Urbandale Library Coffee Shop Failing, Again

is a year behind in paying its rent to the , so the Library Board unanimously voted Monday to notify the business it has 10 days to pay back rent or its contract will be revoked.

Chapters has been operated by Mustard's Restaurant in Windsor Heights since April 2008. Mustard's is the third business to try to run a coffee shop in the library since the new library opened in 2000.

Previous operators have closed the shop, saying they weren't making enough money.

Information presented to the library board Monday indicated that Mustard's has not paid its monthly rent of $500 since November of 2010.

"That space is so nice and it's so cheap, I don't understand why it can't work," said board member Thomas Graves. "But if it can't be made a business, then we can better use the space as we see fit." 

The board voted unanimously to ask the city attorney to send a default letter to Mustard's, which essentially gives the operator 10 days to pay back rent or lose the contract.

Dion Cobb, Mustard's manager for the coffee shop, could not be reached at the restaurant Monday night. 

According to previous library board minutes, Mustard's told the library board in March of 2010 that profits were down.

Chapters serves coffee and other drinks as well as sandwiches, salads and desserts, according to its menu. 

The board asked library director Julie Wells to report at its Dec. 19 meeting on what other uses could be made of the cafe area.