The Mineral argus., 1885-05-28
TEMPERANCE DRINKS.
Business That Returns u Good Profit to
Those Engaged In 1t.

A Business That Returns u Good Profit to
Those Engaged in 1t.
''How the temperance drink and
lunch-counter business is booming
nowr' was remark addressed yestei-
day to q Boston pioneer in the bust
ness.
"Yes." was the reply, sit is won
derful; can hardly account for it,
What were the different steps by
which your own business grew to be SO
extensive as it is?"
swell, about three years ago, when
! was quite young man and was con-
sidering different schemes for adding
to the limited number of shekels then
in my possession my attention was
called to the feasibility of hiring
small ground-rOOm on Washington
street and putting in small soda
fountain as an experiment. My trade
was very successful from the first.
and was encouraged to add attrac-
tons in the shape Of coffee and chOco-
late, and finally sandwiches. cakes,
etc. My soda fountain, which was at
first only 6 feet long, is now the larg-
est. | think, in the world; it has .
frontage of % feet"
''Why is it that some of these cheap
restaurants which keep about the
same things as you keep do not sue
ceed'"
MY opinion is that much depends on
keeping the place neat and bright. II
all the metal work on the counters and
other fixtures are brightly polished
and clean, clear mirrors are plenty, a
brilliant. dazzling appearance is given
to the pla G, which, especially In the
evening, is very inviting. Of course,
however much trade you may draw
by splendid appearances, the most
palatablc food and drinks are neces-
sary to hold it. have spared no ex-
pense. either in what offer for sale
or in the furnishings and decorations.
That. to my mind, is the secret of my
success; and all the places in Boston
that have succeeded in this line have
managed about as ! have"
Several places similar to yours
have started up since you began; do
they detract from your patrOnage?"
''Oh, no. Although within the last
two years rs many AS six Of these es-
adjustments have opened right around
me, my trade has increased percepti-
bly, from week to week-at times. In a
very large ratio. And, what is still
more wonderful, we all seem to be
making money. The business, when
well conducted. is certainly very pro-
titable. and j: growing more and more
so every day."
"Do you think that YOU are helping
the temperance cause by offering
agreeable temperance drinks?"
We are told that we are. Almost
every day some gentleman volunteers
the remark that whereas, formerly
when thirsty, he used to drop into the
nearest bar.rOOm, now he finds oul
place neater and the drinks just a!
agreeable. We have seventy-ive diff
ferent kinds Of cold drinks and twenty
five hot drinks. Tho principal sum
mer drink is acid phOsphate; In win
ter we sell more beef tea than any
thing else,"
The different places Of this kind thai
have been opened SO recently in the
business part Of Boston are similar in
their main features. Some, however
restrict themselves, in the matter o.
food, to cold lunch, others to hot grid.
die and outer cakes. while others still
60 so far as to serve hot soups, oyster
stews and clam chOwders. more after
the style of a restaurant. All, Of
course, rely on ''quick sales aud small
profits. "-BOsiOn Globe.
i