You’ve always wanted to build and run a cafe, but you never knew where to begin. A wise idea is to take over residential property and transform it into a stunning cafe. As you might assume, it’s not exactly simple or easy to take over residential property and make it into a commercial business.
There are plenty of hoops that you will have to jump through and multiple things to contemplate, but it’s completely possible to take a residential space and turn it into a cafe. Continue reading to learn how to turn a residential property into a cafe. This way, you’ll be steps closer to owning and running the cafe of your dreams.
Choose affordable equipment.
One of the biggest start-up costs for opening a cafe is the equipment that you will need. If you’re opening up a cafe, you’ll likely want to serve beverages like coffee, tea, and espresso drinks. To do so, you’ll need industrial coffee and espresso machines. In addition to this, you’ll need refrigerators for milk and non-dairy beverages.
You will also have to purchase coffee mugs, saucers, plates, and glassware that you can serve your drinks and bakery products on. With this comes the need for other restaurant supplies like mixers, ovens, dishwashers, and sinks. For quality restaurant equipment, it’s wise to go with the best service for a low price that gets you the kitchen appliances you need. This restaurant equipment Portland-based company finances commercial food equipment so you can get the supplies you need for your cafe without breaking the bank.
Find the right property.
Part of turning a residential property into a commercial cafe is having a vision for the space. Take note that this doesn’t mean the property is perfect. However, you do need to be able to take the structure of the current space and find ways to make a workable layout.
One big factor that contributes to the atmosphere of a business is the lighting. Make sure that the space you’re looking at has large windows that allow ample natural light to come through. Even if the current windows are in poor shape, a replacement is always an option to restore the property’s beauty. When the time comes to replace your future cafe’s windows in Western Michigan, you should trust installation experts for a fresh look that will provide natural lighting clients and workers love.
Get approved by local laws.
Unfortunately, you can’t just buy a residential space and proclaim you’re going to make it a business. This requires changing the zoning. If you purchase a residential-zoned property, it will have to be legally changed to commercial or mixed zoning instead. You’ll likely have to get in contact with your county’s laws for more specifics.
As long as the ordinances align, you’ll move forward with a rezoning application. Typically speaking, there is a fee that’s dependent on the size of the current lot. Once you’ve submitted your application, your local government’s zoning board will go through a series of processes before a zoning decision is made. After this is completed, you can either accept and start remodeling or you can dispute the decision if it doesn’t get approved.
Improve the layout.
Now that your zoning is approved, you’ll want to move forward with the layout of your future cafe! Since the current space is residential, it’s not going to be ideal for a business. A new layout is crucial to its success. Make sure to create an open space that’s welcoming and has room for a small kitchen, coffee bar top, and seating areas.
By prioritizing these factors, you’re sure to make a captivating cafe that customers will adore.
