yeah, that's the best explanation for the situation. What strikes me is I feel there is a demand, so there could be businesses that compensate this by hiring people on. But I might just be off-base.

I mean, most places around here felt like $10/hr was too much for the entire 2000's and now the status quo opinion is that $15 is too little. Small businesses like little shops need to be paying $18/hr and they feel they can't afford that and the would be employees can't afford to work for less.

And $18 is shit too. $18/hr today feels like the equivalent of $9/hr in 2009. It's just barely get by money. It's live in a shithole and eat of a dumpster money.

what is the cost of a membership to one of these places? They're not very clear on their website at all.

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.

wow! so helpful!!

good to know!