28 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA • 215.243.9851

Lovers and Madmen

In this month’s Retail Spotlight, we journeyed to nearby Philadelphia to profile an enterprise outside of our New York City headquarters.  As TaraPaige Group grows, we hope to explore more noteworthy enterprises in the Northeast and across the country.

Their Success…Lovers and Madmen maximizes their small space to create a comfortable atmosphere that attracts neighborhood residents. This local coffee lounge offers a simple menu of high quality coffee, espresso, tea, and a few pastries and sandwiches, requiring only a small prep area and minimal staff to execute.

Their carefully crafted menu means Lovers and Madmen has plenty of space for couches, chairs, and tables where students from nearby University of Pennsylvania can study, or where professors and local residents can come to read the paper and relax. While there, they can also learn about local events on the community board, or contribute a drawing to the doodle-board, covered in the pictorial expressions of regular guests. This offers a stark contrast with chain-coffee competitors in the area, where menu options are plentiful, but charm and a seat are hard to come by.

In a neighborhood saturated with coffee shops, it is Lovers and Madmen’s community-centered, guest-focused atmosphere that distinguishes them. By letting guests promote their events, learn from others around them, and share their art, Lovers and Madmen gives guests a sense of ownership and belonging in the enterprise. And keeping guests engaged keeps them coming back, creating a core of regulars who both support and shape the enterprise.

Take Aways…Build a community within your enterprise. Especially in heavily competitive markets, such as coffee, the culture and atmosphere of an enterprise can be just as important as its food. A streamlined menu and well-thought-out concept tailored to guests’ needs and wants can be what turns guests away from your competitors and into loyal regulars at your enterprise.