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Old 10-05-2009, 11:56 AM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,201,963 times
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I would guess IHOP would do pretty well in SQHill, if nothing else than as an alternative to that awful Eat'n Barf as a late-night munchie destination when the bars let out and a "I need a break" destination for late-night study sessions. Is there any other 24-hour joint anywhere near Murray yet besides Eat & Park?
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Old 10-05-2009, 01:27 PM
 
Location: Western PA
3,733 posts, read 5,966,964 times
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I went to an I-Hop in Florida a couple of years ago and was undewhelmed. Isn't it like Eat 'n' Park?
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Old 10-05-2009, 01:38 PM
 
Location: Chicago
38,707 posts, read 103,201,963 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geeo View Post
I went to an I-Hop in Florida a couple of years ago and was undewhelmed. Isn't it like Eat 'n' Park?
It is, in basic form. But if IHOP is underwhelming, imagine a diner-type place that's basically an underwhelming version of the underwhelming IHOP. That's Eat'n Fart for ya.
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Old 10-05-2009, 01:53 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh
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Quote:
I was just @ B&N in Squirrel Hill yesterday and like someone already stated no one buys anything.
I often wonder how the coffee shops around Oakland/Squirrel Hill survive when it seems like they're filled with students using their free wi-fi and making one cup of coffee last for hours.
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Old 10-05-2009, 02:12 PM
 
Location: Mid-Atlantic
12,526 posts, read 17,549,480 times
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I always wonder how those places make money. I buy one hard cover book per year as a gift to a client. Other than that, I'll spend hours there reading for free and just hanging out, maybe buy a Coke, but that's about it. When I travel with my wife on biz that's where I hang out during the day getting free wi-fi. I'm not surprised at all when I hear one is closing.
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Old 10-05-2009, 02:28 PM
 
315 posts, read 665,394 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fleetiebelle View Post
I often wonder how the coffee shops around Oakland/Squirrel Hill survive when it seems like they're filled with students using their free wi-fi and making one cup of coffee last for hours.
A lot of the people that by coffee at these cafes then take them to Barnes and Noble to enjoy their free bookreading with.
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Old 10-05-2009, 02:41 PM
 
Location: Chicago
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Originally Posted by ajl777 View Post
A lot of the people that by coffee at these cafes then take them to Barnes and Noble to enjoy their free bookreading with.
Doesn't this B&N have a Starbucks right there inside it? I don't think I've been to one yet that doesn't.

Just the same, brick-and-mortar bookstores are succumbing just like record stores did before them. Soon enough only specialty shops will remain. And in fact even specialty stops are going online. My FIL runs a specialty online bookshop that grosses well into six figures despite the fact that he runs it on the side as a hobby because he has virtually no overhead except computer equipment/software and a couple of rented storage rooms.
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Old 10-05-2009, 07:41 PM
 
Location: Bloomfield
89 posts, read 218,137 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fleetiebelle View Post
I often wonder how the coffee shops around Oakland/Squirrel Hill survive when it seems like they're filled with students using their free wi-fi and making one cup of coffee last for hours.
The ones in Oakland, at least, are very busy during the 10 minutes or so in between classes. That probably makes up for the people who buy 1 cup of coffee every 3 hours. I suspect that free wi-fi builds product loyalty, though. The Starbucks at the corner of Forbes and Craig is practically empty compared to the Kiva Han across the street.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover View Post
Doesn't this B&N have a Starbucks right there inside it? I don't think I've been to one yet that doesn't.
The B&N does have a Starbucks, but I generally see people with cups from 61C, Arefa's, or other places.

The B&N is a perfect place to hang out for a few hours but a bad location for a business. Students probably don't buy many books because they have access to massive libraries and/or are too busy with school work to read for pleasure. One can use Bruegger's WiFi for free from the Barnes and Noble...and 61C, Arefa's, etc. all have better (and cheaper) coffee than the Starbucks in the store itself.
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Old 10-05-2009, 08:49 PM
 
892 posts, read 2,392,936 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fleetiebelle View Post
I often wonder how the coffee shops around Oakland/Squirrel Hill survive when it seems like they're filled with students using their free wi-fi and making one cup of coffee last for hours.
Um, this is what a real coffeeshop is for. You go there to read the paper and socialize...hell it's not all that uncommon for one to even have a piano sitting in a corner for people to play. I think people have warped ideas about what a coffeeshop is today because of Starbucks.

What someone else said about wi-fi is absolutely on the mark, too. This morning, as a matter of fact, Kiva on Craig St. had a problem with their coffeemaker (espresso was still fine). A bunch of folks went across the street to get a cup of coffee, then came back, hung out at Kiva, and bought pastries and other noshes there.

The hilarious part was listening to them all complain about Starbucks' coffee too.
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Old 10-05-2009, 09:38 PM
 
Location: Bloomfield
89 posts, read 218,137 times
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If Starbucks didn't have disgusting and overpriced coffee, they wouldn't have these issues. The fact that they charge for wi-fi is just outrageously stupid in an urban area. I could understand charging for wi-fi in a suburb or small town, but not in Oakland where one is within a block of free wireless in any direction.
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