> -----Original Message----- > From: Jima [mailto:jima at beer.tclug.org] > Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 3:23 PM > To: Chuck Cole > Cc: tclug-list at mn-linux.org > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Linux activity in the Twin Cities Area > > > Chuck Cole wrote: > > A location near the > > TIES site (Snelling at Larpenteur) is a good compromise for all, and several lunch/dinner places around there also have > free WiFi. Maybe there's a place with a cheap buffet and WiFi... > > I doubt many buffets will offer free WiFi; the main appeal of it for > businesses is to keep customers happy and in the store, whereas keeping > diners in a buffet for longer is contrary to their business model. > Or maybe that's just my take. I dunno. Some do and some don't. Competition and technology emergence has made that business model less successful in more recent times. It's become hard to keep my smartphone's contact list up-to-date and searchable for WiFi spots in various areas of town. Q-cumber's on France in Edina is one that's all buffet, Bakers Square sites have "WiPie" and longer hours than coffee shops, but no buffets. Broadway Pizza (several) and Old Chicago Pizza (several.. one at Har Mar near TIES) are examples of some that do have WiFi and lunchtime buffets. The Dunn Brothers has sandwiches and soups, and several are adjacent (with WiFi spillover) to inexpensive restaurants. CiCi's Pizza buffet in Eagan is a near an Old Chicago, so a temporary WiFi bridge woudn't be hard if CiCi's doesn't have WiFi of their own yet. For a big place, WiFi is a matter of getting higher occupancy. It's also a means of getting revenue outside mealtime peaks, or being a venue for "business lunch", etc. Some places have ways to limit WiFi "camping out" at peak hours, but most are just glad for business and "campers" usually aren't every day customers. I'm surprised at how many dining places now do offer free WiFi. Seems like odds are almost 50/50 these days, but not as good for WiFi plus buffet. Baja Grills would seem to be a smaller fast food model that would want quick in / quick out, but they have WiFi too (and are also at Har Mar). Chuck