Why "Coffee shops?"

I think of Starbucks as the like as more cafes, with coffee shops more akin to a 24 hour diner.

Starbucks sells music and devotes so much space to retail displays that its an annoying Slurp It and Beat It atmosphere with many of their stores simply keeping out the competition because Starbucks costs are so low. Most Starbucks have few seats and they are uncomfortable ones usually.

In Seattle, Coffee Shop is more akin to the upholstered chairs, couches, magazines, books, games, with an emphasis on really fine coffees, leisure time, a brief business meeting, a place to surf the internet and chat with fellow leisure-loungers.

It shows how things vary geographically in this country and how they change. When Candid Camera was airing on TV a good many people grew up thinking the word candid meant hidden, secretive.

"Coffee Shop" and "Coffee House" were always two different terms as far as I knew.

"Coffee Shop" was used in many places and meant a diner-type place. Here in Pittsburgh the now-domminant restaurant chain used to call their older, smaller places "coffee shops" and the bigger ones "family restaurant" years ago. Eventually both terms were dropped from signage and just the company name is there now. The term "coffee shop" seems to have died off, though it was what Robert DiNero planned to open in "Midnight Run."

"Coffee House" always meant a place where they had coffee and maybe some kind of pastries, but no kitchen to order from. These places were around in the beatnick era back to colonial times. Think of them as a bar but with coffee not booze.

That is my understanding.

Quote: AZDuffman

Here in Pittsburgh the now-domminant restaurant chain used to call their older, smaller places "coffee shops" and the bigger ones "family restaurant" years ago. Eventually both terms were dropped from signage and just the company name is there now.

Are you talking about the "place for smiles?"

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

Are you talking about the "place for smiles?"

Yes.

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

Are you talking about the "place for smiles?"

Aww, now I'm missing my smiley cookies. Darn.

-B

Quote: toastcmu

Aww, now I'm missing my smiley cookies. Darn.

-B

How many people from western PA are on here? Seems they keep popping up.

Well, looks like three right here...and I know a few other members who are a <3-hour drive from the 'burgh. Perhaps a WOVCon East should be organized sometime?

Oh, and the obligatory announcement for tonight...GO STEELERS!

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

Well, looks like three right here...and I know a few other members who are a <3-hour drive from the 'burgh. Perhaps a WOVCon East should be organized sometime?

Oh, and the obligatory announcement for tonight...GO STEELERS!

I was kind of thinking that, maybe at Rivers? Dinner at Andrews and play some craps and BJ? Set up a craps team? Who is in?

GO STEELERS!

Quote: AZDuffman

How many people from western PA are on here? Seems they keep popping up.

I'm not from Western Pa, only spent 4 yrs of my life there (College) - Living in Va now, but in theory close enough to still enjoy W. Pa.

-B