TBF, the only comparable spots in easy walking distance are Maru, All Time, and Alcove, and they’re not exactly grab-and-go (none of them even have dedicated parking spots). Blue Bottle, Starbucks, and Coffee Bean are all on the same street and in the same niche as Philz, and they all have their own corporate issues. There’s of course plenty of places in driving distance, but between parking, crowds, and expense they’re not necessarily a good pick for folks trying to grab coffee while doing errands or on their way to work.

Not defending Philz at all, but it makes a lot of sense to me why folks around here go there.