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SCHENECTADY
Proctors buys out Muddy Cup, promises better coffeehouse
Morris says service must meet needs of theater patrons
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com

    Just in time for the Lion King, Proctors has gotten rid of the biggest creator of complaints at the theater: the Muddy Cup.
    The in-house coffeehouse was better known for its long lines than its drinks. During Broadway shows, the manager would often schedule just one person to work the counter, creating lines that stretched out into the hallway. Many patrons could not make a purchase during intermission because they never got to the front of the line.
    In recent years, the Muddy Cup also began restricting the use of credit cards, would often post handwritten signs pleading for cash, and cut back noticeably on its products. At times, it had only a few pastries for sale.
    Proctors CEO Philip Morris said he asked the owners to improve service many times.
    “We’ve been talking about service issues for quite some time,” he said. “It was slow, especially during heavy times, show times, so it didn’t meet the needs of the patrons. And sometimes it wasn’t very good. We want to be very good.”
    Recently he began negotiating to buy them out, convinced that they were not interested in changing their business. They finally agreed, and the coffeehouse closed Tuesday.
    He had to not only pay them to leave, but take over their $50,000 Schenectady Local Development Corp. loan, which has a balance of $32,000 at 7 percent interest. Morris also bought all their equipment. Now, he needs to hire workers to run the coffeehouse, while also setting up vendor contracts for food and drink.
    Proctors has taken over and created many performance spaces, but the company has never done something like this before.
    “I don’t think this is a cakewalk for us,” Morris said. “But we know how the building changes in any 18-hour period.”
    He may lease it to an operator later, but he wants to try running it himself first and see if he can make it work. If Proctors keeps control, Morris can make sure the business provides the level of quality he wants, rather than being forced to negotiate for changes.
CHANGES COMING
    He wants it to be far more than a coffeehouse.
    “Sometimes we have to be a really fast diner and a place to grab lunch before a matinee,” he said. “It’s not really just a coffeehouse. It’s really a cafe for a performing arts center. Matinees, events, before the shows, intermission — it’s only a coffeehouse when it’s not doing any of those things.”
    He plans to add sandwiches and other light meals, but a menu has not yet been determined. The space will reopen for limited service Sunday, but not because Proctors will be ready by then.
    The customers coming to the Greenmarket — which has vendors set up throughout the space — will expect coffee, Morris said.
    So he’ll have coffee, but probably not much else.
    “It probably won’t be much more than the old place did,” Morris said, calling it a “gentle mode” and not a true opening. “We don’t think we’re going to be fully functional for a number of weeks.”
    He has exactly four weeks to get ready. The Lion King will open on Feb. 22 and stay through Mar. 20.
    The show was a major motive for taking over the space, Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen said.
    “Especially with Lion King coming up, you just don’t want people to have a bad experience,” he said. “A lot of people don’t do dinner before the show. They just get to the show early and they want something light.”
    He added that the Muddy Cup owners didn’t want to leave.
    “They wanted to stay. They were doing very well. It’s a built-in audience. You’ve got thousands of people in your lobby, how could you not do well?” Gillen said. “Philip wanted the space back.”

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01700&AppName=1

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Proctors taking over, renaming coffee shop
The Business Review
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 12:28pm EST

Proctors is taking over management of the former Muddy Cup Coffee Shop inside the theater lobby in downtown Schenectady, New York.
The owners of Muddy Cup closed the business on Jan. 24 and agreed to transfer the equipment to Proctors. The business will reopen with a new look and name this week.
Muddy Cup, a regional chain based in the Hudson Valley, has closed many of its locations since last fall.
The coffee shop at Proctors is near the historic theater’s box office, in an area called Robb Alley. The theater plans to enhance the coffee shop and possibly extend the hours it is open. The shop manager, Joy Albert of Schenectady, will continue in to work there.
“The shop is a pivotal place in Robb Alley,” Proctors Chief Executive Officer Philip Morris said. “We want to make it more attractive, fun and efficient for the enjoyment of Proctors patrons.”
Possible names are Cafe at Proctors or Intermission at Proctors.
Also this week, Proctors will officially open KeyHall, a banquet facility located in a former KeyBank branch next to the theater on State Street.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2011/01/25/proctors-taking-over-renaming-coffee.html

This must be the new plan when Metroplex businesses fail Proctors will buy them to avoid embarassment

Quoted from 615

This must be the new plan when Metroplex businesses fail Proctors will buy them to avoid embarassment

It's just another taxpayer bail out! If the business was doing so well, why didn't a private investor buy it?

This is so easy to understand folks. Proctors is a 'non-profit' and is funded by Metroplex (county taxpayer) money. It doesn't have to worry about paying sales, property or school taxes. Muddy Cup, on the other hand, has to pay sales tax plus $10K a month rent. Easy for Proctors to swoop in, put yet another sales-tax-free establishment under their non-profit and retain all the money in profits.

Again, Proctors is abusing it's non-profit designation to run a for-profit business.

PS - again the Gazetto loves to slam any business NOT run by the Plex. Sounds like Morris and Gillen are doing the editing before it prints.

You're right on the money Rachel.

"Phil wanted the space back" stated Death Ray Gillen. WTF! Another "renaissance" project goes belly up. Now Proctor's/Morris/County sheeple are getting into the catering and coffee business. Key Bamk, Capital Rep now the failed Coffee House.

      This is a total outrage. Maybe he should run one thing right? And here's the number one complaint at Proctor's high ticket prices for 3rd rate productions. Not the line at the coffee house that no one went to. Bravo to MT for breaking this story. Hey Gazetto what's Mercury Morris salary? No wonder he can't pay any fair share PILOT.

Quoted from Shadow

You're right on the money Rachel.

But Mercury Morris is never on the money. Pay your Proctor's creditors and a fair share PILOT before expanding your empire. Is there any DEM on that bored that can reign him in?

HOW CAN PROCTORS BUY SH!T!!!!!!! Are they turning a profit or are we still the tit?

Quoted from rachel72

Again, Proctors is abusing it's non-profit designation to run a for-profit business.

PS - again the Gazetto loves to slam any business NOT run by the Plex. Sounds like Morris and Gillen are doing the editing before it prints.

Profits are being eaten up by Mercury Morris' bloated salary. Why doesn't he run the coffee house out of his kick? Proctor's will be back to the pathetic County Legislature in a few months saying they need money to run art nights, so that they can keep their lights on.

     Last summer they asked everyone to take extended vacation without pay. Hilarious that Morris is allowed to run anything. Someone in the media should call Jamestown. People think musicals make a lot of money-they have no clue about production costs. Margins are slim.

Union College will be getting it soon since no one can make money there, even selling one of the productS with the greatest profit margin!

Non-profit organizations have owned and operated eating establishments, coffee shops, gift shops ... Dartmouth College even owns and operates an Inn.    There is nothing new about doing this and quite frankly it is a great idea.

Unless the non profit is going to start paying taxes on the profits from their ventures they shouldn't be allowed to buy a private business when it's sold.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Non-profit organizations have owned and operated eating establishments, coffee shops, gift shops ... Dartmouth College even owns and operates an Inn.    There is nothing new about doing this and quite frankly it is a great idea.

But DV, WHEN WHEN WHEN WHEN WHEN WHEN are you going to fact the UNDISPUTABLE UNDENIABLE FACTS....THE FACTS  DV   THE FACTS.

The taxpayers CANNOT AFFORD to pay the property and school taxes of these places that make money and do not pay their fair share!!!!!!!!!!

DV, do YOU favor cutting snowplowing in order for tax dollars to pay for a coffee shop  -  a coffee shop that will NOT pay for the services it RECEIVES from the city

DV, do YOU favor cutting the fire dept in order for tax dollars to pay for a coffee shop  -  a coffee shop that will NOT pay for the services it RECEIVES from the city

DV, do YOU favor cutting the maintenance and repair of watermains in order for tax dollars to pay for a coffee shop  -  a coffee shop that will NOT pay for the services it RECEIVES from the city

DV, do YOU favor cutting the maintenance and repair of sewers in order for tax dollars to pay for a coffee shop  -  a coffee shop that will NOT pay for the services it RECEIVES from the city

DV, do YOU favor cutting police responses to murders in order for tax dollars to pay for a coffee shop  -  a coffee shop that will NOT pay for the services it RECEIVES from the city

DV, do YOU favor cutting trash collection in order for tax dollars to pay for a coffee shop  -  a coffee shop that will NOT pay for the services it RECEIVES from the city


It is so very easy for someone, who does not have a job and thus does NOT pay taxes, for someone who does NOT own a house and thus does NOT pay the high property and school taxes, to be in favor of the government spending sprees.

It is also very easy for an unemployed person living off taxpayer dollars to cheer for spending money on non-essential things

Personally, I hope they come up with a better name than the "muddy cup" --- that name never sounded very appealing.    
Of course, I am not big on flavored coffees or drinks like "chai" .. yuck .....    I like my coffee the way that I like my women  .....   hot, strong and dark.