Cool coffee shop suggestions for teens/young adults?

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Derek, this is a you problem. What you're saying doesn't make sense. Nobody is sending their kids to "hang around" anywhere. I want my kids to patronize local independent businesses. Businesses whose sole purpose for existing is to serve patrons in a way 100% consistent with how I intend my kids to use the business. Business owners depend on people frequenting their business to put food on their own table. Why the fata are you trying to dissuade customers from going to small businesses?

Coffee shops have chairs and tables for people to sit. You go to the counter, order a coffee and snack, then go sit at the table. That's how my kids will use the business. Is there another way in which they could support these businesses? No, there isn't, because that's the entire extent of the business model. Buying a drink and a snack and sitting down.

I'm convinced you were dropped on your head as a baby or else you're trolling. Nobody comes out of the womb with as much difficulty grasping basic concepts as you based on your little song and dance here today.

But let's drill a little deeper. You seem to think businesses don't want teenagers? How can you say that and not think it's really dumb to even think that. I went go-karting yesterday. All teens. Ever go to the movies? Not in over 6 years Half filled with teens. Malls? Not since sometime in 2019 Teens. Snowboarding/skiing? No 1/3 teens. Fast food restaurants?Only on Whopper Wednesday and I use the drive through, too many kids inside Lotsa teens. Coffee shops? Only ever had one coffe in my whole life Teens.

People welcome teens. They're just people. We were all teens at some point. Your attitude toward them is despicable, frankly, and super ridiculous.

I'm more of a dog guy then a "Teen" guy.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

I'm more of a dog guy then a "Teen" guy.

Well you're extremely ageist and you should reflect on your prejudice.

[Wormius]

Businesses love teens. They have no concept of money. They’ll just keep ordering food or drinks.

[Scroopy Noopers]

The guy who has had one coffee in his life swung in to defend coffee shops. At this rate I almost hope the nhl season never starts!

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yes?

I mean, not 24/7, but you didn't do that with your friends when you were 16? I thought it was a pretty standard thing to do. Literally the exact same type of activity as going to a pub or bar, except all ages. Go with some girls and guys, play some crib, order a brownie or some chips and salsa...just sort of get out of the house and mingle with other people versus staying inside. Way more fun, it's social, you meet other regulars. Like the Peach Pit or something. It's great when you have a cool hang out spot where you're exposed to different music and neat people.

I'm surprised you'd question it, frankly. Can't imagine what you think the downside is.

Just seems odd to me. Not something i would have thought of at that age. I didn’t grow up in a city so perhaps that’s it. Your most recent post in the thread here looks like there was a nice ending to your quest here so that’s great!

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Businesses love teens. They have no concept of money. They’ll just keep ordering food or drinks.

I’m in my 30s and I have no idea how much income I need in a year to spend as much on garbage food and drinks as I did when I was 16-20…. But I’m positive I’ll never come close to spending that much again.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

A. This is odd. Very odd. Like old man yells at clouds kind of odd.

B. Why is this just kids? There are 80 year olds...20 year olds....45 year olds etc that do this just as well.

Odd. Odd all around...

Which part do you find odd? People loitering around coffee shops? I dont find that odd at all, although I prefer pubs, but thats just me.

There has to be some middle ground.

For instance, in Europe purchasing a coffee at a café essentially entitles you to that table all day if you want it. That is the norm of European coffee 'culture.'

Dont ask me how that works, because to me as a North American business owner that is simply insane. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with organized crime and money laundering but I just cant put my finger on it.

But that is supposedly the deal.

Gotta find other ways to monetize it maybe? Maybe instead of selling them coffee they can have all the free coffee they want if they rent the the table for a period of time?

In the era of digital currency you cant even just grab them by their ankles and shake them until all their money falls out. Which is a shame.

[RedHot25]

I'm beginning to think Sliver might have been Sliver'ed in his own thread....

[nfotiu]

There is a pretty large gap between Sliver's kids taking a carload of kids to try out different eclectic coffee shops in the city (which seems like a good thing for all parties) vs turning a local coffee shop into the peach pit that high school kids take over and could go either way in haveing positive or negative effects to the business.

I can't remember if I was going to Diefenbaker high school or Sir John A middle school at the time, but they built a McDonald's basically in Dief's parking lot while I was there. It spent the first month or so over run with teenagers spending little and they ended up banning all of us, which led to a (fun?) protest. I think they eventually softened up with time limits and min purchases if I remember right. I don't know what they were expecting building a McDonald's in a high school parking lot though.

[Sr. Mints]

As far as I'm concerned, this entire thread is a sad indictment of the city's lack of arcades.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

As far as I'm concerned, this entire thread is a sad indictment of the city's lack of arcades.

Arcades, internet cafes, guitar shops that don't mind a group of teens loitering and abusing the goods (RIP Axe), etc. ...teens these days are missing out

[Barnet Flame]

Thanks Sliver, this thread has turned out to be pure gold.

I will be checking out a few of these places when over for my next ski trip with my son. We mainly stay in Calgary and drive out from Strathcona with my buddy. For part of the trip we often stay in Banff, sometimes Canmore and we often finish the day relaxing over a coffee or hot chocolate in Evelyn’s.

I’m looking forward to some visits to these places in Calgary. Has anyone got thoughts on some other places in Banff and Canmore - I realise this is slightly off-topic, but hope no one minds.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

How would one know, as a customer, if a group of teens has been loitering for hours unless they too had been loitering for hours?

"OMG, see that guy sitting over there? He's at this strip club EVERY SATURDAY".

[savemedrzaius]

I'm surprised teenagers would give a #### about suggested "cool" places for them to "hang" from their parents. I'd picture a lot of eye rolling and "Thanks dad. You can leave now"

[shermanator]

I’m almost 40 and I still love going to coffee shops to shoot the #### with friends. Little harder to do with a 2 year old though. A few inner city recommendations of independent places I’ve found over the years. Some are open late, some are more day time places:

- Kensington - Higher Ground, Roasterie, Vendome. If they prefer tea there’s also Oolong café.
- 17th - Café Beano, Philosafy.
- Chinatown - Muze Coffee House.
- Downtown - Alforno. If they prefer tea there’s also Tea Bubz.
- Bridgeland - Baya Rica.
- Marda Loop - Bell’s.

Tonnes of chains in all these locations too…

[dino7c]

Don't kids drink beers in the alley anymore?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Don't kids drink beers in the alley anymore?

Choking down Big Bears and Colt 45s is a rite of passage.

At least I think that's what those disgusting beer malt beer things were called.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Choking down Big Bears and Colt 45s is a rite of passage.

At least I think that's what those disgusting beer malt beer things were called.

I remember there was a big bottle of blue cooler that was popular when I was growing up. I think it was called Blue Typhoon or something.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Sliver could have the greatest kids in the city, their friends are likely just as good but a few things to think of.
-Very little good comes out of kids simply hanging around
- Few businesses long for a group teens to hang out for a couple of hours.
-If you’ve spent $7 and are sitting there for hours playing Risk, they (owners/ employees) likely want you to move on.

I just cant get my head around the desire to send your kids and their friends out to needlessly hang around somewhere. Also please remind them that closing time is closing time, not leaving time.

Are you like 92 or something?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Don't kids drink beers in the alley anymore?

Of course, but that's just part of their day.

- Wake up at 12pm
- Workout
- Play video games
- Coffee shop
- Eat entire contents of fridge
- Find Chinese buffet
- Bar
- Mall
- Bar
- Drink in alley