Gail Rosenblum: Wi-Fi + freeloaders adds up to caffeine headache

Dean Schlaak really doesn't want to do it. But sometime within the next few weeks, the co-owner of Wilde Roast Cafe in northeast Minneapolis will begin limiting the time customers can enjoy his cozy coffee shop's free Wi-Fi without ordering another cup of Joe.

Brian Ehlers, who co-owns two Dunn Bros. coffee shops in Minneapolis, already has put the kibosh on Wi-Fi use on weekend days and holidays at one particularly busy location after neighborhood regulars began complaining that they had nowhere to sit.

In St. Paul, Black Dog Cafe co-owner Andy Remke has a ready response for customers who think they have a right to power up and stay the day, even though they don't drink a drop of coffee.

"Buy a cup anyway," Remke says. "You don't want to chase people away but, well, I thought we had a social contract here."

It appears that many people in the Twin Cities have overstayed their coffeehouse welcome.

Seattle, home to Starbucks, has been dealing with this sticky issue for years. New York City, where coffee shops tend to be the size of postage stamps, has begun to crack down by plugging up electrical outlets, mandating minimum orders and asking patrons to share tables.

It was bound to happen here, thanks to the proliferation of inviting coffee shops and the exploding number of home-based employees -- and those looking for work.

Some customers push etiquette boundaries in other ways, such as sucking up loads of energy downloading documents.

"I can tell you when it's happening," Hauser said. "When I'm trying to process a credit card, I'll ask, 'Anybody downloading a movie? You can't do that here.' "

Ehlers can top that. He's seen customers pull out printers. Like most indie owners, he prides himself on offering free Wi-Fi and doesn't want to go the way of Starbucks and begin charging for it.

He toyed with tokens, too, with which customers would be awarded a certain amount of wireless time with each purchase. "But you'd be asking employees, who make $8 an hour, to monitor and manage people," said Ehlers, who owns the two shops with his wife, Carrie. "They don't get paid enough to enter into a potential confrontation like that."

He put up table signs at his busy Linden Hills location, asking customers to monitor themselves. Usually, the signs ended up in the trash. So Ehlers bit the bullet: No computers in the main dining area from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends or on major holidays. During those hours, he provides computer-users with a conference table in the back of the store. Sales at the Linden Hills location have increased more than 20 percent since, Ehlers said.

He admits to losing a few customers, but said some left and then came back. "They say, 'I see your dilemma.'"

Wi-Fi freeloaders aren't just an issue for the coffeehouse owners and workers.

Brian Ivers of Minneapolis organized a group called Out of Work Employees, which gathers every two weeks to network. Up to 25 people attend, arriving at a variety of coffee shops and lunch spots without a single computer in tow. The conversation flows, as does the coffee -- if they can find a table. Ivers is well aware of the "intimidating" customers -- Gen-Xers to suits -- who plug in and spread out their work across tables, often in prime window spots where, Ivers said, "they sit forever."

For those of you who might recognize yourself here, there's good news. A small effort on your part will go a long way. Owners say even a $2 or $3 purchase every hour would be welcome. And don't forget to tip those hard-working employees. And don't bring a sandwich from home.

Schlaak of Wilde Roast is going to see how the new school year begins before deciding his plan. He'll likely grant 30 minutes of Wi-Fi or lounging time for each coffee drink ordered, and up to two hours if the customer buys food or a meal.

"It lets them know," Schlaak said, "that, yeah, we're watching you."