The entrepreneurs behind the coffee shop The Q in Hoogeveen are disappointed that the municipality’s objections committee recommends revoking their permit. They had hoped to finally be able to start, but have to wait again.
“We have to see what the mayor does with the advice,” responds Bodhi Bosma from Maassluis, who wants to open the coffee shop in the Grote Kerkstraat together with brother Rishi and father Rob. “You have a rental contract and that costs money. Call it an entrepreneurial risk, but sitting still is not pleasant.”
The committee is scathing about the municipality’s actions. She states that the coffee shop permit of The Q should be withdrawn and the whole procedure redone. The municipality would have made mistakes and as a result other interested entrepreneurs would not have been given equal opportunities.
“It is said that we are advantaged, but we know nothing about that,” Bosma responds. “We just wrote a complete plan and prepared everything properly. Then it’s a shame that you can’t continue.”
Several interested parties submitted a plan last year to obtain the permit for the coffee shop. When they were not accepted, some appealed. The committee writes in a new report that not all submitted plans from entrepreneurs have been fully assessed by the municipality.
Moreover, many entrepreneurs did not know that they could submit an application for multiple locations. The committee speaks of poor communication from the municipality. Conditions also changed just before the deadline, which would have made it impossible to submit a good plan.
The entrepreneur says he understands others who objected. “We understand that very well,” says Bosma. “If parts of your plan have not even been assessed, then yes, you will of course file an objection. We would have done that too.”
There has been no contact with the municipality yet, but Bosma expects that to happen soon. In the meantime, time is ticking. “We have been working on this plan for a year and a half. Do we still have hope? Well, it is difficult to say. We will see, we have certainly done our best.”
Mayor Martijn Breukelman previously announced that he would study the advice of the objections committee. He hopes to update the city council about the situation and what will happen next by December at the latest.