A battle for coffee lovers’ bucks has grown into David vs. Goliath proportions in Sydney, N.S.
“It’s just having a little fun,” said James Walsh, owner of Doktor Luke’s - A Respectable Coffee House, in downtown Sydney.
Not unlike a double-double, the concept is pretty simple.
Anyone with a winning tab in a coffee roll-up promotion is being offered a free drip coffee at the independent café at the corner of Bentinck and Townsend streets.
“(Roll-up promotions are) part of Canadian culture, but independent guys – we’re here, we’re still selling coffee during that time and sometimes we lose some of our customers,” Walsh said. “We just thought it would be a fun little way to attract some new people here.”
Meagan Penney, CEO of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce, said not only is the roll-up offer an interesting way of drumming up some extra business, it also speaks to the importance of supporting local.
“I think it’s a really cool idea,” Penney said. “If you don’t support these small coffee shops, they’re pretty easy to lose. It’s really important to make sure that we’re coming to them instead of the bigger players.”
Just down the road, the drive-thru was packed as usual on Friday at the Tim Horton’s location on George Street where the annual Roll Up The Rim To Win contest is in full swing.
Walsh said not too many people have shown up yet with winning tabs.
He admitted the promotion was an attempt to stoke a bit of friendly competition with chain coffee giants, and though he said he too orders a cup of java at drive-thrus like Tim Horton’s or Robin’s on occasion, he maintains his shop’s coffee is better.
“It’s locally roasted. It’s ethically sourced. It’s brewed with love and care. So we’re just hoping, maybe... give us a try,” Walsh said.
The “roll up” promotion at Doktor Luke’s lasts until March 23.
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