Case Study: How Intelligent Video Monitoring Helped Coffee Lodge Eliminate Persistent Safety Concerns and Improve Daily Operations
Client: Coffee Lodge
Industry: Food & Beverage / Hospitality
Location: Sarnia, Ontario
Solution: Intelligent Video Monitoring (IVM)
Background
Located on a busy corner of Exmouth Street in Sarnia, Ontario, Coffee Lodge is a popular local café serving a steady flow of customers throughout the day. With both dine-in and takeout traffic, maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment is essential to the business.
Over time, however, the area behind the building became a consistent source of concern. Individuals would gather in the parking lot and around the dumpsters, often lingering for extended periods. What started as a nuisance gradually escalated into a situation that was affecting staff, customers, and day-to-day operations.
“We were seeing people back there regularly—sometimes going through garbage, sometimes just hanging out,” says owner Leo Stathakis. “It got to the point where it was happening so often that it became a real issue.”
Challenges
The situation created several ongoing challenges for the business.
Loitering and minor vandalism became frequent occurrences, with individuals rummaging through garbage and occasionally leaving behind hazardous materials, including used needles and drug paraphernalia. This posed a serious concern for both safety and liability.
Staff were particularly affected. Employees—often young staff members—were responsible for tasks like taking out garbage, which meant going into an area where they felt uncomfortable or unsafe.
“It was a concern for staff. They didn’t want to go out there alone,” Leo explains. “And we couldn’t ask them to deal with things like needles. That’s not something staff should have to handle.”
The issue also impacted customers. The parking area became less inviting, with people sometimes lingering nearby, creating an uncomfortable environment for those visiting the café.
While police were called when necessary, the situation didn’t always warrant emergency response—and by the time officers arrived, individuals were often gone. At its worst, calls were being made multiple times per week.
“It wasn’t always serious enough for police—but it was affecting everything, including our relationship with local authorities,” Leo says.
Solution
Already working with Damar Security Systems for security services, Coffee Lodge was introduced to Intelligent Video Monitoring (IVM) as a more proactive approach.
IVM combines A.I.-enabled cameras with live monitoring and real-time intervention, allowing issues to be addressed as they happen—not after the fact.
Damar implemented a system focused on the problem areas around the property, including the rear parking lot and dumpster area. The system includes:
- A.I.-enabled cameras that detect presence and loitering
- Automated voice warnings to deter unwanted behaviour
- Direct connection to Damar’s ULC-listed monitoring centre for real-time oversight
- Live operator intervention and dispatch of emergency responders when needed
“When Dave showed me the system, I was really impressed,” Leo says. “The fact that it could actually talk to people and tell them to move along—that was a game changer.”
Results
The impact was immediate and significant. The combination of detection and real-time voice intervention quickly deterred unwanted activity. In many cases, individuals would leave as soon as they were addressed through the system.
Over time, the problem didn’t just decrease—it largely disappeared. “We’ve seen a huge improvement. People just stopped coming back there,” Leo says.
Police involvement dropped dramatically—from multiple calls per week at its worst, to none in recent months. “I don’t think we’ve had to call the police at all over the last six months,” Leo adds.
Staff now feel more comfortable performing their duties, including taking out garbage, without concern for what they might encounter. “There’s a lot more confidence now that there’s nobody back there,” Leo says.
Customers also benefit from a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming environment, particularly in the parking area. The system has also eliminated the need for hazardous cleanup situations, removing a major liability and operational burden from the business.
Conclusion
Coffee Lodge’s experience highlights the difference between traditional surveillance and proactive security.
By combining A.I. detection, live monitoring, and real-time intervention, Intelligent Video Monitoring helped transform an ongoing issue into a resolved one, improving safety for staff, comfort for customers, and overall operations for the business.
While situations like these can often reflect broader community challenges, including substance use and mental health concerns, businesses still require practical, responsible solutions to ensure a safe environment for both employees and customers.
“It solved the problem. That’s really what it comes down to,” Leo says.
Learn More
Discover how Intelligent Video Monitoring can help your Sarnia business improve safety and prevent issues before they escalate. Visit Damar Security Systems’ Intelligent Video Monitoring page to learn more.
