The Coffee Shop Happenings Thread

Apologies for the layout issues.

Yes, when I volunteered to keep track of the coffee shops, I did not expect the next year to be as active as the prior year. Let's start out with the original list in the OP, and work forward from there:

1.  Novelle Vag: On Lincoln, near Classon.   Presumably, in response to too many people asking
questions like "Are you closed once a month?" and stating things like "this place doesn't smell as fishy as I thought it might", this place is now known as Novelle Vague. It is a small venue, and seems to struggle to attract a crowd. It is not in a location with a lot of foot traffic.

2.  Park Place Coffee: On Park Pl, near Franklin    This place seems to be doing ok, despite being closed on Friday evenings and on Saturday.  Lots of people seem to stop in here to get an unpretentious cup of coffee on their way to work.  Some people hang out.

3.   Pulp and Bean: On Franklin, near EP.  It continues to do a good business, but may morph into an ice cream place if Starbucks opens in an adjacent building.    Not much
space to hang out.    Get your coffee, on the way to or from the train.

4.   Breukelyn: On Franklin, near St Johns.  Now has beer and wine.    A big area for people with
laptops.   I have also overhead people meeting here who appear to be on
first dates. It may make as much revenue from beer and wine as it
does coffee.  Should it still be on this list? 

5.  Little Zeldas: On Franklin, near Sterling.  A very specific demographic uses this coffee shop, and likes to see and be seen on the little tables in front.    I suspect it
is popular with liberal arts majors who went to private colleges.   It
seems to be selling a lot of coffee and wine given its very small
storefront.   Very productive use of space.

6.  Glass Shop: On Classon, near St, Johns.  This place is in the process of merging with Pete Zaaz, a decidedly artisanal pizza place. On more than one occasion, I have
witnessed Pete Zaaz being occupied exclusively by men, and Glass Shop
exclusively by females. This merger may result in some flirting
between the two groups, and the loss of Glass Shop's identity as a
coffee shop.    Just call them both Pete Zaaz and be done with it.  

7.  Crosby: On Classon, near Bergen.   This place is regularly full, and has lots of spaces for
daytime laptop users.    During the day, new mothers bring their
children here.   Both groups might get along.     

8.  Penny House Cafe: On Washington, near Park Pl.   Very productive use of a small space. People stop here on their way to/from work, but it is too small to have a tribe.

9.  Washington Bagel Cafe: On Washington, near Dean.   Bagels, coffee and atmosphere are not at the level of the competition.    It seems to survive as a result of the nearby car
services and merchants.    I'm not sure if it would survive a rent increase,
yet I predict a rent increase is likely...    Heads up!

10.  Sit and Wonder: On Washington, near St Marks.  Popular with the stroller and laptop folks.   It seems to have a tribe of people who come there regularly.    

11.  Coffee Bites: On Washington, near St. Johns.  Very productive use of a small space. People stop here on their way to/from work, but it is too small to have a tribe.   Has better brownies than Penny House.

12.  Richol Cafe: On Nostrand, near Pacific.  Fancy pastries.    Very popular.   I think they sell more pastries than coffee.   The pastries are good enough to bring to work meetings.

13.  Pacific Oasis Cafe: On Pacific, near Nostrand.  Now closed.

14.  CT Muffin: On Nostrand, near Bergen.  Thriving.    Sometimes the lines are little longer than the smaller places, but is relatively inexpensive.

New Additions:

15.  Nimba:   Off Franklin, on St. Johns.   Seems popular.   Has entertainment during the evenings, but I don’t think it has beer or wine.

16.  Café Allegria:   On St Marks, new Franklin.   Has outdoor eating, beer, and makes its own bagels.    One can get a turkey sandwich.    This is not a place to see and be seen, but is a practical place to get a meal and coffee.   I’m not sure it is a coffee shop.

17.  Chocolatte:    Kingston and EP.   Is clear that this place is competing in the league as the others.   Has a large Orthodox Jewish customer base.

18.   Kaffee Jac:  Propsect Place near Nostrand .  Affiliated with a now gone ice cream place, BK Scoop.   Unclear business plan.   Seems to be open only sporadically.

19.  Dunkin Donuts, Nostrand and EP.   Same as their other locations throughout the city.

20.  Anthony’s Corner Café, St John’s and Utica.    Brand new.   I haven’t been there yet, or even walked by.

21.   Starbucks, coming to either EP and Franklin or St Johns and Franklin.  It will be like every other location throughout the world, but might have a few pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge on the wall.

22.  Nostrand Ave Bagels, Pacific and Nostrand.  Seems to be doing ok.   Could use some decorations on the walls.   Friendly service.   Puffy bagels.    

23.  Rogers’s Coffeeshop, Rogers and Union.  Brand new.    No info yet.

24.  Pulp and Bean II, Franklin and Union.  Not as busy as P&B 1, but seems to be doing ok.

25.   Tinto, about to open on Nostrand in the building with the chalices (near Sterling). Lots of anticipation on this thread:
http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/43826/another-coffee-shop-for-nostrand-tinto-715-nostrand-near-sterling/p1

26.  Crown Heights Coffee, Sterling and Schenectady.    Not open yet.     http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/39142/omg-a-coffee-shop-is-coming-to-schenectady-at-sterling

Helpful source:  http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=coffee&find_loc=Prospect+Heights,+Brooklyn,+NY#l=p:NY:New_York:Brooklyn:Crown_Heights

Nimba's landlord is allegedly not the "kindest", according to a few people I've spoken with close to the situation, and I believe Eric et al are in the process of taking him to court for shutting off their water after he demanded a rent increase and they did not acquiesce. Don't quote me on the details there but I would assume Nimba will be back at some point in the near future after this legal crap gets cleared up. It's a great spot when it's fully functioning though so don't give up on it yet.

It might not qualify as a coffee shop per se, but I think of Lily & Fig on Franklin between Park & Sterling as a coffee shop, even though they are more of a bakery. I don't think they do espresso beverages, but their drip coffee is good (better than average for neighborhood coffee shops, imo), they have a large tea collection, and their pastries are better than most of the neighboring coffee shops.