Claustrophobics be warned. “Going micro”is fast becoming the latest trend in retail.
The new Sam James Coffee Pocket on Bloor Street at Clinton is barely big enough for an espresso machine, a skinny-jeaned barista and a cash register, so if you’re not a fan of tight spaces, it’s best to stay away.
But as the rent for commercial space in Toronto’s top areas continues to rise, going micro is becoming an increasingly attractive option for retailers like James.
“That’s the reason why there are no good coffee shops downtown or on Yonge or Bloor. Independents just can’t afford the capital investment,” says James.
Indeed, when James was considering opening up a location at Bloor and Clinton, he was looking at forking over nearly five times as much in rent as he was paying for his popular spot on Harbord.
So the barista decided to downsize. The 120-square-foot Coffee Pocket still costs more than double his rent on Harbord, but James can keep costs low — no extra staffing, table service or customer washrooms — while focusing on quality.
“I like the simplicity of it, just focusing on coffee, you know?” James says.
Roger Janes, owner of Blood and Bandages, a 97-square-foot barbershop at College and Dovercourt, wasn’t so pragmatic about his decision to go micro.
He was eager to start a business, and when the tiny space became available for less than $1,000 a month, he jumped at the chance, even though he could almost touch both walls at once.
“The smaller space, it’s a little more intimate. It worked out really well,” says Janes. “The only problem is I can’t do shaves in here. I don’t want to be bumping into anything while I’m shaving somebody with a straight razor.”
Over at Print Vintage at College and Ossington, a vintage clothing shop the size of a university dorm hallway, owner Shelley Pulak pays less than $1,000 a month.
She keeps her extra inventory at home, rotating her show stuff every few days. Where margins are small, every little bit of saving counts.
But going micro isn’t for everyone. “For clothing, it’s perfect. And for jewellery or CDs it would be great. But I can’t see a furniture store working well,” says Pulak.