City Dock Coffee

Started by locals in 1993, what was originally opened under the name Seattle Coffee Company is known today as City Dock Coffee. From the beginning, our goal was to establish a chain of coffee shops who's success at the retail level, would build a brand allowing for expansion into other areas of the coffee industry. Choosing to locate in the state o... f Maryland where Kerry was living, they opened a coffee kiosk within a hospital. This kiosk was the first exposure to a coffee bar for many of the hospital's staff and visitors and much time was spent explaining to customers what espresso was and why it was worth more than the 50 cents per cup they were accustomed to spending for coffee. The coffee culture that we had been exposed to while growing up had not yet begun in this small mid-Atlantic state, yet we believed that it was just a matter of time before the coffee craze that was sweeping the west coast, would make its way east. The company was now employing a staff of 60; including a full kitchen staff which seven days a week, was scratch baking all pastry and lunch products offered at all City Dock locations. The acquisition of City Dock Café had changed the dynamics of this young company dramatically, and we focused on refining the internal systems that were necessary to operate this now rapidly expanding company. During the next 27 months City Dock Café would open their fifth and sixth locations in Severna Park and Arnold Maryland. The Arnold location boasted an outdoor patio and also housed City Dock Coffees new 1500 square foot commercial kitchen, containing the state of the art equipment and space needed to meet the increasing demand of supporting all of the City Dock locations. We have focused on setting their business apart from the competition by stressing three principles: 1. Become the local watering hole. "The place where the locals go". 2. Live by the 70/70 Rule, which states that staff must know 70% of all customer's names or drinks. 3. Develop the Cheers Mentality, which dictates that the style of ...Read More