Lucky coffee lovers may get their morning cup for free this month as the Glebe BIA covers the cost as a way to promote local cafés.
Every Wednesday in October, the BIA will partner with a business in the area to pay for the first 50 cups of coffee ordered between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., according to the BIA’s events and placemaking manager Julia Rocchi.
The organization kicked off the month today at Ten Toes Coffee Co. on Bank Street.
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“When I stopped in this morning, we were already about halfway through our mark of 50 customers — that was in just over an hour,” she said.
According to Rocchi, the BIA has been looking for ways to give back to the community and serve its members by bringing more awareness and foot traffic to businesses within the Glebe. As temperatures cool, she said free coffee felt like the way to go.
“The idea came from the incredible coffee scene in the Glebe,” she said. “We have a variety of better-known chains, but also some really well-known local spots. October is the perfect time to stay toasty. Really, the goal of this event was to create some neighbourhood goodwill while we provide a little bit of surprise and delight to the community.”
Coffee is a challenging business at the moment, she said, with rising prices and increased competition. In the past week, Starbucks closed several of its Ottawa cafes, though Rocchi said the Glebe location — “a staple in the community,” she said — appears as if it will remain open.
With the event, she said the BIA is drawing new customers to the area while also thanking regulars.
“I think everyone’s experiencing similar challenges, like how to stay fresh and interesting while making your offerings viable for your business and customers,” she said. “If we can give a few new faces an opportunity to connect with the team at Ten Toes, maybe we’ve created a new customer relation. Alternatively, we don’t want to crowd out the regulars who make up a big part of our cafe businesses. It serves people who are loyal, who are stopping in every day.”
The event will take place at a different cafe every Wednesday morning throughout the month. Rocchi said next week’s location will be announced in the coming days.
