Farewell AFK Café

AFK Cafe, the first café created for Geeks has shut its doors today.

AFK combined great food, a relaxed atmosphere and gaming PCs to create a place where geeks could be themselves located in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

This has been a regular place where me and many of my friends would spend our time on a regular basis and I'm very sad to see it go.

Unfortunately, cashflow issues have affected this fledgling (less than 12 months old) business. Whilst the café appeared to be increasing it's numbers week-by-week, it still didn't get to the point to get above it's 'cash burn' rate.

I wish Jason & Adell every happiness in the future. I hope we will all keep in touch.

Their media release can be read below:

It is my sad duty to inform you that, as of 3pm today, afk cafe (an internet cafe in Woolloongabba, Brisbane) is closed for good. For those of you who had organised events here (especially the Blood Bowl League and the Board Game group) or just like to hang out here, we're very sorry. It was a combination of financial and workload pressure that forced this closure, and while it may seem sudden it has been an option for a while. It is not a decision that has been made lightly.

All those involved with the running of afk wish to extend a very grateful thank you to everyone who has offered their help and support while we've been open. Special thanks are due to our members and regulars, without whom we could not have made it this far.

The money we have raised for Child's Play will still go towards gaming equipment for the Mater Children's Hospital, and we will let you know the results of that effort when it's wrapped up.

We will be keeping the Livejournal community and Facebook group open for the next week or two for those who want to comment on or discuss the closure.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4988314698
http://community.livejournal.com/afk_cafe/

Comments

[AnnerleyMan]

As a chef who well knows the dearth of quirky eateries in brisbane I really wanted AFK to succeed, and brought a lot of fellow gamers there to try and drum up business. Sadly, AFK always dug its own grave in their eyes by giving extremely long wait times for food and almost non-existent wait staff coupled with constatly changing prices. One morning our table of four were the only table in the place - we waited for over an hour to have our breakfast served. Only after 45 mins into the wait I was finally able to grab a member of the waitstaff who mumblingly informed me that the chef was late to work and should be arriving soon. Our table was furious they were happy to just leave us hanging for an hour - not even having the deceny to come over and explain the situation, offer us a coffee or something while we waited (considering the only othere people in the place were using the PC's). It was these (and other) kinds of biginners mistakes that put the nail in the coffin for AFK - people would come, but only once.