That new boba spot on Harbor closed after 2 weeks

I walked by last Tuesday and saw the 'grand opening' banner, but by this Monday they had a locked gate and a landlord notice taped to the door. The guy working there told me opening weekend they only had like 5 customers total. Has anyone else noticed places popping up and disappearing super fast around here lately?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_lewis27d ago

From what I've seen around here, it's not just boba spots. There was that poke place on 3rd that lasted maybe a month, and a pho spot near the old mall that closed before I even got a chance to try it. In my experience, a lot of these places don't do enough research on foot traffic or rent costs before signing a lease. Take this with a grain of salt, but I've noticed the ones that pop up in a hurry with generic decor and no local buzz tend to fade out just as fast. Your mileage may vary, but I think a lot of it comes down to location and having a real social media presence from day one.

valc9126d ago

Hey @phoenix_lewis, did that place have those neon sign walls too?

the_fiona26d ago

Good on phoenix_lewis for hitting that nail on the head. Location and real social media game are everything. From my own experience seeing places open and close, the neon sign walls are a huge red flag. It's like they spent all the budget on trendy decor and nothing on figuring out if people will actually walk through the door. You see the same sad empty lobby and generic "vibes" photos on Instagram a month later. Always check the foot traffic during a weekday lunch, not just a Friday night. That reality check saves you from watching another spot turn into a ghost town.