Book Café

Running a bookshop café in a port city like Gqeberha involves balancing two businesses with different rhythms. Coffee service demands consistent supply chains, espresso machine maintenance, and managing waste; bookselling requires stock rotation, shrinkage management, and customer patience. The model works because people want to browse slowly—you can't rush someone choosing their next read—and a coffee keeps them comfortable while they do it. Load shedding complicates both: a failed espresso machine during load-shedding hours loses your afternoon crowd, while poor lighting makes browsing difficult. Space planning matters too—cramped corners discourage lingering, but oversized layouts split focus. The businesses share one advantage though: both benefit from becoming a regular habit rather than a one-off errand.