UPDATE: I don't know if management changed or what sometime last year, but some employees have gotten very rude. I was going here almost every day and noticed it became not uncommon to have someone barely greet me or even answer questions passive aggressively. I'm sorry, but I guess I'm not a fan anymore and go out of my way to avoid this place.
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This is actually one of my favorite places. The people working there are all exceptionally nice and always greet you with a smile. Seriously, the consistent and charming attitudes of the employees actually make my day.
Black coffee is quite good and actually very reasonable, especially if you have your own mug. The best deal though is the fresh St. Paul Bagelery bagels and cream cheese they carry. Every morning I hold my breath hoping they haven't run out of everything bagels and garden veggie cream cheese!
Couple of suggestions:
The atmosphere is a little unwelcoming sometimes. The music (used?) to be too loud and wild. (It hasn't been too bad recently.) It's also a little too bright inside, which makes it feel a little unfriendly. It might be nice if instead of a party atmosphere, you focused more on making it a calm, laid back place to hang out for hours at a time.
Second, if you're really going the pseudo-Asian convenience store route, I would suggest getting a hot water dispenser for all of the cup noodles! In Japanese convenience stores, employees will offer to peel back the lid a little, pour hot water in, and sticker the lid back in place to keep it hot for a few minutes while you wait for the magic to happen. Even if you don't do that, one that employees could operate themselves would be great.
Thanks for making my morning every day! read more