Thinking of Starting a Cozy Cafe in a Sri Lankan Suburb – Need Advice!
Disclaimer:- I ran my original post through chatgpt to make it easier to read and avoid grammar issues
Hey everyone!
I’ve always had a dream of owning a cozy little cafe or restaurant, and I think it might finally be time to go for it. The suburb I live in doesn’t really have any cafes like Barista or Java Lounge — just the usual spots serving fried rice, kottu, and some subpar biriyani.
There are quite a few middle to high-income folks around here, and surprisingly, shop rents aren’t too bad. You can get a spacious spot for about 20k per month, which seems like a pretty good deal!
Here’s the vibe I’m going for:
- Cozy, earthy, and green aesthetics
- A menu with various coffee drinks, milkshakes, and high-quality pastries like cheesecakes and croissants
- Maybe even retailing high-quality local/foreign branded food items
I’m super excited, but I don’t know much about the regulations, licenses, or common pitfalls I might face. So I’d love advice from anyone with experience in running a cafe or restaurant. Also, suggestions from a customer’s point of view would be really helpful too!
Thanks so much in advance 😊
TL;DR:
Thinking of starting a cozy cafe in a Sri Lankan suburb with good coffee and pastries. Shop rent is reasonable, attaching images for inspiration. Need advice on regulations, potential challenges, and general tips from both business owners and customers. Help a dreamer out!
I've attached some images to give you a better idea of the vibe I’m envisioning.
