Copper Cup serves up coffee

Walk in the door and the welcoming smell of freshly baked goods beacons, the hiss of espresso machines underscores conversations and people gather around cups of exotic coffees and teas. \nBut local entrepreneur Dean Foster says his store is not just another coffee shop.\nFoster said the local flavor of Bloomington will help set The Copper Cup apart from the homogenized coffee franchises.\nThe Copper Cup, 1400 E. Third St., is one of several cafes located in Bloomington. It is an independent store that was created by Foster to fill a need he saw in Bloomington coffee stores.\n"The Copper Cup has a distinctly local flavor," Foster said. "The interior was designed and created by Bloomington artists. The chairs are all one of a kind, and the logo (on the side of the building) is a 600-pound piece created by another artist."\nFoster, the owner of ProWinds, decided to open his cafe on the corner of Third and Jordan when the vacancy opened up. The Copper Cup opened in June, giving time to train employees before the fall rush began. \nThough it is a new store, advertising has not been heavy. Foster said he believes that the prime location, quality products, and word of mouth generates more customers than heavy marketing.\n"The location could not be more ideal," Foster said. "We get heavy traffic from the University and locals. Word is spreading, and we are getting busier every day."\nFreshman Julia Blanford stopped into the cafe after seeing it while buying her books at nearby T.I.S. Bookstore, 1302 E. Third St., and has now become a regular customer, stopping in for a smoothie once a week.\n"I love the smoothies here," Blanford said. "They use frozen fruits instead of syrups. It's a difference that you can taste. (The location) is somewhat inconvenient because I live in the Northwest Neighborhood, but the walk is worth it."\nBlanford has done what Foster had hoped: The next time she returned for another smoothie, she brought her friends, bringing more students to enjoy coffee or tea at the Copper Cup. \nFoster said he hopes that word continues to spread among students. While The Copper Cup has only one location, it is poised to open further locations if demand is strong, he said.\nWhile many java junkies applaud the new coffee houses, many wonder how many more can be built. Bloomington is home to several, including Starbucks, Soma, Runcible Spoon and Runcible Spoon Too. While each cafe has its specialties, the general products are virtually identical.\nProfessor of Economics Arlington Williams said the number of cafes is bound to grow.\n"Until entrepreneurs believe that they cannot make a profit by establishing a coffee house, they will keep opening," he said. "They see a market that they can enter and make a profit in. Each cafe tries to fill a different niche by emphasizing different aspects of the establishment. Some choose product, some choose price, and some choose atmosphere"