Planning too far ahead or right on time?

[Jessngraham]

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for timeline advice and any other words of wisdom. I’m planning to retire early (10-15 years out tentatively) from my sales career and I’d like to have a coffee shop as a business/ passion project/ to serve my immediate neighborhood. I aim to profit and run it like a business, but I would not be going into it with the expectation that it would be my sole source of income. Really, I wish I could open something now because my neighborhood is missing a “third place” that’s convenient and family friendly. I simply can’t add a new business to my plate right now but I certainly can plan and learn!

Besides lack of coffee industry knowledge, my concern is that my ideal property- a quaint cottage along the main road- will be too expensive or occupied by the time I’m ready to make a move. So, I’m considering making a buy when the opportunity presents itself, renting it out as a residence, and then petitioning for a zoning variance when I retire.
The potential properties I’m considering wouldn’t be the best residential rental investment. The incentive would be buying early before other people realize how much there is a need for food, coffee, and meet up places in my neighborhood.

I have a side business with a few rental properties that I self manage so I’m knowledgeable on the landlording aspect. I would have no guarantee that a zoning permit would be allowed when the time comes, but it’s promising that the area I’m interested in is already mixed use.

If you were in my shoes what would you do?

 

[NeutralVoice]

If I were in your position, I’d separate the real estate decision from the coffee shop dream as much as possible. Buying a property now only makes sense if it’s something you’d be comfortable holding long-term even if the zoning never works out. Zoning variance is the biggest risk here, and that’s largely out of your control. In the meantime, I’d focus the next few years on learning the coffee business from the inside -working part-time, helping at a local shop, or doing pop-ups - so you’re not learning everything at once when you retire. When the timing is right, flexibility on location and format (small footprint, takeaway, shared space) will matter more than the perfect building. The third-place idea is solid, but patience and optionality will save you a lot of stress

 

[NeutralVoice]

Most likely batch variation or freshness. Same coffee name doesn’t mean identical beans or roast, and French press shows that really clearly. A fresher or differently roasted batch can suddenly taste dull or muddy at the same grind and ratio. Try going a bit coarser or lowering the dose slightly if that doesn’t help, it’s probably just a different batch.

 

[Jessngraham]

If I were in your position, I’d separate the real estate decision from the coffee shop dream as much as possible. Buying a property now only makes sense if it’s something you’d be comfortable holding long-term even if the zoning never works out. Zoning variance is the biggest risk here, and that’s largely out of your control. In the meantime, I’d focus the next few years on learning the coffee business from the inside -working part-time, helping at a local shop, or doing pop-ups - so you’re not learning everything at once when you retire. When the timing is right, flexibility on location and format (small footprint, takeaway, shared space) will matter more than the perfect building. The third-place idea is solid, but patience and optionality will save you a lot of stress

Great advice. Thank you!