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Archive of Main Page Images: 07/05/2002

Espresso Royale in Urbana

The Espresso Royale in Urbana (the one at Goodwin and Oregon) has been remodelled. For a while they've had a rather boring feel compared to other coffee establishments in the area, with plain formica tables and wooden chairs, plain walls... but now they've gone for a more "upscale" sort of look, with black window frames and jewel tone seats, that sort of thing. Many of the formica tables have been painted a sort of antiqued green paint in the center with cracked off white paint around the edges, and the chairs have been painted black or deep purple. There are two nice high tables by the west window with high stools, and some interesting sofas and puffy armchairs. All in all, I like it - the large tables next to big windows, long their main recommending point, are still there, and yet it has a nice unified color scheme. They've also got new fancy metal outside tables and repainted the cement patio. It's a sign of summer, too, places using the off season to to change their look.