[11] The restaurant featured a horseshoe-shaped kiosk-style counter displaying coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and a variety of 25 periodicals supplied by The City Reader, a Modern Newsstand on Southeast Division.

[2][5] It was described as a "shinier" version of the coffee shop which had occupied the same space for thirty years prior, with grey and red linoleum flooring and teal pleather or vinyl seating.

[12][13] The Dime Store's concept was created by McErlean and Jeremy Larter, and was inspired by the soda shops they both experienced growing up on the East Coast.

[14] Fodor's called The Dime Store "bright and hip", offering "office workers and hotel guests a much-appreciated source of seasonally driven, well-prepared comfort fare".

[1] Cizmar wrote a positive review of the restaurant in August 2014, in which he paid tribute to Leo's and described his two $1 extras (an egg on his BLT and maple syrup for his pancakes) as "the best two dollars [he] spent all week".

There's a magazine and candy counter in one corner that no one seems to touch; just quick enough service that once you start questioning whether or not you'll get another cup of coffee, one arrives; plus a menu full of classics.

[16]The Portland Mercury's Andrea Damewood wrote: Dime Store is its own thing, a great place to grab lemony eggs benedict and a Water Avenue coffee on a Sunday without a massive line.

Sure, there's vintage milk bottles as water pitchers, "Hound Dog" blasting from the speakers, and a big-old 1950s vibe going on—but you're not going to feel like some asshat in a retro-themed chain here ...