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I Banned Laptops in My Coffeehouse
It was necessary for ambiance and the three Cs…
I owned a coffeehouse, in an area we playfully called “The Yale Grad School Ghetto.” A beautiful neighborhood, on the rim of Yale’s campus. It was a coffeehouse in the tradition of coffeehouses where people came in to drink great coffee but also sit and passionately discuss local and global issues, art, and politics. The very thing that drew people to coffeehouses throughout the centuries. I have always loved them.
When tech companies developed portable technologies, they expected food and coffee businesses would allow people to come in, open their laptops, take up a whole table (four seats), stay hours and spend as little money as possible, in a for profit business.
I own a laptop and a new iPhone. I think technologies can improve our lives, and internet cafes are important, but businesses should be able to opt out for reasons I will explain.
At first I complied and allowed customers to use laptops in the store, but then, well, let me share two stories with you.