The OP asked about a good location for a "cafe", here's a definition from About.com: Restauranting...
Café
A café is a restaurant that does not offer table service. Customers order their food from a counter and serve themselves. A café menu traditionally offers things such as coffee, espresso, pastries and sandwiches. Cafes originated in Europe and are strongly associated with France. They are known for their casual, unhurried atmosphere. Outdoor seating is another trademark of a café. Panera Bread is an example of a popular bakery-café chain. The term bistro is sometimes interchanged with café. A bistro is actually a café that offers full meals (albeit, cheaper than a full fledged sit down restaurant).
The French cafe's I've been to fit this bill; part coffee shop, bakery, snack, and lunch place. Coffee, espresso, pastries, croissants, brioche, croque Messrs and Madams, simple and fresh sandwiches on really good French bread, salad Nicoise, cheese and fruit, soup du jour, quiche, YUMMY.
Here's a link to Pascal's menu (they also serve dinner). A place in my old stomping grounds in CA before we came out to Raleigh.
Pascal Restaurant Menu for Lunch and Dinner Another simple French cafe chain out there is Champagne French Bakery Cafe. Both have very traditional French cafe offerings. Nothing fancy. La Provence French Cafe in Miami is an excellent example - menuwise - of French cafe fare.
La Provence French Bakery & Café (http://www.laprovencemiami.com/menu1.html - broken link)
I still think Lafayette Village and the N. Raleigh area could benefit and support a place like this. DH and I have traveled throughout France and love all the local food be it the fanciest Parisian to the simple unadulterated flavors of the south.