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| - Normally, I like to visit a place at least twice before I review it. Because I live two hours away, I don't know when I will practically get a chance to visit again, so here's my opinion based on my current visit.
This place really rocks, with the locals using F&B's as sort of a community center. Serendipitously, F&B's was established before the local governments established Goat Island Park, a beautiful pedestrian friendly park, just over the footbridge over the South Fork of the Catawba River. Some people complain about skeeters (this is NC, after al), but they're not noticeable, now that the weather has cooled.
I am REALLY attracted by the great little private rooms, well, semi-private (they have no doors) that offer cozy options, while being open to the rest of the shop. The wide variety of sturdy furniture is a welcome indicator of the robustness of the place, and the owners' approach to business. A well-planned business, that keeps it customers happy, as evidenced by the amount of traffic. The rest room is super tiny, a reminder of the days before the business was a modern coffee house, though it is functional.
F&B's has a nice selection of ice cream, baked goods, and beverages, pretty creative, given the modest size of the space. The other reviews here describe the offerings better than I can, but there are plenty of offerings here, enough that you could visit here every day for a month, and not have the same thing twice. And then, they have seasonal specials, too.
I am impressed by the friendly, knowledgable, and quick staff, people who listen closely and take you seriously. The manager is a certified I.A.S.C. Barista, who is well traveled, and takes his job quite seriously, while leading his staff in a friendly and appropriate fashion. If I had a coffee shop, I would want him to run the place. As a customer, he is equally impressive, offering suggestions and interacting well with me. I overheard him empathize with another customer, "Yes ma'am, sometimes I feel your pain." I like this guy.
Yeah, I will look for Floyd & Blackie's, next time I'm in this area.
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