Pretty much have to supply WiFi if you want college students.
Asking the real questions. There is a coffee shop near my new place that has rather limited seating. Like we're talking probably less than 30 people in a town that's got 3 colleges within spitting distance. They have these small placards by the cream and sugar for people who come there to read or write or whatever solo, but take up a full table. They read 'This table is open to quiet, polite and unobtrusive strangers' and there is a variant that indicates an openness or reservation towards chit-chat. I think it's a good system, but I've never been in there during peak school-rush hours.
I'd give them free coffee right now to sit and make me look busy in off hours at the moment. Going forward who knows, if you are giving me your money I'll try and make things work for you. One dollar or ten dollars in profit I hope I can value each person for helping me pay my mortgage and feed my family.
I hear ya. When I was in grad school, more than any other student I know, a great deal of my time was spent drawing/studying/reading in coffee shops. I absolutely loved the environment. The constant flow of people provided a lovely backdrop to my headphoned, wi-fi-ed world. I always considered myself a bit of a leech though, in terms of cost benefit, as a customer. Taking up space and not spending much. Do you hate students like me, or are they nice pieces of furniture in your coffee shop?