Laura
Arnold
Lara M
Sara Dobson
CibbuanoA bakery runs on the honor system
May 22nd 2008 11:11
Perhaps people wouldn't bake so much at home if bakeries were a little more reasonably priced. I like the Sonoma bakery in Glebe, but at $7 for a loaf of sourdough rye, I'd be better off just mixing flour and activated yeast in my mouth and swishing it around.
Keeping the prices at a bakery is tough, because the cost of running the bakery outweighs the cost of those perfectly flaky croissants.
In order to avoid hitting customers with high prices, the City Cafe Bakery in Kitchener, Ontario, allows patrons to buy things and deposit their money into a fare box. The owner, who maintains meticulous records, finds that, for the most part, people are pretty honest, with only one or two percent of people ripping them off.
People even tip, which goes straight to the bakery, as the owner does the good thing and pays his staff a decent wage.
From the BoingBoing post:
"“Everything is rounded off to the nearest quarter with taxes included where applicable,” he says. “So every desert is $1.50 (tarts, brownies, and date squares), every pizza lunch is $5, every beverage is $1.25, every loaf of bread is $2.75 (Italian sourdough, multi-grain, and raisin bread on weekends), croissants are $1 each, and bagels are three for $2 (plain, sesame, and multi-grain).”"
I think it's a fantastic idea, and one that more takeaway shops should implement... although, it does raise the question of whether or not a restaurant like this could work in a big city.
In Kitchener, maybe. How about in downtown Toronto? Would people be honest?
The best part about this is that it gives customers a little flexibility. Not enough today? Pay it back another day. Never wait in line. Take a look at your food. Feel good about bakeries again.
In order to avoid hitting customers with high prices, the City Cafe Bakery in Kitchener, Ontario, allows patrons to buy things and deposit their money into a fare box. The owner, who maintains meticulous records, finds that, for the most part, people are pretty honest, with only one or two percent of people ripping them off.
People even tip, which goes straight to the bakery, as the owner does the good thing and pays his staff a decent wage.
From the BoingBoing post:
"“Everything is rounded off to the nearest quarter with taxes included where applicable,” he says. “So every desert is $1.50 (tarts, brownies, and date squares), every pizza lunch is $5, every beverage is $1.25, every loaf of bread is $2.75 (Italian sourdough, multi-grain, and raisin bread on weekends), croissants are $1 each, and bagels are three for $2 (plain, sesame, and multi-grain).”"
In Kitchener, maybe. How about in downtown Toronto? Would people be honest?
The best part about this is that it gives customers a little flexibility. Not enough today? Pay it back another day. Never wait in line. Take a look at your food. Feel good about bakeries again.
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