[thomc]

Agree, coffee shops are the modern version. Only 25 years ago as a student in Manchester pubs were everywhere, and we often used to go to the pub at lunch time. Went back there recently and all the pubs we used to frequent were gone, replaced by coffee shops and people with laptops and smart phones :)

[bluGill]

Coffee shops have been around for centuries. How popular they are varies as fads come and go, but they have been there.

[mytailorisrich]

Yes, but coffee shops a la Starbucks are a relatively recent thing, and they sell "coffee" that looks more like a milkshake than a cup of coffee...