An Update on the Upcoming Figaro Gateway Branch
(And Why Kagay-anons Need It)
Things are going smoothly so far, according to Figaro’s main branch store manager, Maria Elena Pagdanganan when asked for an update on their new branch. The place is actually all set and ready for business, all that’s left for the Figaro staff to do is to transfer all the necessary equipment and furniture into the space and they’ll be ready to serve customers. In fact, the coffee house was initially scheduled to open last May 2010; however the Figaro management was forced to move the date further due to some delays involving the construction of Gateway building’s connecting walkway to the LimKetKai Mall.
According to the Figaro store manager, they’re just waiting for the construction of the passageway to be finished before they can officially serve customers. She says if the construction process meets no further delays, then the coffee shop’s annex would be opened around the first two quarters of next year (2011).
Figaro’s Gateway branch will be a little smaller as compared to its main branch located along the Rosario Strip beside La Vetta. The management intended to give its second Figaro branch here in the city a cozier ambience for its customers. And as it is so, the management will only be reassigning two of their main branch’s employees to their second branch in Gateway during the first few weeks of its grand opening (a barista and a cashier).
Just like the first ever Figaro coffee house franchise here in Cagayan de Oro City, the one in Gateway is owned by the Lim brothers. The second branch will be located around the second floor of the soon to be finished Gateway building. It will also be located along a line of other restaurants and food chains, including an annex of the famous Kagay-anon Restaurant. Since this line of restaurants and coffee houses is all owned by one managing body, Ms. Pagdanganan says that they will be opened either consecutively or at the same time.
Now that’s good news for almost all Kagay-anons! It’s about time for more coffee shop openings and expansions. Although it’s true that more and more coffee shops and similar types of establishments open around the city each year, the demand for such venues increases simultaneously.
This trend is quite understandable since this little city is slowly becoming a haven for commerce, which simply means more business meetings, more meet-ups and similar stuff. As you might’ve noticed, it’s becoming more and more difficult to look for a vacant chair or a couch to lounge around or hang out in, in most coffee shops, especially during the weekends.
And although this might sound good for the establishment’s owner, coffee shops are evidently becoming more stuffy and crowded. Personally, I think this defeats the purpose of having a cozy and comfortable ambience. It’s not really a bad thing to be in an entire room full of different people, it’s just that settling yourself in a corner with a good read and a hot drink inside these local coffee shops just doesn’t feel the same anymore.
So yes, an expansion is really a good thing.
-Mara Jayne Tismo-
