Cyber / Internet Cafe's

**Fierce** · July 2nd, 2002, 01:03 PM

Anybody been to one? Live near one? What do you think of them? Pro's and Con's?

**RIOT** · July 2nd, 2002, 01:48 PM

I've never been to one considering that there isn't one around where I live. I once entertained the notion of maybe trying to open one years and years down the road, but I doubt I'll do that. I think a potential money-maker for an internet/cyber cafes would be to host LAN parties for gamers.

I think a cafe like that should still offer "conventional" means for entertainment for non-techinal people. Like magazines, newspapers, possibly a smoking section, etc...

**Stanley_Kubrick** · July 2nd, 2002, 02:12 PM

I hear there's a couple around here (south bend, IN), but I just don't get it... Maybe if they had some gaming going on, but i can do anything i can do there at home. for free.

**Stalemate** · July 2nd, 2002, 02:53 PM

There used to be a few downtown, but most also offered IT services, PC and peripherals sales or were also ISPs to make ends meet.

A few have closed since then.

I've been to one which was also a coffee house, and I liked that type of "lounge" environment where I could enjoy an excellent cup of java while testing out javascripts online.

The "rent out for LAN parties" idea sounds like a winner.

Hmmmmmmm.

**RIOT** · July 2nd, 2002, 03:09 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by a d e p t:

The "rent out for LAN parties" idea sounds like a winner.

Hmmmmmmm.<hr /></blockquote>Hey!! Don't go stealing my idea!!

**NeuromancerIV** · July 2nd, 2002, 03:20 PM

Have thought about opening one in my area, start up costs aren't too terrible, biggest investment is getting a proper T1 for gamers, gaming systems, getting proper licenses for the games and SW. I think a separate "lounge" area with "slower" cable modem(s) access for the student/casual browsers would be nice. I would also like to have a "Starbucks" in the lounge area. There's nothing like it here, I need to do some more research before getting too interested in this and see what/how I'd need to charge customers.

**freddy** · July 2nd, 2002, 04:23 PM

A couple of the larger ISPs in the UK were offering a service over here a couple of years ago , they provided the lines , and computers with coin slots on them £x per 10/20/30 mins etc , u had to provide the site elec + coffee ,, and they did a split (don,t know %) ,,,,haven,t seen em recently , but it sounds like a "low overhead" way to get started.

FtF

**Fierce** · July 2nd, 2002, 07:14 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by a d e p t:

I've been to one which was also a coffee house, and I liked that type of "lounge" environment where I could enjoy an excellent cup of java while testing out javascripts online.

The "rent out for LAN parties" idea sounds like a winner.

Hmmmmmmm.<hr /></blockquote>Thats what I was thinking, thats why I posted this question. I was thinking of starting one up in my area, since is is void of any technological stores or merchants. (Except for a Staples) I live in a town of 20,000+ people, and was thinking of including a host of other services and amentities other than just a cafe setting.....hmmmmmmmmmmm.

**MacGyver** · July 2nd, 2002, 07:48 PM

The biggest cost to opening a storefront operation is the storefront. Rent, utility bills, insurance, etc. are totally unnecessary expenses if you can deliver the service without the storefront. My advice - start a computer repair business out of your home (no sales) and take it from there. Low risk compared to the financial comittment of retail.

There have been plenty of Internet cafes come and go in Toronto. One that I used to frequent before I got DSL is out of business. Lots more pop up and just as quickly disappear.

**deseqer** · July 2nd, 2002, 08:21 PM

The Owner of the place were I work tried to open a coffee shop PC game room. They managed to kept it running for a year and a half, but the expense were to high. On of the problems was kepting the computer systems running. Which was not a major problem because that is what we do fix and repair computers. But with all of the parts that we had to use for the game space when they closed the doors they still owed use over $3000.

It was a neat Idea but they never had the big crowds to support it.

**Fierce** · July 2nd, 2002, 09:54 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by MacGyver:
 Lots more pop up and just as quickly disappear.<hr /></blockquote>Thats what I am figuring as well.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

**kato** · July 3rd, 2002, 09:40 AM

remote tourists towns would be the best locations IMO.

One day I'd like to open a computer repair/sales shop with Internet Cafe down on the outer Banks of North carolina. Somewhere around hatteras. We vacation there every year, and there is nothing like that down there. sales and repairs keep you afloat in the non tourists season and the internet cafe part brings in cash from tourists.

Last year on vacation we were having some issues operating my moms nikon camera that we borrowed. We didn't have the users manual, which normally wouldn't be a problem because I'd just hop online download and print one. I couldn't find an internet cafe to save my life. One bar advertised webtv access, but wouldn't shut off the football game on 1 tv for us.

**Budd** · July 10th, 2002, 02:48 PM

a friend of mine is going to open a "PC Bong" as he calls it. its just for online gaming or lan parties. he's from Korea and he says they are HUGE over there. he talked his dad into backing it for him, and he should have it going in a few months. he wants me to build and maintain the systems for him, but we'll see how it goes

**Outcoded** · July 10th, 2002, 04:33 PM

God send when I'm drifting around and need to pick up my email.

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