the 15th ave corridor on capitol hill was always a little sad - lots of shops and restaurants started and failed, and the street somehow lacked a 'living room' that would attract and hold people from the surrounding neighborhood. all that has changed, and i give much of the credit to victrola. this is the essence of what a neighborhood coffee shop and hangout should be - stlyish without being stiff, friendly without being intrusive, and quirky without being attention-seeking. the coffee is excellent (some say the best espresso in town), the crowd is always interesting, and there's even live music some nights. if you prefer one-of-a-kind coffee shops to the generic chain options, victrola sets a pretty high bar.
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