Monday, October 12, 2009

My World Tuesday #52: Waking Up Greensboro Since 1983


"Tate Street Coffee House"
Greensboro, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

Be a virtual tour guide on That's My World Tuesday

"Do the guys at Greensboro Daily Photo know about this?"
Greensboro, NC - October 2009 (Click to embiggen)

Be a virtual tour guide on That's My World Tuesday

Every morning I drink my coffee and I say, "Thank you Coffee". That's one of the several witticisms scattered around the Tate Street Coffee House on (wait for it) Tate Street in Greensboro, NC. Situated, as it is, practically on the campus of UNC Greensboro, it's not surprising that TSCH (as it's commonly known) has thrived in every economic environment for the last 26 years. This is about as far removed form the generic Caribuck chain coffee houses as you can possibly get, and the owners and staff understand a basic concept of marketing to a clientele largely composed of college students. Give them a good product, make it affordable on a student's allowance and don't make a career out of making a latte. And it doesn't hurt that the employees (the ones I've met at least) are friendly, smile a lot and -- most important -- know a little somethin-somethin about coffee. Because while the t-shirts and faux movie posters and atmosphere are all nice added touches, this isn't the Tate Street Movie Poster House or the Tate Street House of T-Shirts. There's Open Mic Jazz Night on Thursday night, which I look forward to attending at some point, but all they really needed to do to impress me was make a really good double-shot latte that I could get for two bucks and change without my beard growing visibly while I waited. With a business model like this, I'd expect TSCH to be waking up Greensboro for another 26 years and beyond. Whatever the economy comes to.
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25 comments:

Grumpy but sweet said...

this is really wonderful. :)

annalarssonphotography said...

It definitley sounds like a awesome place!
I'm in for a double latte anytime :)

janice said...

Very cool. I love to patronize little spots like that.

Have a great week!

Sylvia K said...

Looks like a terrific place for coffee to me! Really interesting post! We could surely do with one of those here -- Starbucks kind of hogs the market!

Have a great week!

Sylvia

eileeninmd said...

Looks like a terrific coffee shop. I know I love my coffee in the morning and I wish had a shop like this nearby.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Coffee, strong black, no sugar does it for me everytime. Love these shots, something very Parisian and so voyeuristic in that way that photographers like to be.

Snap said...

Nice shots of a place I should put on the *to be visited* list if I'm ever in the area! :D

Anonymous said...

looks like a great little coffee house. definitely will make a point to stop in when i am in the area.

have a wonderful evening.

Joe Todd said...

I've got a photo of Starbucks in my post .. Ok place if you need some caffeine.. Good post

Photo Cache said...

I'd rather get my waker-upper here than the chain stores.

www.ewok1993.wordpress.com

Reader Wil said...

The posters are very tempting! I certainly would go into this "coffeeshhop" to have a cuppa.Great photos!

Guy D said...

You never disappoint Mojo, that first pic is outstanding.

All the best
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Dirkjogt said...

Looks like a great coffee house. I need my cup of coffee each morning.

maryt/theteach said...

Betcha it beats Starbucks every morning, right, Mojo? I'd love to have a coffee house like this in my neighborhood! :)

ninja said...

Superb first photo. It really makes me want to get in!

Anonymous said...

I'll drink to that - coffee, of course!

Shadow said...

'thank you coffee'? how delightful

Arija said...

Great plece for that all important caffeine shot. So important to have a place where the students can congregate without breaking the bank.

Anonymous said...

Very atmospheric! Love the photos.

Marites said...

it looks like a comfortable place to have a coffee. really nice captures! My world entry is here.

Tes said...

Sounds like a cool place to hang around! Nice capture!

SandyCarlson said...

Yeah. Because we NEED our coffee. And NEED is not an affectation. It's a thang.

Maude Lynn said...

I love the glow on the chairs. And, I hate over complicated coffee.

Anonymous said...

I was able to make it through my undergrad at UNCG thanks to Tate Street Coffee's pumpkin choco-chip muffins, hot chocolates, and black & tan coffee! Thanks for mentioning them and bring back wonderful memories! :)

Maurice Lauher said...

Mojo, everywhere I go, I see you there. Thanks for this piece. The next time I fly by on I 85, I guess I need to check out Greensboro.