Nicole Robinson

When Eau Claire native Melanie Johannsen moved her business, Digital Edge, from its location at 1901 Brackett Ave. to 420 Washington St., she immediately thought coffee shop.

“It was my vision from the beginning to put a coffee shop with an Internet caf‚ and then have a design studio,” she said.

She wanted a location in the downtown area because she likes older buildings, storefronts and renovation.

“When I found the building, it was just a trash hole,” Johannsen said. “It should have been condemned. It was so bad.”

After stuccoing the walls and putting in bamboo flooring, on Sept. 7, Johannsen opened the doors to Caf‚ 420 on Washington Street. It is one of several caf‚s in the downtown and Water Street area offering free wireless Internet with a caf‚ purchase.

Named after its address, business at Caf‚ 420 has been good so far – better than Johannsen expected, she said.

In addition to wireless Internet, its menu includes toasted croissant sandwiches, barbecued beef and pork sandwiches, pizzas, smoothies and French sodas.

Junior Joshua Balser credits good PR skills as the reason he now works at Caf‚ 420.

“I was just walking by and got flagged down on the sidewalk,” he said. “It was opening day and I was just walking back from class.”

He said the employees are personable and cool.

“It’s like my other house now,” Balser said.

Senior Afton Hakes sat at a table in Caf‚ 420 Saturday afternoon with her laptop. It was her first visit.

“It’s quiet,” she said. “A good place to study.”

Caf‚ 420 has a unique atmosphere, and it’s better than going to the library, Johannsen said. “It’s a more conducive atmosphere.”

All the furniture at Caf‚ 420 is custom designed and painted, Johannsen said. Her girlfriend imports products, such as scarves and other wall hangings, from all over the world, which are also for sale.

Johannsen’s main goal is to build community in the area, she said.

“I think that this area is just really hungry for a place to gather, and I have the gift of hospitality,” she said. “I like to have my doors open … I feel like I get to hang out all day.”

Acoustic Caf‚ began offering wireless Internet this summer, manager Sandy Hartmann said. A lot of customers were asking for it.

“(With) the day and age and the environment we have it seemed like the perfect place,” she said. “It seemed like it would attract more customers.”

Hartmann said she has noticed a lot of people using it, and it’s catching on, but a lot of people don’t know the caf‚ has it.

“We have a nice environment for it,” she said. “It’s pretty calm and relaxing here, and we have the space for it. In the afternoons there’s usually a lot of booth space.”

Racy D’lene’s, 404 Riverside Ave., and Dancing Goat, 408 Water St., also offer free wireless Internet access.

“It’s convenient to go somewhere other than your house,” Hakes said.

Eau Claire resident Megan Olson went to Racy’s Sunday morning because it was the only place open at 9:30 a.m.

“I like to come to a caf‚ instead of the library,” she said. “I can eat, drink coffee. There’s a nice atmosphere.”

She said she likes to talk and listen to streaming radio, and there are games and magazines around if she needs a break.

“It’s just not as dry as the library.”