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lc1138 t1_jdn16jc wrote

I don’t know where you’ve been exactly, but I find a lot of places did away with a good amount of seating they had when Covid hit. And I’m not really sure why they didn’t bring it back since the industry is hurting, but that could have something to do with it

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MoreCleverUserName t1_jdn6cpq wrote

Because they don’t want people camping out. They don’t make any money off of people who grab a table with a laptop and sit all day nursing a single latte (which more people do these days, since more are working from home), but those campers take up spaces that could be used to serve more guests.

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IcyWillow1193 t1_jdo7yaj wrote

People who turn cafes into their telework office and camp out all day are a menace.

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[deleted] t1_jdolafr wrote

But if there's no seats, it's the same issue. The customers who want somewhere to sit briefly to drink and snack are still going to be turned off from entering.

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SeanTheCyclist t1_jdp3ybr wrote

Those people are the worst. My company gives us a coworking expense account, so I make it a point to be ordering food/coffee at least once an hour when working out of a local shop.

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lc1138 t1_jdnju58 wrote

I thought that was the whole point behind cafes. It’s part of the vibe/experience being able to sit and chill there

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MoreCleverUserName t1_jdnkndn wrote

Vibes don’t pay the rent.

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[deleted] t1_jdnm38c wrote

[deleted]

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MoreCleverUserName t1_jdno6b5 wrote

You mean the executives that are closing Starbucks locations and blaming it on crime when we all know it is low revenues and the occasional union busting? I’m sure they want you to buy your coffee and gtfo too, not sit there all day Pretending to work.

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lc1138 t1_jdoisds wrote

Clearly people don’t know that the innovation of Starbucks is the creation of the experience of sitting and staying in a coffee shop. I’m not talking about their current controversies. Do your homework.

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MoreCleverUserName t1_jdolcfx wrote

Starbucks was founded in 1971 and went nationwide in 1986. Pretty sure most businesses adapt their business model in response to the market over the course of 50 years. Especially when you consider the difference in commercial rent in 1970’s Seattle to today’s Washington DC, you can see how a low-margin establishment with a low per-head spend cannot survive without high customer turnover. Customers camping out all day isn’t conducive to high turnover.
I can put that in PowerPoint if that helps :)

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VulcanVulcanVulcan t1_jdoent9 wrote

I think that vibe is a relic of like, 2004. Now everyone has laptops and wi-fi and so can entertain themselves all day puttering around online.

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lc1138 t1_jdzju60 wrote

So now the vibe is… sorry there’s only 3 seats that are constantly taken, thanks for giving us business but go sit somewhere else?

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MamboNumber1337 t1_jdqhmvx wrote

So the space could be used to serve more guests, but they took it away to so squatters wouldn't stop them from serving said guests?

Seems like less sitting space exacerbates the issue of squatters, versus something like a mildly-enforced time limit and more spaces to sit.

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Messy-Recipe t1_jdovrt4 wrote

Should be some kinda table/ticket live system where you gotta keep ordering stuff to camp out & it's displayed on POS system if youre complying. Kick ppl out with prejudice if they dont

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priyarainelle t1_jdowr3p wrote

There are places where the wi-fi password is printed on the receipt and internet access is timed.

That way, workers don’t have to confront people who “camp out”, and the person is inconvenienced (unless they have their hot spot with unlimited resources).

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Messy-Recipe t1_jdp0k55 wrote

Ohh thats good. Imagine tho getting your receipt like 1 minute before password rotation 😆

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