Pop-Ups Lead to Possibilities

by

Editorial Policy

Published on

Last updated on

Hosting a pop-up restaurant event is a way café owners can try out edible options. These one-and-done special events provide food without committing to a set menu. Many café owners find it daunting to decide which foods pair best with the drinks they serve, but they also know that a solid menu will generate profit.

Guilder is a Scandinavian-inspired coffee shop in Portland, Oregon, that has hosted two pop-ups, both featuring pizza, with rousing success. The first event, “The Princess Bride Pizza Party,” was a collaboration between Guilder, GSMP (The Great & Secret Motion Pizza), and Coffee Beer.

Guilder co-owner Caryn Nelson says pop-ups are an “opportunity for creativity and experimentation, allowing for new customers to experience a space, and creating a fun party-like atmosphere for attendees.”

Pop-ups are a way to network and build mutually beneficial relationships with other businesses in your surrounding community. Nelson was inspired to host a pop-up at Guilder when she attended a GMSP pop-up at Coffee Beer and was “blown away with their deliciousness.”

For cafés still fine-tuning their food menu or looking to expand edible options, pop-ups are an opportunity to try out dishes and see what customers are interested in eating.

Cafés with set food menus can also benefit from hosting pop-ups, because of the variety they provide. Guilder typically offers a Scandinavian-inspired food menu featuring specialty porridge and toast. Nelson says, “We don’t offer pizza on our regular food menu, so it is a fun and easy way to switch it up a bit.”

Flexibility is another benefit of hosting pop-up events. Café owners can take advantage of certain times of day when customers may be more interested in sitting down for a meal than just a solo beverage. Nelson says, “We have some flexibility with our closing time, so dinner pop-ups make the most sense for our space because it would otherwise be vacant after 7 p.m.”

Pop-ups also offer an element of surprise, and their inherent sense of specialness is an effective tool for attracting customers. The “get it before it’s gone” mentality associated with pop-ups generates excitement and interest.

Pop-ups are fun opportunities to make connections with other businesses in your community, and expand the scope of your café’s food offerings.

Share This Article

Ariel Kusby

Join 7,000+ coffee pros and get top stories, deals, and other industry goodies in your inbox each week.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Other Articles You May Like

Should You Add a Food Program to Your Cafe?

Looking to add a food program to your cafe? Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just choosing to stock everything bagels and butter croissants.
by Ashe Samuels | September 25, 2024

How Innovative Brands Are Making Allergy-Inclusive Coffee Menus Possible

As cafes cater to customers seeking sustainable products and creative drinks, how can they also bring coffee lovers with allergies into the loop?
by Chloé Skye Weiser | September 6, 2024

The Difference Between a Buzzing Cafe and a Noisy One Is Smaller Than You Think

A new study shows the razor-thin margins between decibel readings can impact how noisy a cafe feels—and how customers and workers are impacted by noise.
by Ashley Rodriguez | June 5, 2024

Five Places, Five Operating Hours

Are you an all-day cafe, or do you close shop right after the morning rush? Learn how coffee shops choose their ideal operating hours for profitability, safety, and customer experience.
by Haley Greene | December 20, 2023