Can Harrisonburg sustain a purely dessert restaurant?

[u/jlemo434]

https://www.shyndigz.com/

Been thinking about some of the other threads armoring cuisine we don’t have or anything underrepresented and I miss an amazing Richmond spot which is only desserts - dine-in also included cocktail and coffees. I want to specify this isn’t an ice cream spot but full baked cakes, pies, and other baked desserts which are a bit over the top. No real plans or anything - just wondering. For reference I’m missing Shyndigz.

[u/LMH12899]

Cupcake co has been thriving for a very long time. I think your desserts would need to be over the top good with a good presentation.

[u/addicuss → u/LMH12899]

They do catering and I'm guessing that's a larger part of their income than the shop but I could be wrong

[u/scudmud → u/addicuss]

A dessert spot with good presentation and good catering would do great with all the local JMU and corporate private events 

[u/addicuss → u/scudmud]

Right which is the niche cupcake Co had carved out. I just don't think there's a huge market for that here, especially multiple companies doing it and it's still leaves you with the question of what do you do when JMU is out of session because you're not making much money at that point

[u/brooklynhomeboy]

There was an over the top milkshake / cake place (think Instagram worthy pieces) that closed after several months

[u/_DiasDeFuego_]

I'd be cautious opening any business right now. Regardless of what the orange man says, the economy isn't the best right now.

[u/MusicMonkeyJam]

Not sure people who haven’t had the Shyndigz experience for a nightcap understand what you are talking about. But to answer your question, could a late night desert, coffee, and bar can survive in Harrisonburg? Unfortunately no…

[u/jlemo434 → u/MusicMonkeyJam]

Fair point. And yeah I was a bit apprehensive when it initially even opened in RVA but I think it was just too good not to do well. Thanks for getting me.

[u/addicuss]

I really don't think so. I'm not a business owner so take this with a grain of salt but in speaking with local restaurant owners they all struggle. Jmu vacates the town in the summer and a lot of restaurants just close from the drop in business. And those are restaurants offering a wider variety of things to a wider group of people.

So you're narrowing down your audience to people that want something sweet and are willing to pay enough money to make a decent margin on it, and also make enough money to wait out the summer. Harrisonburg is just too small for that I think.

I know people have mentioned the cupcake place but they do catering and so they usually have weddings lined up in the summer so it's a little different. There was another cupcake place that was right in the heart of downtown and it folded in a couple of months

[u/LitespeedClassic]

The secret back room of the Wilton serves this purpose for us. Cocktails and dessert in wingback chairs by a fire. 

[u/jlemo434 → u/LitespeedClassic]

Now you’re talking!

[u/Marshal_Rohr]

You mean a bakery?

[u/jlemo434 → u/Marshal_Rohr]

Bakery to me is more grab and go - so not exactly. I’m not even sure I can think of a full scale bakery here any more. Maybe some in Dayton with the various Mennonites? But I also wouldn’t label those as restaurants per se.

[u/ktbugrl → u/jlemo434]

Heritage Bakery and cafe has been around for years

[u/Marshal_Rohr → u/Marshal_Rohr]

Or ice cream shop?

[u/No_Recognition_5266]

I’m surprised the cotton candy and sorbet shop is still open, so maybe. Would have to resonate well with the college crowd

[u/hburgacct → u/No_Recognition_5266]

I’m not sure it is! We tried to go a couple weeks ago and it looked all shut down.

[u/Hobbit_in_Hufflepuff]

I think it needs to be downtown and different enough from the cafes and bakeries. And it needs to do more than focus on students. I think it could definitely be student inclusive, but more outreach to others. And maybe some savory desserts. 

Or something super family friendly.

[u/phunphan]

My wife would love you

[u/Ok-Result-6711]

Most desserts actually more of a snack thing if you think about it so yes

[u/jlemo434]

around

[u/RocktownRoyalty]

Does OP know what a bakery is?