| rev:text
| - First off, the product itself (coffee, food, etc.) is good, so that's why B.R. gets more than one star. The major issue has always been service and as of today, it's now also the atmosphere.
Service: I'm hesitant coming here when I'm in any kind of hurry. It takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes on avg., even for simple espresso orders. Staff is very friendly so that's a plus, but there's no sense of urgency. I'm ok with the chilled, laid back speed on the weekends but not during the week. I was able to look past that until today...
Atmosphere: it's a mid week morning and the parking lot is packed (unusual for this center). Turns out that it's a bicyclist meet up. Thankfully only a couple riders stopped in for coffee at the time I showed up, so aside from lack of parking spots, it was no big deal at first.
But here's where it rubbed me the wrong way - turns out several cars must have also belonged to a bible study group that commandeered the coffee shop. Nearly all tables were taken, formed into a circle by men reading scripture out loud to each other. I have no problem with people demonstrating their religious preferences, but please don't hold mass in the middle of a small restaurant or retail establishment. It's uncomfortable & annoying. There's not a lot of room, so as a customer, what direction do you look while waiting for your order?
Just so I could avoid looking nosey, I had my back facing them, so I'm sure they had a nice eye level view, given I was practically in their space while waiting. So, should I have watched them awkwardly, like I'm getting into their business? Maybe invite myself into the group? Maybe I should've waited outside?
It seemed like the barista was hesitant to make any noise & had a comical look on his face when he had to chip away at the ice for my drink because the guy leading the discussion started yelling over the noise. After handing my drink over, the barista sheepishly whispered to have a good day.
I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. There was a bottle of RumChata sitting on the coffee bar, while a few feet away a large group of people prayed.
The last small coffee shop that I used to frequent allowed for bible studies in the middle of the shop and they eventually went out of business. I think it's because they had an identity crisis, trying to be both a fun, laid back shop but then it was serious & quiet with the study going on, so you never knew what to expect.
If BR wants to survive, they need to figure out their identity & put a stake in the ground. If they want to be a religious coffee shop, by all means go for it. I have no problem with that. But then put away the RumChata... actually stop selling alcohol altogether. If you want to be a progressive coffee shop, go back to playing Bob Marley.
You can't be everything to everyone or you please no one!
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