The new coffee shop on 5th Street has a weird rule about the chatter lounge area

I walked into that new spot, The Grind House, yesterday morning to check it out. They have this whole back section labeled as a 'chatter lounge' with comfy chairs and low tables, which I thought was cool. But then I saw a small sign that said 'Lounge use requires a purchase of $10 or more per person.' I was ready to turn around and leave, thinking it was just a cash grab. But the barista explained they had issues with big groups camping out for hours on a single coffee, making it hard for other folks to find a seat. After hearing that, it made sense. I bought a coffee and a pastry, sat down, and actually had a great, quiet chat with a friend for over an hour without feeling rushed. Has anyone else seen a place try something like this to keep the lounge area working for everyone?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.aaron2mo ago

My library started charging for study room bookings after students slept there overnight.

the_eric2mo ago

Our campus library had to start locking the study rooms at 10 PM because people were basically moving in. They left blankets, food wrappers, even a mini fridge one time. It got so bad the cleaning staff complained they couldn't do their jobs. Now you need a staff escort to get in after hours, which is a huge hassle. It's frustrating when a few people ruin a good thing for everyone.

hollyl452mo ago

Wait, are they seriously charging money now just to use a study room? @king.aaron, I'm trying to picture the scene where a student is like "yeah I'll just crash here tonight" and the library's response is "okay well it'll cost you." I mean, I get that overnight sleeping is a problem, but charging for study rooms feels like punishing everyone for a few people's bad choices. Maybe it's just me, but wouldn't it make more sense to just enforce a no overnight rule or hire a security guard to check rooms at closing time instead of making students pay?