Is Starbucks still doing their "monthly recommends" or whatever they used to call it? I don't know because I can't afford Starbucks, or many books actually ... these days.
I do envision that many bookstores are going to become small cafe download stations in the future.
As for the article, I guess I can see her point. But honestly I never got that chummy overly helpful we are all readers together experience at either Borders or my (closest) Barnes and Noble. I pretty much went in, found a stack of books to buy, and took it up to the register.
I admit I do sometimes take my Kindle and drive up to our Library just to sit amongst the books as I'm reading. There's a coffee shop there too - it's run by the kids from the High School Life Skills (Special Ed) classes. I guess it is a sense of community.