As midterms loom, Gainesville coffee shops tend to get more crowded with students who buy one drink and camp out for hours. But it’s often more of an annoyance to students than management.
Juan Alcala, a manager at Pascal’s Coffeehouse at 112 NW 16th St. near Midtown, said in the afternoons during exam weeks, it is often hard for people to find seats.
But like other shops, she said, Pascal’s embraces the business, noting the coffee shop aims to give students a place to come and study.
Yarrow Geggus, a barista at Volta Coffee, Tea & Chocolate at 48 SW Second St. in downtown Gainesville said the shop also experiences more traffic during midterms, but the employees don’t mind people buying one drink and lingering.
“It doesn’t get overwhelming,” Geggus said.
Christina Chang, a 22-year-old UF recreation, parks and tourism senior, said she usually goes to coffee shops to study, but she avoids the atmosphere during midterms and finals.
“Everyone is out then, and I can’t find a place to park,” she said.
Jenny Nguyen, a 21-year-old UF recreation, parks and tourism senior, said she would rather go to a coffee shop to study than a library because the atmosphere isn’t as stressful.
“It’s not eerily quiet,” Nguyen said. “You can have a conversation if you want to.”
A version of this story ran on page 5 on 10/11/2013 under the headline "Local coffee shops not steamed about long-staying studiers"
Students drink coffee and study at Pascal’s Coffeehouse, two blocks north of campus on Northwest 16th Street. Coffee shops’ management say business picks up around midterms.
Students drink coffee and study at Pascal’s Coffeehouse, two blocks north of campus on Northwest 16th Street.
