WiFi killed the coffee shop. Espresso establishments in the U.S. used to be a breeding ground for counter-cultural discussion, music, and even style (of sorts). Now, "when I walk into a cafe and everyone is locked into their laptops and the only sounds I hear are the clicks of a track pad, I tend to not feel welcome or like I am a part of the community," says Jeff Excel, co-owner of Fox in the Snow in Columbus, Ohio. That's why Excel — and many other bean brewers not slingin' Seattle's best — have unplugged. The result? Destination shops that are more social, relaxing, and at least somewhat free of distraction. It's not quite a revolution, but with the unplugged movement growing, its following expects to see more comrades sipping on lattes as they drop out (of WiFI).
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