Cafe Wha?

12/03/09

Wha is the matter?

by SoperE at Citysearch

Years ago I used to come here a couple of times a week. But now the management and the entertainers don't really seem to care anymore. It's like they're not even trying. Actually, I'm sure they're not even trying. There are not many places in New York to see live music anymore. It will be a shame if this one, especially with its history, ends up packing it in. C'mon Wha, wake up!

• Pros: Bryan Stephens

10/11/09

How Cafe Wha Lost $1200 to $2400+ in One Night

by CandidaH at Citysearch

I went on a Sunday night, which is supposed to have no cover, but they charged $10 because of a Monday holiday. Strike one. I sucked it up and agreed to pay the cover. Inside, I found out that they did not serve coffee. I ordered a drink then went to Caffe Reggio for my coffee boost. I returned to Wha, where they told me that I could not take the drink to the table where my friends and the drink I had already ordered were waiting. They were pretty rude about it, which made me upset, so I left and will not be going back. Here is how they lost $1200 to $2400:

If they had treated me respectfully and used some good business sense, I would have had my coffee at the table with my friends and spent about $30. Multiply that by four people and you have $120. Multiply that by about 10 more visits with an average of 4 friends and you get $1200 within the next year. And say we go a little less than twice a month, and that's around $2400. So, my friends and I will be spending $2400+ elsewhere while, potentially, Cafe Wha shuts its doors, unable to pay its rent because of bad/stupid/inflexible business policies applied out of an ignorant sort of desperation. Oh, and multiply $2400 by the number of people turned off who don't write reviews, and then New Yorkers learn why "good," and even historical clubs loose money and have to shut their doors. Then again, CAFE Wha could add coffee to their menu. But then again, maybe they are special enough to treat customers badly, have misguided business policies and still pay their rent/stay in business. Time will tell.

• Pros: not sure
• Cons: bad management, shady customer relations

07/03/09

I played there in 1965-1966

by JoeSherov at Citysearch

I used to play at the Wha? with my band, The Outcasts, in 1965 and 1966. We played alongside Jimi Hendrix and the Spoonful. What a great place..............JOE

• Pros: The Real Deal
• Cons: None