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closeTanning and a cup of Joe
Local business offers unique dynamic duo to its customers
Sometimes two businesses are better than one or rather a business that offers two services rather than one.
That’s the wrap on Mocha Cabana in Puyallup. For three years, the business has served as a tanning salon and espresso stop.
“It’s kind of unique like that,” said owner Ed Sotelo. “It’s worked out really well.”
The idea stemmed from offering more to the customer, he said, and customers have embraced the option of a tan and a cup of Joe.
“They like it,” Sotelo said.
Some just get a drink, some come to tan and others do both, said manager Bree Clayton.
Mocha Cabana truly is a mixed business, with tanning options and a full espresso bar with seating for about 10 to 15 people.
Usually tanning at the salon slows down after customers get a base tan for the summer, but the slow rolling weather has kept the business busy.
“It’s been pretty consistent,” Sotelo said.
The business averages about 20 to 30 new customers every month.
The weather also changes what people order to drink. Usually they find a high volume of Italian sodas sold, but that doesn’t keep people from trying out new concoctions like Red Bull shots, which is Red Bull mixed with a favorite flavoring.
“Everybody loves their mochas though,” Sotelo said.
In the morning, the business has it’s coffee regulars, but some use the 5 a.m. start time to get a tanning session in, too. A lot of people have a crammed schedule, so the chance to take care of tanning in the morning is great, Sotelo said.
The two enterprises have overlapped even in how they approach reaching customer services. There are plenty of walk-ins for tanning sessions, but many regulars call ahead of time to schedule a time. Now some customers even call-in their coffee order on their way to work, Sotelo said.
Clayton has learned the routine and what customers like for their morning brew. Often she just needs a name and will have what they want ready to go.
“It’s really nice and I think people appreciate it,” she said.
That friendliness is what draws people in, Clayton said.
“We get a lot of locals,” she said. “It’s basically a family based place.”
In the future, Sotelo would like to expand.
“It’s the building,” he said. “I think we’ve outgrown it.”
He would like to add a drive thru and maybe even offer sandwiches.
Although their customer base may have outgrown the size of the building, being located in the valley has been great and something he’d like to continue.
It seems like most tanning places are located on South Hill, Sotelo said, and being in the valley offers people an alternative from a drive up the hill.
“We get people who walk here,” he said.
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Mocha Cabana
Mocha Cabana is located at 711 E. Main in Puyallup
>Hours: they are open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
> Phone: 253-770-5540
> Web site: www.mochacabana.net.
> For specials and coupons check out the Puyallup/Edgewood Hometown Values Coupon Magazine.