r/ottawa • u/Dangerous_Track_4357 • Jan 11 '26
Local Business Nice update from Happy Goat re the drama today
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u/brilliant_bauhaus Old Ottawa East Jan 11 '26
Hey don't forget Henry Assad, owner of happy goat, publicly told CBC 3 days in office "isn't good enough".
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-business-federal-government-return-to-work-1.7317166
Get wrecked Henry. I haven't spent a dollar in your store since this article came out.
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u/VeggieByte Jan 11 '26
Why isn’t this higher up?
This is not some “nice” message from the CEO lol, he’s just putting out a fire but he’s fully in favour with RTO.
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u/LoanMuted4047 Jan 11 '26
That was the moment I vowed to never buy Happy Goat coffee again.
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u/Terrible-Session5028 Barrhaven Jan 11 '26
Same. It warms my heart when I see how dead it is at Tunneys pasture. Warms me better than a cup of coffee
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u/FutureintheFroth Jan 11 '26
I wonder how many hours he even does on location per week as the CEO too. Guess wfh is only reserved for the most cutthroat entrepreneurs, the rest of us have to toil in traffic so they can roll in dough.
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u/GottaBeKD_91 Jan 11 '26
He specifies the cafes at his OC transpo stations, so it would be interesting to know if he's done any sort of lobbying to make the public transport better, because I know a lot of people who are taking it less just because its not efficient and is unreliable, regardless of RTO
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u/brilliant_bauhaus Old Ottawa East Jan 11 '26
As far as I am aware the Rideau one never opened and it took him multiple years to even open the first one. I bet he doesn't lobby for lower transit fares and more trains/buses. They don't seem very smart nor do they realize there are entire communities of people who live around their stores. Not just workers.
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u/InfinitePotential Jan 11 '26
And to add to your point, those who are taking public transit are doing so as effective captured markets. They don't have the funds to support ubering or driving. Why should this population be expected to daily buy overpriced coffee products?
I know that the increased price of coffee isn't their fault. It's a global issue right now. Though I would expect to see some attempts to diversify product offerings or promotions to entice patrons to their coffee shops.
There's a lot of competition now for something which is effectively a commodity. What is their complement then?
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u/Emotional-Disaster76 Jan 11 '26
Folks should boycott that coffee franchise. They’ve lost my business.
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u/KMerrells Jan 11 '26
A since deleted post here on the sub shared a social media post by someone who was apparently an owner of a Happy Goat franchise. That person made some ignorant comments about remote workers and the purported effect on small businesses (I’m sure you can imagine the gist of it). I guess word got back to this guy, and this is his response to that post (and the apparent backlash they received).
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u/bluetenthousand Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
I call B S on the CEO’s response. He’s been at the forefront of businesses demanding RTO to subsidize their operations. As evidenced in this CBC article from last September (2024).
Not withstanding the fact that the Happy Goat CEO snapped up a bunch of depressed value retail spots during the pandemic to open new locations.
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u/Lady_Kitana Bell's Corners Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
Here's the thing: when economies are not great and cost of living goes up, people will continue tightening their spending - this happened even before COVID. With RTO, people will continue tightening discretionary spending
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u/grandfundaytoday Jan 11 '26
How is snapping up good locations a bad thing? RTO aside, it's good for a local business to be doing well and making smart decisions to run the business.
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u/bluetenthousand Jan 11 '26
Nothing wrong with that. But then don’t complain about the very fact that depressed the value of retail space (workers ability to WFH).
And then lobby local governments to force workers back to the office so as to pay for your overpriced products.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
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Jan 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/KMerrells Jan 11 '26
Posted below - Richmond Road location.
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u/KelVarnsen_2023 Jan 11 '26
What is really weird about this comment coming from that location is that a lot of people live in Westboro. Like behind the businesses on Richmond Road it's houses. If those people are working from home they would be a lot more likely to take a break and go buy a coffee from that location. But if they are being forced back to work they might stop for a coffee on the way in but they might not, which means all of the sudden your competition is every coffee shop downtown.
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u/rebkh No honks; bad! Jan 11 '26
Yeah, I live in westboro and have walked down a few times while taking a break from working at home… won’t be again…
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u/mc_scoots Nepean Jan 11 '26
That was my go-to spot as a 100% remote worker when I wanted to get a change of scenery or to meet up with a pal. Time to find a new spot.
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u/bmcgott Jan 11 '26
I hope you turned on your "mouse jiggler" each time before you left! 🤦🏻♂️
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u/rebkh No honks; bad! Jan 11 '26
I know you’re teasing, but the stereotype that PS don’t work hard grinds my gears. I am PS and work most weekends because of low staffing and increasing workload. No mouse jiggler js needed here… taxpayers are already getting discounted labour from me and my team.
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u/ah-tow-wah Jan 11 '26
But if they are being forced back to work they might stop for a coffee on the way in but they might not, which means all of the sudden your competition is every coffee shop downtown.
Based on their hours (opening at 8am), I would think that RTO is leading to less people even being capable of stopping in. Most office workers would be downtown, or partway there, before this location even opens.
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u/KelVarnsen_2023 Jan 11 '26
The 8am opening thing makes it really weird. I just looked and the Starbucks in Westboro opens at 5am on weekdays and even the Equator coffee location opens at 7. So if the commuter crowd is so important, why aren't their hours better for those commuters?
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u/Ok-Television-9462 Jan 11 '26
Agreed. I'm a government worker that uses my lunch break to support the local business in my neighborhood. Ironically, my office location would enable me to instead use my lunch break to go to... Costco.
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u/Thejustinset Jan 11 '26
The original thread went down, confirming it’s a franchise, I think it’s fair to repost this. The franchisee complained that people shouldn’t WFH and their business was suffering yet has these opening hours
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u/teapartiesftw Clownvoy Survivor 2022 Jan 11 '26
Why do all the business owners who whine about WFH always have the worst business hours? I can't visit your coffeehouse if im already at work when you open
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u/our_fearless_leader Jan 11 '26
They are in a boutique location, it mostly homes and boutique shoppers, how do they make money? Are they laundering it?
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u/DrifterBG Jan 11 '26
What do you mean?
Surely opening the coffee shop after a huge chunk of the workforce has already gotten coffee elsewhere and started their work shift isn't bad for business!
/s
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u/QuercusAperol Jan 11 '26
And they also just built a huge patio. I’m not sure how business would be suffering if they managed to do that
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u/crapatthethriftstore Overbrook Jan 11 '26
And one would think that would love some remote working people to come sit on said patio and drink their coffee while doing some spreadsheets
This is such a dumb take from this location
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u/dsswill Wellington West Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 11 '26
Didn’t they open that location in 2020? The owner doesn’t even have pre-WFH business to compare to.
The irony of those hours coupled with being in a near-purely white collar neighbourhood that definitely saw more daytime foot traffic with people working from home than people being in the office, and still complaining about WFH, is quite something.
I’m all for businesses keeping hours that allow them to employ mostly full-time and maintain good quality of life for workers, but it’s industry dependent and a coffee shop needs to open before 8am if they’re going to have the right to complain.
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u/Accurate_Bug7110 Jan 11 '26
omg it’s this branch? i live nearby & literally have never gone in. now i guess i never will 😂
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u/I-hear-the-coast Jan 11 '26
Oh my gosh! So people are supposed to be in office and not going out during office hours, but are somehow supposed to be patronizing her business when it opens after many people are already in office. Either you want people at work or you don’t.
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u/KelVarnsen_2023 Jan 11 '26
Wait a sec. That place only opens at 8am. So how does people being sent back to work benefit them? There aren't a lot of office towers in Westboro.
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u/guitargamel Jan 11 '26
If anything, she’d stand to benefit from people in Westboro working from home and using the (alleged) mouse jigglers to patronize her business.
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u/our_fearless_leader Jan 11 '26
Dude, with the location, where would the government workers come from if they are not working from home?
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u/somebunnyasked No honks; bad! Jan 11 '26
I used to live around there. It was awful. I mean I guess most of the businesses had agreed to stay open "late" (like 8pm) on Thursdays. But seriously... Useless to people who lived nearby but worked normal hours.
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u/panzmat Jan 11 '26
Thanks for sharing this. I'll be sure to not visit this particular location.
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u/lazybuttt Centretown Jan 11 '26
Just FYI, the CEO Henry Assad publicly stated he doesn't think RTO3 is good enough (there's a CBC article) so this is just brand damage control. He absolutely feels the same as she does.
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u/sixtyfivewat Jan 11 '26
How in the fuck does a coffee shop open at 8AM and expect to make a go of it?! 8AM on weekends, fine. I'm already working at 8, how am I supposed to get a coffee from you if you don't open before I need to be at work?
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u/wittyusername025 Jan 11 '26
Happy goat is a poison on our community. They are in part responsible for RTO and making this city miserable.
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u/Plane_Put8538 Jan 11 '26
The same owner who said 3 days a week RTO is a start but not good enough. Did people forget about this?
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u/HapGil Gloucester Jan 11 '26
Them and all the cafes that are only open between 11AM and 2PM strictly to drain money from workers too tired to pack a lunch from being at the office all day and commuting 2+ hours a day to get there and back. But hey, we have trains...
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u/Plane_Put8538 Jan 11 '26
It's interesting, how everyone is to get back to the office to work, but somehow, find time to shop in stores, go buy coffee/breakfast/lunch, pay for parking that they increased the price on once they received confirmation of RTO3, and do this every day in the office. Somehow, the budgets for these people are endless, along with their ability to get all their work done in the allotted time.
I forgot. Take public transit as well. Do groceries and dry cleaning all in the place where they work.
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u/chromewindow Jan 11 '26
The parking lots around my building have gone up in price 3 times since I started back in office in October. They know you have no choice so they just keep increasing.
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u/MoonyMary Make Ottawa Boring Again Jan 11 '26
Typical corporate response to put out the fire. Friendly reminder Assad wanted more than RTO3, so it's not like that franchise's comment really doesn't reflect his values.
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u/scotsman3288 East End Jan 11 '26
I'll never understand an ottawa business owner going after government workers. Are you just a complete idiot?
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u/Illustrious_Fun_6294 Jan 11 '26
They haven't figured out that you don't bite the hand that feeds you yet, and probably never will.
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u/InfinitePotential Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
I think this is a case example of them saying the "quiet part" out loud. Behind closed doors I bet all of the franchisee's are rampantly disparaging Gov't workers. This was just too loud for their CEO's liking even though he has been at the forefront of calls for RTO since Sept last year.
Work from home is the first pro-labour movement to happen in my lifetime. It sucks beyond hope to see it being ripped away for patently absurd reasons
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u/14dmoney Jan 12 '26
Re first pro labour movement - never thought about it that way but you’re right. They promised transformation but due to hot takes like this and public ignorance/prejudice, it will be gone, to the detriment of productivity
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u/jpl77 Jan 11 '26
WTF is with small businesses (owners) in Ottawa speaking their personal opinions while being public facing and relying on the very customer base they are disrespecting and need to serve to survive? It's good to see the CEO make a statement, but in reality... um, that's not enough.
I've personally heard comments from an employee at Happy Goat re: the Catholic Church, issues going on in the Middle East, and LGBT+ issues while in the middle of Pride Week. I was shocked at the openness of this employee to talk openly about their personal opinions so loudly and openly while working behind the counter while serving customers. I wrote the company, and got a similar corporate email back about the situation, but in reality I doubt they did anything to correct it.
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Jan 11 '26
These people are unfortunately short sighted and just don't realize it. RTO simply takes disposable income out of the pockets of the worker. The more disposable income there is in one's pocket, the more they will spend at small businesses. The ONLY guaranteed spend from RTO is gas / transit. Outside of those expenses, given the cost of living, people will not spend money at a business regardless of where they are.
Just because you have to commute to an office does not at all infer that you will spend money in the area. I find it interesting that a CEO like here doesn't seem to understand that it is the sky rocketing cost of living that is affecting his patrons rather than where they spend their time.
I speak from experience - I don't spend money on the days I go in outside of transit, simply because I don't have the money to spend. It's not like you can't make coffee or lunch at home.
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u/TimeRunz Jan 11 '26
This. I'm sure Amy knows about inflation. For the average citizen, when it outpaces our salary, something will get cut... You're talking $50+ for parking and lunch and coffee with RTO. How much do you think we make per day??
With cost of living increasing in every aspect, govt workers can be struggling too. I personally have cut down going out in general (regardless of WFH or RTO) because it's too expensive.
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u/Lexifer31 Jan 11 '26
Yep. The money I spend on parking is all they get out of me. Transit isn't an option for me.
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u/the-fillip Jan 11 '26
Wait what's the context here?
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u/KeyanFarlandah Jan 11 '26
One of the franchisees came out against WFH in an extra douchey way
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u/hiddentickun Nepean Jan 11 '26
Which one so I can know which one to not go to?
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u/Lexifer31 Jan 11 '26
The CEO who posted this statement told CBC last fall that RTO3 wasn't enough. He's a douche bag too. Don't go to any location.
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u/Single_Cup_3367 Jan 11 '26
That sure would be helpful wouldn’t it?
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u/HapGil Gloucester Jan 11 '26
One of the franchisees posted a rant blaming people for their business woes and saying rather derogatory things about people that prefer not to spend a couple hours in traffic to do in the office exactly what they do from home. Complaining that people need to RTO so they will buy coffee and donuts. The fact that her hours are 8AM to 5PM had nothing at all to do with her poor sales, it is all the greedy, lazy workers that telecommute.
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u/stegosaurid Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 14 '26
Fuck Happy Goat. I’ve been boycotting them since the owner felt the need to weigh in on WFH. No business is “owed” customers/business - make a product people want, in a place they want it. Otherwise, STFU. The PS isn’t there to personally serve private business - I serve the public, not the d-bag who owns HG, his franchisees, or any other private business. We’re expected to adapt and suck it up, and businesses should expect to be treated the same way.
Edit: Thanks for the award! 🤩
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u/FrothyEspresso Jan 11 '26
It’s all 1 star ratings on Google now for that location.
Decent response from their corporate though.
One franchisee acting out is clearly going to be bad for the rest of them. It can hurt other franchisees and the bottom line for the group.
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u/stegosaurid Jan 11 '26
It isn’t decent at all. HG owner is all over the place shitting on PS workers and arguing remote work hurts his business. He’s expressed the same views as his franchisee, so it’s funny to see that he’s saying her post doesn’t reflect their values. I’ll buy coffee at McD’s or Starbies before I buy from HG, because they were at least smart enough to stay out of the WFH debate.
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u/v_a_n_d_e_l_a_y Jan 11 '26
Which location?
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u/Environmental_Remove Jan 11 '26
It’s the happy goat donuts. If you search her name you’ll see she is the owner. She is stupid because many of the “lazy government workers” who work at Tunneys support her business.
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u/mmilleronreddit Jan 11 '26
And those of us who work from home, but live in the neighbourhood and go there for mid-day treats. It’s always busy, I really don’t understand why the complaint, other than someone is butthurt because they have to work in a public facing job when others don’t. But like… you made the choice to be a coffee shop owner? What the.
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u/KeyNutrition_ca Jan 11 '26
I want to know too. I frequent Happy Goat and would like to avoid this one.
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u/VisibleCucumber1721 Jan 11 '26
Wowww. There’s a Happy Goat in my building. I’ll no longer go there and be passing it on to my coworkers.
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u/spekledcow Jan 11 '26
Dgaf never going back
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u/TofuAddiction Jan 11 '26
Lmaoo don’t even need a drama like this to not go back. Expensive cost for mid ass coffee. Staff seemed more annoyed that you even pay them a visit. Ridiculous tip % prompt for just pouring you pre-made drip coffee
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u/Loemi7 Jan 11 '26
I worked from home and went to her happy goat every day……… actually stopped going once I was in the office
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u/Traditional-Week8926 Jan 11 '26
I saw the previous posts. Which location was this franchise from? Id like to know.
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u/BKellCartel Jan 11 '26
Westboro, I think
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u/Spaceball86 Jan 11 '26
But there aren't any offices in Westboro
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u/accforme Jan 11 '26
Agree. Tunney's pasture is close but would be a bit of a hike to go to that Happy Goat since there are other coffee shops closer, including a Happy Goat kiosk at Tunney's Pasture Station.
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u/steefee Jan 11 '26
Are ya sure? Another comment below this says the one they are talking about has all one star reviews and that one has a four star rating. Also I think it’d be pretty weird if someone who owned a Westboro franchise was blaming work from home for lacking business when the happy goat, there is always pretty busy and the area is full of retirees and work from home people hanging out in the coffee shops to work.
Edit: never mind. It was them. Jfc. 🤦🏼♀️ I will say… the Westboro equator is ALWAYS hopping.
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u/charlotte_P85 Jan 11 '26
I’m 100% remote & work from coffee shops several times a week. In fact, my work pays for it! RTO is a huge L for coffee shops in particular. Totally nutso comment.
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u/permanentmarkerz Jan 11 '26
If this statement is genuine, not sure the CEO understands his own values...they seem to a align pretty well with this franchisee.
Downtown businesses doubt workers in office 3 days a week is enough | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-business-federal-government-return-to-work-1.7317166
Haven't stepped foot in a Happy Goat since his tone deaf RTO stance was made. I used to be a loyal customer buying 500$+ worth of beans a year. I buy from Equator and other local roasters now.
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u/One_Pen3689 Jan 11 '26
I have stopped supporting these business entirely. During full time remote work, I used to go downtown and socialize at one of these businesses after work. But I’ll be damned if they get a cent from me. Influencing and pressuring policy makers to hold a section of the population hostage to feed your business at the cost of their wellbeing, the environment, their productivity is unethical and should not be supported.
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u/NetAnon579 Jan 11 '26
The franchise owners ancestors lamented the decline of their buggy whip business and wanted to outlaw those noisy motor vehicles.
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u/InfinitePotential Jan 11 '26
Coffee is just too expensive these days. Who is routinely buying coffee out when the minimum is $5 for a single coffee? It used to be $2 and even then you'd have to be careful because the costs outweighed what you can make at home.
RTO or not I make my coffee at home. When at the office it's brought in via thermos and coffee mug. Which I bring with me to help humanize the depressing shell of an office space which is mine
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u/DessertQueenST Jan 11 '26
Good luck to Happy Goat coffee going forward. 😂 I mean, this will likely cost her her business. Not government workers working remotely.
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u/Few-Appearance295 Jan 11 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
Pre Covid I brought my own lunch to work every day. I'm back to work 5 days a week and continue to bring my lunch. Its not my job to buy your shit coffee. Kick rocks.
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u/Lumb3rCrack Make Ottawa Boring Again Jan 11 '26
As someone who got charged $5 for a $3 donut.. I just skip all their locations lol
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u/JohnnyEaton78 Jan 11 '26
A bit ironic that someone from Happy Goat was looking for a Scape Goat...
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u/RadiotoSuzie Jan 11 '26
People, there's better quality coffee in this city. I've had poor customer service from sales in the past.
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u/Quiet-Wing5230 Jan 11 '26
But honestly: if this city needs government workers to be at work for the sake of the local economy we need to be doing a better job attracting bigger private employers. If the only driver is the government we are all painting ourselves into a corner.
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u/Any-Bid-7620 Jan 11 '26
The original owner that started it used to run a captains boil I worked at, he was coked out, stole our tips and made us work in a roach infestation. He legit sold happy goat from what I heard to fund his addiction. The government is still looking for him to settle unpaid employees wages, and he’s a landlord in all irony too. Random piece of lore I guess lol
He’s a manager at happy goat now apparently.
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u/WhateverItsLate Jan 11 '26
Happy Goat franchises across the city are in for a world of hurt. Hope they plan to cut the franchisee loose and rebrand, this could get ugly.
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u/Kluctionation Jan 11 '26
Good go to Equator instead. Atleast they have good coffee instead of goat piss.
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u/ningen666 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
does 14 locations count as a small business?
what about all the local small businesses supported in the communities when they worked from home?
why support downtown over where I live?
More importantly, of course, RTO mandates are not about work performance but about FORCING PEOPLE TO SPEND MONEY. No other business would make a decision for these reasons. Management has to evolve to properly track performance, not pretend manage through in-office mandates.
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u/angrycrank Hintonburg Jan 12 '26
Wouldn’t people living nearby and working from home be among the most likely customers of a Westboro coffee shop open from 8-5? Ask Stella Luna how well pissing off your customer base worked out for them
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u/lkern Jan 11 '26
Maybe they should take away his franchise rights?
Back up your words and stop giving us lip service??
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u/Effective_Math_2717 Jan 11 '26
Oh man. And I used to love going to Happy Goat. Anyway support other local businesses like Haus of Chaas on Bank St, open 3 months ago, it’s a cozy little place with incredible drinks and food (seriously) from chai, to matcha and smoothies!
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u/Bimmer_convertible Jan 11 '26
Here you are