Quote Originally Posted by nain rouge View Post
I think part of the reason that coffee shops are so popular here is simply because we otherwise lack quality public spaces. There's nothing to do here for the most part besides work, shop, eat/drink, and go home. We have few quality parks in our neighborhoods, hardly any walkable areas, and most libraries are underfunded. Coffee shops are one of the few FUN places to hang out, where you can read, listen to music, or talk in a relaxed, public environment. The historic, monumental, and urban qualities of Detroit add to the ambience, hence why the coffee scene has shifted in that direction.
Not sure I totally agree with this. Look at places like Paris and Vienna. They have coffee shops all over the place, despite having plenty of quality public areas. I think people just love coffee and love hanging out, leading to a lot of coffee shops. I suppose more other options [[tea places, smoothie shops, etc) might stem the coffee outbreak a bit, but there will still be plenty of coffee places.