Bonte

Bonte
130 South 17th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-557-8510

Dear Bonte,

Close the damn doors!!!

We don’t mean close your business. Just close the doors, literally. It’s fucking freezing in there all of the time. Are you guys Eskimos or something?

Me and Mr. Lunchbox have been there at least half a dozen times lately, and every time we’re there either the front or back door is wide the f open.

We’re only asking because we care, care!! We love your shop – the La Colombe coffee, the wireless Internet access, the newspapers, the staff, the sandwiches, the marketing postcards people leave there.

It’s just that, we can’t keep coming there is we’re gonna freeze our nuts off every time we sit down and have a sandwich and coffee.

I even tried closing the back door myself last week, but the fucker wouldn’t even budge. Maybe it’s welded open or something, who knows.

I guess the cold does one good thing – it keeps the chocolate bars from melting. I bought two the other week – a regular and a dark chocolate bar. They’re like 3-something each, so we didn’t drop even a shaving of chocolate. But they’re worth it – our office mates devoured them in minutes...

Comments

[philly coffee lover]

Although the psuedo-euro atmosphere seems more institution-like, and the quality is mediocre at best...the place is always packed. Their croissants are borderline terrible, but the espresso is actually good. Still, less than half a block away a very nice community-friendly remembers-your-order gives-you-extras always-smiles hardcore progressive business is losing. JOE! JOE! JOE! JOE! JOE! JOE! I really like philadelphia because...a lot of it has to do with the little businesses who are set on being a member of the community. We are are a progressive city, I would like to think, and I can't imagine Bonte hosting meetings for the philly green party, or fringe events, or even having a bulletin board of events. I would like to hear if someone behind the counter of bonte has heard of fair trade. I really feel lame typing this because it sounds like a commercial testimonial or something...but joe doesn't know my name or anything-he just told me business was horrible since this bonte place opened, and since i'm there 3 times a day i don't want to imagine the place closing.

[Coffeelover]

The new Bonte that just opened near Thomas Jefferson University is a disaster. The staff doesn't have a clue as to what to do or when to do it. One staff member dropped a huge plate and walked around with a bleeding hand until someone stopped her - a customer!! The wait time is unbelievable..so long that I could have gone and grown the coffee beans myself and still made a cup of coffee quicker. I feel bad for them..someone needs to rescue that group. Whoever the owner is: get in there and start helping out or the place is going to go under quickly!

[foodie]

I've been there a handful of times, and my gofra (waffle) has been burnt to a crisp each time except for one... I'm talking burnt so bad that you can't cut it with a knife and fork. The sandwiches I've had weren't that great either.. very dry.

[berkserker]

we hear ya chirpin', big bird...!

[Toolie]

Hey Berkserker,

You forgot to mention how dry our sandwiches were, thank goodness Mr.Box had some sort of mayo w/ his sandwich that we all passed around and shared. (we had a hard time getting it out of the cup and spreading it, since no utensils were available for such a task) Also, for the price of the sandwich they could throw in a bag of chips.. right?