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A Rare No-WiFi Zone

Vanille is a dessert cafe in Chicago about to open its third location in December. Its menu includes croissants, petit fours, tarts, and Vanille's signature offering, macarons.

Vanille is a dessert cafe in Chicago about to open its third location in December. Its menu includes croissants, petit fours, tarts, and Vanille's signature offering, macarons.

Not found anywhere on the premises: WiFi.

"What we're trying to do here is create an experience," owner Sophie Evanoff explained. "We put so much time and love in the pastries. On the receiving end, I wanted someone to take the time and enjoy it, and not be on their laptop."

Vanille also aims to foster conversation among its patrons, hard to do with everyone's eyes on the Internet, Evanoff said.

"It's a barrier," she said. Complaints have been few.

"If a customer is looking for that type of environment, there's Starbucks on every corner." EndText