April 8, 2007
Alt-Coffee-Delete
Alt Coffee, the Alphabet City hangout notable for its quality Internet access, scary bathroom, and diverse clientele, closed this week is closing soon. Owner Nick Bodor is not losing his business, but simply rearranging it to fit the style of a changed neighborhood. He will be re-opening after renovations transform it into Hopscotch, a coffehouse where it's likely a diaper-changing table in the bathroom will replace the sign instructing "No OD's Allowed."
The cafe’s owner, Nick Bodor, 38, said that for years he was able to clear enough money from Alt to live on. But times have changed on Avenue A, where new boutiques now face a cleaned-up version of Tompkins Square Park that includes several playgrounds.Before Mr. Bodor rented the storefront in 1995, he said, it had been shuttered for 14 years. The first furniture he installed came from Dumpsters, and some of the early patrons included a man who read palms and people who lingered all day over a single cup of coffee.
But rents have risen in the neighborhood, including Mr. Bodor’s. He said that since 2001 his insurance costs have tripled and that it recently became more expensive to rent computer equipment, leaving him little choice but to accommodate the changing times.
This is sad of course, and not just because heroin addicts tend to be quieter than small children while in eating or drinking establishments. We are glad to hear that Mr. Bodor didn't lose his business outright though, and can only hope that Hopscotch continues to feature house computers for customers without laptops.
(Coffee Break, by Goggla at flickr)
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I have only been there long ago, but that place was a dump. I can understand some things of character, but it literally was dirty, the cough was pretty much crap, ripped, not comfortable, smelly -- yea -- this is the kind of place i want to spend a few hours with friends drinking coffee -- NOPE.
Also they used to not let you plug in your laptops (I don't think I ever brought mine there but I heard this) because they didn't want you to stay, or they wanted you to pay for their computers. Ultra silly -- not sure if they still have that policy. I can understand avoiding having freeloaders there, but a simple sign, or simply walking over and asking someone to buy more coffee would work.
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Actually, Alt is gonna be open for another week (or so) before we close for the renovation / transformation. And worry not... Once we re-open as "Hopscotch", we'll still have computers to use, wi-fi for the laptop enabled, and awesome coffee. Some things don't change.
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Thanks Patrick; the mistake about the closing status has been duly noted. Good luck with the changeover.
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Fuck that place. They don't let you plug in your laptop. The art is pretentious and trendy circa 1999. The service sucks. The coffee sucks. Worst of all, they've got all these signs around the place detailing the myriad small infractions that will make them not serve you. It's like they actively don't want your business. I went once or twice, but never again.
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Fuck that place. They don't let you plug in your laptop. The art is pretentious and trendy circa 1999. The service sucks. The coffee sucks. Worst of all, they've got all these signs around the place detailing the myriad small infractions that will make them not serve you. It's like they actively don't want your business. I went once or twice, but never again.
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I like places that "don't actually want" your damn business. Owners should pick and choose their clients as they please in order to create the personality of their place, is how I feel. Some consumers in this city (maybe the kind that will be frequenting "Hopscotch") seem to think they should have their asses kissed willingly by anyone working in any place where they can spend their superfluous money! It's people like that, that Alt was trying to weed out.
Anyway, anyone notice this line?
"The first furniture he installed came from Dumpsters,"
Ooh, Dumpsters? Where is this wonderful furniture store?
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ha-f*cking-ha carolita, brilliant observation.
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ok. so i don't need my ass kissed to be served coffee.
but the place was gross.
the one and only time i went there i was more afraid of bedbugs from the chairs/couches which weren't really comfortable. and everything seemed dim and dirty like nothing had been cleaned ever.
like grandmas attic but not.
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A sad sad loss to the east village
Regardless of what you carpetbagging scum that are scared to play in your school clothes lest they get dirty think
Alt was a great place to hang out meet friends randomly and relax, not have to worry about being hassled about loitering, and always listen to good music