(cache)My Cafe Dumped Me for Doing Work There

Aug. 14, 2025 12:13 pm ET

Illustration of the writer looking forlornly at his coffee through the glass window.

Photo: Jan Buchczik

I’ve never marched against war, but I can’t imagine those protests have a higher density of angry signs than my local coffee shop. The target of this cute little cafe’s rage? Laptop workers. The downtown Manhattan hangout has long drawn students and freelancers armed with MacBooks and an impressive ability to shriek shamelessly on video calls.

But a few months ago the cafe’s management lost its cool. Now seven signs commandeer the compact space. As yellow and urgent-looking as chemical spill warnings, they screech: “IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! Due to new inevitable changes, working with laptops, iPads or similar devices is no longer permitted in our establishment. Reading, daydreaming and chit chatting encouraged.”

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My Cafe Dumped Me for Doing Work There

People who spend hours in coffee shops typing on their laptops are annoying and bad for business. But what am I supposed to do, work in an office like a grown-up?

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