In response. I hear you.
I thought my experience here was weird too, but it turns out to be business as usual for the owner of the 13th Avenue coffee house to be rude and unwelcoming to diners.
I have a friend who told her friends from Calgary to meet her at the 13th Ave. Coffee House because her house was difficult to find for out-of-towners. When she got there she found them waiting outside in the cold because they had been kicked out by the owner. I hear stuff like this all the time. I admit that it is gossip and I don't know if it really happened, but I know that I really got kicked out the place (basically because I was studying). I have never been in a fight with a restaurant owner before or since.
A nice vegetarian whole food place has opened down the street. The Beat Root Cafe has better food for about 3 bucks less per dish, and the owner and servers are genuinely friendly and laid back. It is a summer only place, unfortunately.
The crushed grape and La Bodega are nice places if you eat meat, the Freehouse has a couple of decent options if you are a vegetarian. You can make a rice bowl at home for a fraction of the 10 dollars that 13th Avenue charges.
The owner of the 13th Avenue Coffee house seems to feel entitled to the business of Cathedral residents just because the location and building are hip. I know that the previous owners of the location were well liked, and I think the good will has carried over to the new owner, but from what I hear on the street I think that good-will has been used up.
I quite honestly don't see any reason to continue to support the 13th Avenue Coffee House.
Like I said before, if anyone wants to discuss this please feel free to email me.