Terra Bite
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Terra Bite Lounge is the name of a coffeehouse that opened in Kirkland, Washington in late 2006. It is unique in that customers choose what to pay.
In the voluntary payment system, patrons deposit their cash in a locked box and store employees do not handle cash per transaction. In fact, employees aren't necessarily aware of how much the patron contributed. However, Terra Bite asks customers who can pay, to contribute what they would elsewhere. The voluntary payment system is a convenience for most customers, who may for example choose to pay once a week for their daily coffee.
In interviews, founder Ervin Peretz has stated that he intends to expand the Terra Bite concept to new stores, in places with demographics that can sustain a new Terra Bite. The goal is to create a highly efficient operation that can sustainably spread from the upper demographics throughout the rest of society, where a non-stigmatizing source of food is needed.
[edit] References
- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003558690_terrabite06e.html
- http://www.zwire.com/site/tab6.cfm?newsid=18052477&BRD=855&PAG=461&dept_id=515250&rfi=6
- http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006406470
