Comment by robocat

> Can you create a space people want to come to?

Over many years I've tried to work out where a positive vibe comes from (mostly at food and beverage places).

My current theory is that a good vibe is an emergent behaviour from the customers.

Obviously poor managers/owners can make a toxic place (but negativity is a completely different issue from creating positivity). I've witnessed many owners think they can create a vibe, but then crash and burn (especially when taking over somewhere with an existing vibe). They often don't seem to understand how they failed (maybe have excuses that don't ring true). Starting or buying a business requires ego, but too much ego leads to mistaken self-belief.

I'm sure a wise manager can encourage a vibe to grow, but actually it seems like the customers drive the process.

Maybe it's just a human thing that like-minded people create spaces for themselves.

I watched the vibe at one place radically shift from tradies to more gentrified customers. Same owners and staff. I also suspect I'm just not good at it myself, so I lack the skills to even see why someone is good (and might not even understand if they try and explain to me).

Anyone else tried to grok how a good ambience grows? Is there some standard for learning it?