the established shop).

 

[decodelighted]

MC,
I think you're over identifying with the business owners. Its survival of the fittest out there. If the cute one attracts more visitors and thus stays open .... there are lessons involved in that for all. Your guilt-induced patronage of the OTHER one won't keep them in biz for long. TRUST me that no one else is going to feel that way. They are going to go to the shop that appeals to them ... not the one they feel sorry for.

 

[VRBeauty]

I agree with marymm... assuming both sell at least reasonable pastries, go with the one that's more inviting for a special occasion. Your kids are going to be remember the experience as a whole, not the finer points of the quality of the pastry. Besides, is part of the product for a pastry shop that offers sit-down service. You're of course welcome to ignore ambiance when you make your pastry shop decisions; many people enjoy finding that "diamond in the rough that others overlook" because of superficial stuff like location or the appearance of the facility.

If you want this to be a teachable moment about not judging a book by its cover etc. you could choose the shop solely on the basis of which sells the better pastries. In that case, however, someone -- it could be you, hubby, or the kids -- will have to try pastries from both shops before the special occasion.

What I'm hearing is that a part of you wants to support the "ugly duckling" shop because you feel sorry for it and you want to give it a chance to hang in there. That could be a teachable moment too, if you take your kids there and they as why they're not going to the more attractive shop. Just be sure you have a good answer ready. Something other than "well I just feel sorry for them."