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Coffee war perks up in Haymarket
BY JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - 11:11:40 am CDT

This sounds like a start of a joke: How many coffeehouses does it take … ? But in the Haymarket, it’s no laughing matter.

The Scooter’s opening in mid-February in the old Salvation Army building on the corner of Eighth and P streets put three coffeehouses within one block of each other.

The Mill, located catty-corner from Scooter’s, has been around since 1988, and Crescent Moon, just up the street, moved into the area in 2003.

The Mill and Crescent Moon are locally owned, while Scooter’s is a chain based out of Omaha.

“We love the Haymarket,” said Scooter’s owner Rita Metcalf, who also runs a store at 10th and O streets in the Gold’s Building. “There’s enough business for everybody. One helps the other out.”

Crescent Moon owner Terri Jo Dodson isn’t so sure.

“I’m asking the same question as everyone else: Why would they do that?” she said. “A couple of like businesses near each other I understand, but there are only so many coffee drinkers.”

The Mill’s Dale Nordyke said he and his fellow co-owners have taken the arrival of Crescent Moon and Scooter’s in stride.

“It’s like restaurants or antique stores,” he said. “When one has success, a lot more show up.”

Glenn Friendt, director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Center for Entrepreneurship, said its not unusual for like businesses to open next to each other.

He noted the cluster of fast-food restaurants — McDonald’s, Long John’s Silver, Amigos, Burger King and Subway — on Nebraska 2 between 10th and 13th streets.

“That’s in the food business,” he said, pointing out the differences between Amigo’s Mexican fare and McDonald’s burgers. “Those are distinct food choices. A coffeeshop is a bit more problematic.”

A coffee drinker, Friendt said he can taste the differences in the beverages offered by each. He said that may not be the case with most patrons. The key, he said, is for each store to set itself apart from the other.

Crescent Moon, for instance, offers a variety of music series. The Mill has atmosphere going for it and a dock for outdoor seating, while Scooter’s features a variety of specialized drinks not found at the other two.

“It’s not just about coffee,” Friendt said. “It’s about the whole coffee experience and coffeehouse experience. If they each target a certain client, it’s possible they all can do well.”

Time, of course, will tell.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.