If this were a thesis the statement would go something like this: "Trendy businesses attract more socially aware clientele than non-trendy businesses" which would then be followed by proof of that thesis. You'd have to determine what defines a "trendy business" vs. a "non-trendy business" and what defines "more socially aware". Thankfully my days of writing thesis papers are behind me (for now…who knows what dopey college moves I'll decide to make in the future) so this crazy statement doesn't need to be proven for me to make it and stand by it.
There's a trendy new coffee shop near me. It only serves coffee and some trendy pastries, some flat bagels spread with awesome fig butter mixed up on-site. There is no tea on the menu and I think there's only one decaf coffee, there are no lattes capuccinos or other fancy coffee beverages, they offer two Iced Coffee selections. There are no seats and no WiFi. They currently have just two locations; the first one is literally in a shed, a very nice shed but a shed nonetheless. The line snakes out the door and that's for 3 or more people. Their second location isn't much bigger though it isn't a shed it's a small space carved out of the corner of a paint store and a plumbing supply store. The employees are all young and beautiful; they have lovely skin.
Apparently in the world of upscale, trendy coffee there are only two ways to make it, French press or "hand poured", hand poured means you pour water of a specific temperature in a circular motion over freshly ground beans. This place uses that method, there are no coffee pots sitting around growing stale as the day goes on. Each hot cup of coffee is brewed when it's ordered. There are pre-measured tins of beans that are ground when someone orders that blend, then they are expertly packed into a filter and the hot water is poured over the beans and the perfect cup of coffee drips down into the awaiting cup. I like coffee and always have but this coffee is no ordinary stuff; I have to say that every person who goes there because of all they've heard comes away raving about the place, it changes how you feel about coffee. Their iced coffee tastes almost like a milk shake and I take mine with just plain milk and two equals but somehow that translates to something creamy and delish. A cup of coffee there is NOT cheap but probably no more than Starbucks.
They have a cute little blackboard propped up over the counter where they put adorable sayings or thought provoking questions (in the movie of the story of YOUR LIFE, what actor or actress would play you and why). Of course you don't have to answer the question but it usually starts a lively discussion while you wait for you fresh brewed, hand poured beverage.
Yup, it's trendy, made even more so by how rare it is…only two small locations.
On Sunday I usually go and get an iced coffee for me and some kind of hot coffee for hubby. This past Sunday I had to do a rescue dog transport. It's a "rescue railroad", volunteers take dogs from high kill situations (usually in the Southern states) and move them to either a forever home or a foster home (to safety basically). The trip is usually broken up into legs so that no one person is driving from So. Carolina to Massachusetts, I was driving from NJ to CT. I walked in and they started to make my regular iced coffee and asked what was for hubby, "Nuthin'" they gasped. I explained that I was hittin' the road for rescue and so he was on his own for coffee that day. They laughed.
I asked if Amy came by on her way to NYC, yes she did. Where was Amy going? Oh she was doing the Lincoln Tunnel Run for Special Olympics, she's a special ed teacher. It seemed like a lot of the regular clientele were dropping by on their way to doing some socially aware thing on a Sunday.
So, do trendy places like that attract a more socially aware clientele? I don't know and my investigation ends here with the knowledge that Amy and I both stopped there on our way to doing something fun for ourselves that would benefit someone else.
Anyway, they do have great coffee, so maybe the next thesis statement would be, "really great coffee inspires a generous lifestyle" J
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