Should the Urbandale Library Cut Its Rent for Chapters?

Mustard's Restaurant, which has not paid rent to the to operate for more than a year, will ask the board tonight to cut its rent in half.

When Dion Cobb, president of Mustard's Restaurants, spoke to the board in January about why the business hadn't been paying rent, he brought documents that showed the business hadn't been making a profit. 

Several businesses have tried unsuccessfully operate the cafe and coffee shop in the Urbandale Library. Other libraries, such as the Johnston Library, have replaced their coffee shops with vending machines.

In a written proposal to the library, Cobb proposes a sliding scale for rent, based on cafe sales.

Mustard's monthly rent could be cut from $500 to $250. When the cafe's monthly sales exceed $4,350, Mustard's would pay an extra $250 for the month.

Last month, sales were $3,706, he wrote.

He said that the restaurant would pay an extra $250 every three months as a "good faith gesture" toward repaying back rent from 2011. 

The Urbandale Library Board will consider Mustard's proposal at it 6 meeting tonight. Check Urbandale.Patch.com tomorrow morning to see what was decided. Or follow us on Twitter.

He also proposed that the cafe cut its hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. It has been open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

That suggestion was not welcomed at the January board discussion. The library is open until 9 p.m. on weekdays, 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Last month, Patch what they thought should happen to the cafe. Here's what you said: 

"I would think improving the food offerings in the shop would help draw more people in. Things like specialty coffees and drinks, excellent pastries, higher quality sandwiches, interesting salads and prepared foods. People come into the library for obvious reasons, but you need to give them a good reason to come into the coffee shop. That reason generally implies good coffee and food." - KGarrett

"My first suggestion is that Chapters should concentrate on quality coffee drinks. Even though I go to the library twice a week, the last time I was in the cafe was four years ago. I ordered a cappuccino with skim milk and the girl at the counter told me that their cappuccino was made with a powdered mix and water. I left without buying anything, and haven't been in Chapters since.

"Secondly, I think Chapters should forget about serving meals, and take advantage of the gourmet cupcake/cake pop trend and try to lure a local bakery to the spot."  - Joan Habel

"Vending machine items such as candy bars and bottled pop are rarely purchased at the cafe. Best sellers are the fresh baked cookies, delicious soups and daily sandwich specials. Let's get some facts together to make the best objective decision." - mc

"The difference between the Barnes and Noble coffee shop and the library coffee shop is atmosphere. For some reason, I have never felt like I could just sit and relax at the library's coffee shop. It just seems so somber and quiet in there."  - Nichole McDowell.