I think there's a difference between someone who is a regular vs. someone who is just walking in off the street. Every job can get monotonous, so it's nice to s

I think there's a difference between someone who is a regular vs. someone who is just walking in off the street. Every job can get monotonous, so it's nice to see a friendly familiar face and exchange pleasantries. The key here is recognizing that this is what I like to call a "low-stakes friendship" -- it's closer to the kind of relationship you'd have with a co-worker or a client versus a friend. If you have healthy boundaries, you wouldn't pry too much into a co-worker's life. I'd even say it might be ok to politely ask out a barista you're friendly with on a date, but if they say no drop it and don't ask again.