It's review #100 my Yelper friends so in my very own Funkster world a story is about to unfold. Advance at your peril or boredom or maybe at least have a barf bag close by. it's the most recent Funkster nuptial celebration day and the Delectable Mrs Funk suggests we do something...different. OK, i'm in. What did you have in mind? She says, "well I've heard of this funky little shop that serves beer, wine, cocktails and coffee." I raise an eyebrow and quizzically think to myself "and that's different ...how?" Then just as i finish the to-myself thought bubble, she turns on that slightly sweet and demure smile and adds, "but what they're REALLY known for is their tight, SPECIALTY VINYL!" Quizzical becomes wide eyed stunned surprise and now in that to-myself thought bubble I have fallen on my knees...looking to the heavens calling out, "Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord Jesus!" Not only our wedding day of decades past but also...NATIONAL RECORD STORE DAY! We're going to a RECORD STORE!.... YESSSS!!! Heyyyyy, wait a minute?1? What were all you mooks thinking out there?!? Well I never... well maybe not never... but certainly not recently... well maybe more so than i thought... yea i guess i can see that... what am i saying... heck yea me too !!! For us LP freaks those two things are pretty darn close to each other... attainable heights of ecstasy with just a little searching, touching, caressing but most importantly listening! Am i right or what! As vinyl shops go is Square Cat special? Well at first I thought it was rather pedestrian as far as LP's. And yes they do offer adult beverages while you peruse. That is different. But what pushed it over the top for me was that one find. That one piece of 180 gram virgin vinyl that makes you sweat and tremble...just like that other stuff you all were thinking. The last one in the New Release bin. Wes Montgomery: In Paris 27 MARS 1965 Theatre Des Champs-Elysees: The Difinitive ORTF Recording. Now I'm not going to go all audiophile on you but this is issue 484 of 3000, first pressing (certified). And while I was glade to find it, it's more about whats inside hiding in between those tiny little grooves that make it special. The live recording is STUNNING for any era, yet alone 1965. Thank you Resonance Records! This recording harkens back to the days of indy's own Montgomery Family and the sounds they produced. When Cannonball Aderly sitting in an Indiana Ave after hours joint called Oren Keepnews of Riverside Records and said "Get yer a$$ to indy NOW. I have heard the future of Jazz and his name is Wes Montgomery!" OK Keelin, now this is for you if you're still reading. A lot of folks think the Birth of the Cool was in 1957 with Miles Davis' Nonet. That may be true. But I'm here to tell you Cool's bad a$$ little brother was born in Paris on March 27, 1965. And it belongs in Millers Pub! The place was that cool back in the day! So to finish, will I return to Square Cat? As another musician friend of mine is known to say, "it's better to be King for a Day, than a Fool Forever! So yeah. read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Find and buy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This store was good to visit, but it was not for me. I like to dig through used and bargain bins to find gems. This store had a great selection, but it seemed like they could easily bring in more vinyl The store is very open and welcoming and if you are looking for new records, check it out. read more

I ordered online at Christmas and the prices are fair and the selection is great. There is plenty of parking right out front and pickup is very efficient. They have a selection of both new and used inventory and it is easy to browse and the prices are every bit as competitive as anywhere else. I will definitely be repeating. read more

Another stop on my quest for a weekend chill spot. I like it here. In many of my reviews I spend some time on the good, the bad, and on the things that would make it better (at least better for me). Not really gonna do the latter here, cause Square Cat Vinyl isn't making any claims or pretensions to be more than it is.... it's no frills. They sell Vinyl... it's in the name. They sell coffee and coffee concoctions. Tea, soda, beer, some local cider, even some wine. Nothing fancy. The wine is sort of an afterthought served in a plastic glass, but it's cheap. Lol. They also have live music, and its a comfortable place to just hangout. No outside seating, but it wouldn't really fit the atmosphere here. From what I can tell, no food other than a few muffins wrapped in plastic. I saw some of the regulars,bring in some outside food...which is kinda cool... but I didn't check to see if it was ok, so you might want to ask. It's no frills, but with a cool "vibe" and friendly staff. I like it here. read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Ok, so come for the vinyls not the coffee/tea. My partner and I both got a chai cold brew and both of us thought they were absolutely disgusting. So much so that we threw them away after 2 sips. One of us got a dirty chai and it was "drinkable" but not worth the cost. If you're looking for vinyls, this is a great place. Coffee or tea? I would go elsewhere. read more

Don't take any of your records here to sell.. No time taken to look up any of them, and super lowball offer, and turn around and sell them for tip top dollar... if you go here just buy, don't sell them records. Gave me 80$ for 30 sealed records and are selling just one of them for 100$ . The bad thing is I actually like this store. But I will never ever sell them any more of my records. And will advise anyone else to do the same. read more

Eclectic new location in the heart of Fountain Square. Square Cat Vinyl is a multi-faceted venue: record store, live music stage, and coffee + beer bar. On First Friday, there was a good mix of people browsing records, drinking brews, and taking in some free music. Beers from several local breweries were available, including specials on Flat 12 and Three Floyds Zombie Dust. There are other concerts throughout the month and special events such as yoga classes. For a small venue, the sound quality was pretty good. I don't think they can host large bands but acoustic and folk singers would work just fine here. Because of the narrow nature of the space, it's tough to stand directly in front of the stage. Your best bet is to grab a seat at the bar and listen to the music. Square Cat Vinyl is another worthwhile addition to Fountain Square. It's worth a visit for drinks and/or music. read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Decent, not gourmet coffee. Small bar. Entertainment. Vinyl records. Nice combo. Not huge by any means. Lots of fun, and neo-hipster atmosphere in an industrial motif. If you like vinyl, you'll be back. The cafe is small, not useful for any large size gatherings, and not a huge value in any meaningful way, but you're unlikely to be disappointed.... unless you were looking for chewy coffee. read more

Chill vibe and a mixed selection of records at good prices. Cafe at the back contributes to the mood, which encourages slow browsing. The inventory is not very deep, unfortunately. And the listening station was very subpar, with a cheap turntable and just a single pair of beat up head-phones. read more

I'm always hesitant when new businesses come into the FS area because there seems to always be a high turnover rate within the building that SCV is located in. After a few visits, I can say that this is a great, multi-purpose business. You can purchase vinyl or other music-related accessories, you can grab a coffee or a local brew, or you can check out a local musician playing on their stage. The vibe inside isn't much, but it's exactly what you'd expect...and that's all that's needed to make this place feel homey and cozy. The staff have always been friendly. Don't forget to check out their special events going on - they have some good ones throughout the year! read more

Strolling around in Fountain Square, we walked into Square Cat Vinyl because of the live music coming out of the store. It's a bit tight inside when people are enjoying the band but everyone is cool with the close quarters. They have a lot of fun records including the mainstream artists but it's fun when you come across rare records and fun collections. I've never purchased any food/beverage from here but I see that other people seem to really enjoy a nice drink while enjoying the band or browsing the store. read more

I can't believe I hadn't heard of Square Cat before! They have vinyl records, live music, and a bar for beer or coffee. It's like a bar, record store, and coffee shop combined into one; brilliant! I attended because one of my classmates had their album release show there. I was very impressed with the place. The employees were very nice and all of the vinyls were organized so that everything was very easy to find. The only downsides I could see were the limited section of vinyls they had (much less than others around town), and it wasn't an ideal space for a music show. It's kind of small, which would be good for 1-2 performers doing some background coffee shop tunes, but not ideal as a venue. Definitely worth the visit and I do see myself coming back. read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Square Cat Vinyl has records, live music, and a bar! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This place is so cool. Square Cat Vinyl is a record store that also has a bar (lots of local brews) and a coffee counter in the back. You can actually carry your drink around the store while you shop. Check their website for various live acts that will perform there from time to time. The staff is really chill. I feel like there has been a void in Indy regarding the support of music since the Patio closed in Broad Ripple. With the various music festivals like Tonic Ball and Fountain Square Music Festival, and now the Hi-Fi and Square Cat Vinyl opening, Fountain Square has taken the mantle for the area in Indy that supports and loves music. It's exciting to see local entrepreneurs develop something that is creative, fun and different from anything else in town. These cats at Square Cat Vinyl are all right! read more

I love golden lattes and this was the first place in Indy that I've seen them, so obviously that's what I was getting! And I was pumped to drink it. I just wish it had lived up to my excitement. Sadly it did not. They were steadily busy while I was there, so they'redoing something right. Their seating area was cool, the decor was fun, and the service was great. Maybe I need to give them another try and go with something different! read more

A live music venue, bar, coffee shop and a record store in 1 spot?! Yup it's called Square Cat Vinyl and it's amazing!!! Grand opening day was a lot of fun with great local bands, local beer, coffee and....pizza rolls!!! Yeah $3.00 pizza rolls! Who doesn't love them!? 6 dollar pints, $2.50 Labatt's and Schiltz. Wine available, mead from New Day, coffee from Tinker Street. While in Fountain Square area this place is a must!!!!! read more

Very cool cool bar! They've got a great selection of records and a really cool open mic once a month called the songwriters open mic! They've got Circle Kombucha as well which is always amazing! And the coffee is great! If Jen is working she's always super nice and awesome at recommending drinks Do yourself a favor and check this place out if you need a place to do some work or catch some awesome original music once a month! read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in before heading to a show at Hi-Fi across the street and this place blew away any expectations I had. The relaxed vibe and the friendly employees puts this at the top of my list for places to re-visit when I'm back in Indy. We had a couple brews each and were able to try some new, local beers. They were just starting up a show of their own right about when we had to leave to go to ours - I felt bad leaving, especially because you have to walk right in front of the stage to go outside... but, c'est la vie! read more

Really cute coffee shop in fountain square. When you walk in there is a wide variety of records. Then at the back there is a bar with alcohol drinks, coffee, tea and kombucha. I got an iced coffee and it was very reasonably priced. It wasn't the best coffee I've ever had but for the price it was really good. Great place to study as well. I would definitely go back!! read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I've never been here before and was looking to sell some of my more rare records so I go in on a Friday morning looking to sell. I have about 20 records I'm looking to sell and 3 are original Led Zeppelin's and the rest are Fleetwood Mac, journey etc even had a few sealed death row rap records in there too! A mix of everything but anyways the girl said I had a bunch of good stuff and that another employee would give me a price, a dude comes out and looks at all of them and offers me $25 !!! I thought it was April fools day terrible place that low balls read more

Square Cat Vinyl is a unique place to grab a drink and enjoy some music! You can order alcoholic beverages, as well as coffees, teas, and sodas. I ordered a pecan pie latte and it was delicious. I really enjoyed the quirky vibe in here and they had a great selection of vinyl to look through! read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Even more so than your average record store, this is a place for vinyl, which is only fair given the name. Located in the ultra cool Fountain Square area, lovers of CD's need not visit. But if vinyl is your drug of choice, welcome home. You'll love it here. Bonus points for occasional in store events and a nice vibe. read more

I wish I was as cool as this establishment. I was expecting small and intimate when I walked in. What did I find? A cavernous cornucopia of music--with a bar in the back. All the records are alphabetized--ranging in price from $15-50. At the front of the store, Square Cat Vinyl has a display of new releases. There's a $1 section and a $3 section, so go thrifting. I recommend buying some music by an artist you've never heard from the $3 section. Come on, be adventurous. Experiment a little. I did not buy a drink, but there were both alcoholic and nonalcohilic options at the bar. Coffee was on the list, too. On Thursday evening, most people were sitting in the bar area working on laptops. There was a section for under 21s as well. If you look up at the walls, you'll see listings for local music shows in chronological order. Only complaint: I wish there were more used pieces, so we could save a bit of cash. read more

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This is like my total ideal place. You can have coffee or a beer and watch a show that is local and intimate! You're naturally going to see local smaller acts here, and I also love that. I love the setting in a record/store coffee house/bar. I can't wait to go back! read more

Stopped here for a coffee and conversation with an old friend. The spot was clean and quiet. Pricing was reasonable for the drinks and the decor of a vinyl shop for the chill and relaxed space. We will definitely be back and it was a pet friendly space! Two customers had their dogs with them and everyone seemed very friendly. I am glad I came across this local business. read more

Embarrassed, taken aback, and disgusted. My father drove over 2 hours from northern Indiana to visit this record store. When we arrived at 4:15pm on a Friday, we were informed that the Back Alley Ballyhoo (a festival of some kind) was going on and that each of us would need to purchase a ticket (for $35 no less) to enter the store. This would've been acceptable if the store wasn't barren... we were the only people there. My father asked politely if he could look around for just a few minutes, as he was intending to buy a few records. The two degenerates at the front said "sorry, no exceptions" and turned us away. Square Cat, I am now officially your biggest hater. read more

This is such a fun place! The drink selection is awesome.. many good local craft beers and mead. A great selection of tinker street coffee as well! If you're music minded this is the place for you.. an old and new selection of vinyls to pick from.. it's also a cozy place to catch live music as well... they cater to the youngsters as well since it's all ages friendly :) snacks are an option as well with slices, pizza puffs and loaded tots! read more

Square Cat Vinyl - #firstfridayinfountainsquare - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Hello- Is there anyone in there? This is Ground Control to Major Tom- I am made almost entirely of music- That being the case, I don't get out much (seeing how that requires physical form and all) or feel compelled to connect to the Interwebs and share an experience. Last night at 10:30PM at the twilight of "Record Store Day" I was guided to travel an hour to Square Cat Vinyl in Fountain Square 1. Compose myself to get into the car for the journey [Cue: "raise your weapon" by Deadmau5] 2. Drive said car to 1054 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN [Cue: "Cars" by Gary Numan; "Hey Pretty" by Poe; then "Drive" by Incubus] As I arrived at 11:30PM: I passed the owner (Kurt) who was probably begrudgingly walking to his car- *It should be noted that I recognized Kurt because he was my Vet for nearly a decade;**He had been at the Shop since early AM preparing for this big day which included Live in House & Street Performed Music; ***He was an amazing Vet; ****I didn't announce myself and I had yet to visit his Shop*****Kurt used to host and book musicians to perform concert events in his home! Vibe: Vibrant, Warm, Welcoming, Conducive for Musical Experience- Music Selection in the Front, A Bar and Barista in the back with Coffee and Beer! It's OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT MOST NIGHTS!!! Live Music, Vinyl, Coffee and Beer until Midnight.... Local Musicians could be overheard having a conversation about upcoming shows, the door frequently sprung open with excited energy Everyone was truly enjoying their experiences- Absent were the oppressive glares of judgment from the Lester Bangs and Barry Judds of the MusicVerse We all go to a record shop to feel. This Shop feels right and deserves recognition and Community Support. For any aspiring entrepreneurs out there, let me share the secret formula for starting a business from someone who like Kurt has put his heart and soul into building one for all the right reasons The formula for WHY you start a business: 1) Passion, 2) Purpose, 3) To Fill a Need or Provide a Service Through an Insatiable Desire to Make a Conscientious Contribution to the Community, 4) Provide a Welcoming Place for Others Who Feel Like You do- to Enjoy Working There as They Develop Themselves Selection: Let's be honest, more often than not we all have unrealistic expectations- Before going to a Shop we have grandiose visions of finding something obscure or being turned on to something new- From a business owner's perspective, you can't imagine how difficult it would be stock all the inventory to meet our varied subjective tastes- Kurt and the Square Cat Team have TRULY done an exceptional job providing a great selection of "quality" and "vital" music; A very balanced mix of new and used; a $3.00 value section; Solid Featured Recommendations In 30 minutes, I was able to pick-up: 1. Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" An essential underground Hip Hop Classic, one of the ten best ever....I bought this as a cassette at Frog Records in Indy 29 years ago *(Not widely carried) 2. Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" Another essential piece of Hip Hop history that still stands up better than most today 3. Elliott Smith - He was an amazing writer, whose transparent work and life are a sad reminder and should be held in the public consciousness 4. Ben Folds "Live at MySpace" (In New Release Section) - I was initially reluctant to pick this up, I've seen Ben about 15 times live and his gifts and presence don't always translate well. This is an exceptional album, I can't believe it was never released before; I've already listed to both records twice and I think it's the best example I've heard that captures his genuine nature, talent, wit, and humor. Highly recommended for any Ben Folds Fans and New Listeners Experience: As I was leaving, I quasi introduced myself and shared how much I really liked the shop- The young man behind the counter proclaimed "I love this job; I probably have the best job in the world" & "Kurt is a Great Guy" and "Great to Work For" [Cue: "Shiny Happy People" by R.E.M.] Great Shop Kurt & the Square Cat Vinyl Team, you should be proud- you've nailed the Experience Elvis has left the building... read more

Square Cat Vinyl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I always have loved the Village atmosphere of fountain Square spending a day going from shop to shop and was always willing to spend more money even though I could get records much cheaper online I would support the business from the beginning . Then on Father's Day my daughter wanted me to pick out a few records we walked in with an ice tea from a couple doors down and rudely got turned away at the door I found this very petty and greedy and I won't be back read more

I'm so pumped to have a record store right in the heart of Fountain Square! This place has a great selection of records and record players, friendly staff, and often features live music. Head to the back, and there's a coffee bar that also offers a selection of wine and beer. It was still before noon when I visited, so I picked up a lavender honey latte and now I can't stop thinking about when I can grab my next one. They also feature works from local artists in their space, and I couldn't help but take home two original watercolors from local artist @drawriot - they were that awesome! read more

Funky little record/coffee shop! I came in for some coffee and tea for my husband and I during the Virginia Ave Music Fest. Really cool joint with a very chill vibe. Oh, and not to mention they make a wicked cuppa coffee and/or tea. There's records linking the walls when you first enter, and there's also a small stage after the record section. Lastly, there's a bar that serves coffee, tea, beer and wine, as well as a sitting area outside the bar area. Interior is exposed brick walls, chalkboard menus, Edison bulb chandeliers, local artwork, dim lighting, very intimate space. Cool for chatting, hanging out on a laptop, or listening to cool local tunes. I ordered their specialty coffee, Lavender Honey Latte, with almond milk. It was amazing! I got my husband an English Breakfast tea with some milk, and he enjoyed it. That's a miracle because he doesn't like many brands of tea. I'll definitely be back to sample some local beverages and hear some local bands. Party on, Wayne! read more

I'm a big fan of Square Cat. It manages to be a lot of different things at once, and do a good job at it. Decent sized selection of vinyl, and pretty much exclusively vinyl, which is nice. They do have some used mixed in with the new. I've bought a few used, and never had a problem. I also bought my record player here and am really happy with it. In addition to the records they have a bar and coffee shop. All the beer is bottled or canned and at pretty good prices. They have wine too but I'm the wrong person to tell you about that. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I've had the tea a few times and it was good. If that all isn't enough they're also a live music venue. They'll have both free and ticketed events. They have a couple of open mic nights as well. All over it's a great place for the community and I'm glad it's here. read more

I'm consistently disappointed by Square Cat. They have such an opportunity to create a community space in Fountain Square, but their service has been a let down every time I've gone in over the past 3 years. Their staff is always unfriendly, only catering to the few regulars at the bar. Their prices are higher than every other vinyl shop in town, and their selection is almost always the same. The final straw for me was being rushed out on a Sunday night 5 minutes after close when I had several things to buy in hand (we didn't realize they closed at 7) while two people continued to drink and be served at the bar. Skip this shop and go to Luna instead. read more

This place is very cool. The interior design is simultaneously standard record store feel (bins of vinyl, posters, listening stations), but taken to the next level. The decor is great (lamps with shades made of 45s) and the listening stations have good headphones. You can pretend you're in a higher end version of High Fidelity. The bar is a nice place to sit and have a coffee or a beer. And the background music is pleasant and easy on the ears because the owners made sure to get good quality speakers and (very important) installed sound dampening panels all over the interior. These guys really thought of all the details, and I can't wait to go back and enjoy a drink during a live band performance. Five stars. read more

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Square Cat has a lot to offer, and I am SO DOWN for more opportunities for local musicians to showcase their talent and to celebrate music in general. Love a record store! Keep them alive forever!! Square Cat's vinyl collection is well organized. They usually have release dates for upcoming albums on their black board too which builds the anticipation and keeps me in the know. Their selection is mostly new, though there are a handful of used records. I've noticed their pricing to be slightly higher than other record stores in the area, but they almost always have that special record I'm looking for (where others didn't), so I'm okay with paying a bit extra for that high of finding my treasure. The space smallish, but that doesn't stop them from hosting live shows and open mic nights. It can get a bit loud considering you're an arms-length away from the woman belting into a microphone, but I suppose that's a very intimate concert experience if that's what you're into? Anyways. There's also a beer and coffee bar in the back. I would stick to the beer selection because the dirty chai I got was literally so disgusting I threw it away in the trash can outside and walked down the way to Calvin Fletchers to try again (lol). read more

I found myself in the hood last Saturday and thought I'd check this place out. At 11 AM the rest of FS was pretty dead but Square Cat was hopping. It's a small store but they have a lot of records packed in. The new and used are all grouped together which actually makes sense and is easier to look through artists. Artists are well labeled as well. For me, anything 90s and newer is "new" music and that era appears to be their speciality. As luck would have it I was looking for a "new" record (circa 2006) that I couldn't find at the other stores in town. Square Cat had it! As others have said there's a bar to the rear that serves coffee drinks and beer. I had my record so I didn't stop and get a coffee but I probably would if they didn't have what I was looking for -- might as well get something there, right? Worth a visit no matter what. read more

There's a bar! In a store! Square Cat Vinyl has it all. Entering the long narrow space, you are enticed by three rows of all kind of new and used records which invites hours of perusing. beyond that is a stage where bands play mostly free shows several night a week. This area is quite small for a band and audience but I imagine it lends quite an intimate basement party feel to each event. At the very back there is a coffee and wine bar with local brews in bottles and Tinker coffee service. You can get s chips and a pulled pork sandwich that looks like the bartender's mom sent with him for lunch from home but I guess you need the option to eat if you are doing that beer shot of the day. Kid and dog friendly read more

This is the type of place that describes Fountain Square. It's such a cool mix of a retail record store, event venue, coffee shop, and bar, you can come here to grab a record or stay and hang any time during the day. I have also heard they now offer brunch items and BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS so I'm always down for that! Their record selection is vast but seating is slim so it's more of a casual hang place rather than large crowds. Very unique and great addition to Fountain Square. read more

Cheap beers and an open mic night on Mondays. If you're an artist there's no good reason not to show up and see what people are working on.

A record store that serves beer, coffee, wine and has pizza?! I can't think of a better experience! The vinyl selection is great! Everything from new to used and reasonably priced. Huge selection of $3 used vinyl. Most of them are older classics. They do sell some record players too. It's pretty much a one stop shop! The fact that they serve beer and light bites is a home run in my book. Great concept to get people to experience great music and local music! The beer selection is mostly local stuff! They also serve cider from New Day. Wine and nonalcoholic drinks served as well (coffee and tea) The seating area isn't huge, but it can hold a good amount of people. Great place! Can't wait to go back to score some more vinyl and listen to local bands while I enjoy some local brews. read more

HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PLACE? I'm a remote worker with a spreadsheet of coffee shops in Indy. I try to get out and work from a coffee shop about once a week, but sometimes the noise in those places limits me to venturing out once a month. I had worked from Fountain Square the most, but typically went to another popular coffee house. After a walk around lunch time I found Square Cat Vinyl and decided to setup for a couple of hours. What a nice place! They have just about as many tea varieties as your average coffee shop, but they also have beer, wine, and liquor. So I hung out for some tea, and stayed long enough to rationalize a drink. Will be back! read more