The Shop

As a newcomer to Ithaca, it seems like Gimme! gets a lot of love here. I get it. Slick packaging, good coffee. The advantages of a Starbucks without the burnt coffee. The Shop isn't like that. It doesn't have the slickness that comes from chain marketing. What it does have, though, is really stellar coffee, a great atmosphere, and a tattoo parlor in the back.

A whatnow? It certainly sets a certain tone to have the buzz of a tattoo needle sounding out from the back room as you try to get some reading done over a cup of coffee, but I dig it. I like the plants and the shabby chic (can we still say that?) atmosphere. I like that when I'm too hopped on caffeine to have another cup, they have a good tea selection and (what I hear are) excellent juices. The baked goods leave something to be desired, but so be it. My judgment of a coffee shop does not live and die on their munchies.

The bottom line is that The Shop is fun, and a great place to get some work done over a nice pour-over.

This is the best coffee shop in Ithaca. Now how can I say this given that I don't even drink coffee? Well, because every time I take a "first date" here, I end up getting either lucky or stalked for several weeks. I hypothesize that the shop gives my dates the false impression that I am cool. I'm not sure what it is about the Shop that gives them this idea; perhaps its the great coffee, neat artwork, plentiful viewings of hipsters or maybe its the awesome looking tattoo parlor in the back. Unfortunately, visiting the shop is the closest I'll ever get to a needle, or being the cool kid for that matter. So back to those dates; they usually dump me when they realize its all a ruse. Frankly they should have noticed this when I ordered the ice tea. And by the way The Shop's iced tea is absolutely fantastic!

I actually didn't realize that this place was a coffee shop for a year until my friend recommended coming here since it was right next to a painting shop.  This place has amazing juice and coffee.  I would come here to study just for their juice and sweets!