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Jim’s Picks: Bring on YAKS!

There’s a lot I like about Starbucks — excellent coffee and tea selections, those breakfast sandwiches, nice aesthetic. And while I’m here, I think I’ll pop open my laptop and check my e-mail. But what’s this? No free Wi-Fi? Wow, really?

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OK, so maybe I’ll go to this YAKS place (actually, there are four of them now in Redding).

Hmm, excellent coffee and tea selections, great breakfast sandwiches, great aesthetic, locally owned AND free Internet.

Ba bye, Starbucks. Hello, YAKS. Go, Vineyard Church!

At the the original YAKS (3274 Bechelli Lane), I had this great iced tea (Bushman’s something or another) and a scrumptious southwestern chipotle chicken panini. Then I tried their amazing ortega roast beef panini.

They’ve got excellent salads, quesadillas, soups. Did I mention free Wi-Fi?

Here’s what else they’ve got: really nice, comfortable chairs. Friendly service (at the Bechelli YAKS, this older gentleman greeted me with a “hello” then brought me napkins when I forgot them). Interesting art on the walls.

I’ve been to all four YAKS locations and they’re all attractive spaces. And if you’re going to compete with something like Starbucks, you need to create your own rich aesthetic. It feels good in YAKS, like they really paid attention to a sense of design.

In addition to the the Bechelli location, there are YAKS restaurants at 1715 South St. (downtown); 930 Hilltop Dr., Suite A (the newest one, open two months); and at Simpson University.

Simpson students flock to the campus YAKS. One of the reasons, I suppose, is it’s the only option out there other than the cafeteria (by the way, if you’re looking for a killer lunch deal with pretty decent food: Simpson cafeteria). But YAKS also doesn’t look like the rest of the campus, which is somewhat aesthetically bland. I’m telling you, people like to be in places that feel good, whether they realize it or not.

YAKS started as a fundraising/outreach program for Vineyard Church. It’s become a solid business. Proceeds from the restaurant go to local outreach and charity programs.

By the way, if you’re concerned, I’ve haven’t witnessed any prophesying or alter calls or praying before caffeine. Even if I did, I’d still go: free Wi-Fi, baby. Amen!

Starbucks could probably offer some PR spiel about why they don’t offer free Wi-Fi, but I bet it boils down to this: We don’t really want you loitering on the Internet in our restaurant taking up space. Just buy your $6 frappuccino and move along, please. Thank you. Come again.

And I like Starbucks. Employees at Starbucks get a pretty good deal in terms of benefits from the company.

I hope YAKS is doing right by their employees. I’ll have to ask if they are, next time I’m in. Which will be soon.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

There are a lot of great jazz cats in Redding. And when excellent musicians start getting excited about a show, you have to figure it’s somebody good.

They’re excited about the Grant Levin Quartet (Dave Short’s Jazz at Old CIty Hall) at 7 p.m. Aug. 2. Tickets are $10 and available at Bernie’s Guitar, 3086 Bechelli Lane, 223-2040.

Jim Dyar

is a journalist who focuses on arts, entertainment, music and the outdoors. He is a songwriter and leader of the Jim Dyar Band. He lives in Redding and can be reached at jimd.anewscafe@gmail.com

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