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1redcardinal t1_j6v7yj9 wrote

Check out some shared coworking spaces. Not to be rude but rather to inform- ordering a coffee and then taking up space for hours at a coffee shop isnt really appreciated by baristas or shop owners as it isnt conducive to a shops existence. Although it seems like a cultural norm to do work in a coffee shop , it shouldnt be viewed as a library type environment- theres a reason alot of the afforementioned shops no longer exist. - come have a coffee hang out for a bit, but dont consider it an office .

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New_Acanthaceae709 t1_j6wsb6d wrote

I tend to look at it as a split; if the shop has extra space left, and tables, having half the tables full convinces walk-by traffic it's a good spot, and they do *more* business. If you see an empty service industry business, it's sketch, but one that's regularly healthily full? Game *on*.

If every last table is always full with people working, it's a disaster, because even regular customers will just walk by without buying anything. I've stopped going to one or two spots to drink coffee because I can't get a seat, and everyone's on a fucking laptop using it as a personal office.

If the shop's full don't camp there. If the shop is not full, it's an everyone-wins setup.

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Gladhands t1_j6wtws2 wrote

They probably won’t do enough business to justify wages.

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hodown94 OP t1_j6yllj8 wrote

I feel you, but i'd so much rather patronize a cafe then work at one of these shared spaces. They often feel very alienating and perhaps culture will glide towards them being the new norm and feel less isolating and lame. For now, there's a stilted feel when I've tried them but I think I will explore the option again and try it out.

But when patronizing a coffeeshop, I buy things, I tip well, I'm polite and conversational and I try to use only a small amount of space.

Some coffeeshops like Commonplace are really nice for this because they will outright explain to customers that it is an "open-seating environment" so if there's a table with four seats that means four strangers' butts can plop down and use the space. Perhaps it is a bit selfish and the baristas internally begrudge the use, but it does seem like a lifeline of this kind of place as well.

An issue is they close at 6 or 7. I recognize that this is based on demand for the space. I think there is a demand. We're just still in the craw of a post-covid state where people don't patronize places as often.

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KS_Brian t1_j701bf3 wrote

it almost seemed like in the 90s we were evolving toward a european model where people are encouraged to hang out longer in cafes and restaurants and socialize instead of rushed in and rushed out but gentrification and unsustainably skyrocketing rents are more important

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