The owners of local library cafes say they've felt the wrath of the economy.
"The economy is hitting everybody," said Bernie Dillman, 59, who runs Bernie's Cafe at Clearwater's Main Library. "It's slow, but people are hanging in there."
His sales average less than $2,000 a month, according to the city's most recent figures.
And Dalal Mansour, who runs the Bookmark Cafe at Largo Public Library, said things are so tough she won't be able to pay her $1,752 rent and sales tax to Largo this month.
"We had a big loss. Our sales are not even $100 a day," said Mansour, 47, whose cafe serves sandwiches, salads, gourmet coffees and pastries.
Last year, the city of Clearwater considered having vending machines instead of a cafe. But that idea "didn't get a lot of positive response from our users," said Barbara Pickell, the city's library systems director.
Dillman pays Clearwater $500 a month rent and 5 percent of whatever he makes monthly after the first $2,000. His sales were $1,972 in September and $1,849 in October, according to city records. November and December sales have not been submitted yet, Pickell said.
Dillman's cafe, which also serves salads, sandwiches, coffee and desserts, has a concession-style atmosphere.
Mansour, a single mother of three, operates her business alone. Dillman, who ran the Regal Beagle Pub in Dunedin for 18 years, works with his daughter, Angie.
The Clearwater Library cafe has had four owners since the city opened the $20.2-million library on Osceola Avenue in 2004. Other cafe owners have struggled. Previous owner Matt Behms had said he made a profit. He told officials he was closing shop because he decided to leave the area.
Dillman, who took over the cafe in July, says his business is just not getting the foot traffic it used to.
And most customers are pinching their pennies. He noticed the trend as gas prices started to climb, he said.
Mansour, who has shared her difficulties with a couple of city commissioners, said she hopes Largo will reconsider the amount of her monthly rent.
City Commissioner Mary Gray Black, a Bookmark Cafe regular, brought up the issue at city meetings. And Largo staff plan to present a report about the cafe next week, Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert said.
Meanwhile, Dillman is optimistic his business will bounce back. Over the past couple of weeks, sales have been better, he said.
"Hopefully, it's on its way up," Dillman said.
Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or 445-4155.
[Last modified: Jan 12, 2009 08:05 PM]
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