Shutting off the free WiFi (on weekends, that is)
Glenn F. over at Wi-Fi Networking News had a post yesterday about one Seattle coffee shop's attempt to rescue cafe culture by switching off its free WiFi access on weekends. We get all twitchy and nervous at the mere prospect of anyone cutting off our lifelinebroadband, but it sounds like the owners of Victrola Coffee & Art in Seattle had some legitimate reasons for doing this, like that on Saturdays and Sundays up to 90% of the tables and chairs were being taken over by laptop-wielding customers who would stay there for hours and hours, many of them refusing to buy even a single beverage (not even a freaking scone, dammit!). They've only been doing it for a couple of weeks, but already they're pleased with results: the staff is happier, regular customers are giving them props, and weekend revenues are actually up.
