Coffee shops across the country are pulling down their WiFi networks and banning laptops, Axios D.C.'s Mimi Montgomery reports.
They're tired of being remote workers' unofficial offices. People setting up shop for a full day of Zoom meetings can cause overcrowding, hurt sales and detract from the vibes businesses want to set, they say.
💻 "We encourage engagement," says David Valdez, whose Detroit coffee shop, Alba, has had a no-WiFi policy since it opened. "That's only possible if you're not glued to your screen."
The D.C.-based café Elle started out sans WiFi, but got angry Google reviews from customers jonesing for a hookup, owner Nick Pimentel tells Axios.
So they caved, but on their own terms: Internet is available only Monday–Thursday 8am–3pm. They ask users to restrict their time to 1.5 hours — and, as a little added tsk-tsk, the cafe makes users join a network called "cat butt."
