@zaaracake;
Thank you so much for sharing these stories with us, that was lovely to read. You could start a blog!
I agree that it's fun to see different styles of bakeries, especially taking note of how people use their space. There's something cozy about bakeries which are stuffed with goodness, so long as they're not filled to the brim with stuff.
I do like minimalistic bakeries, and I agree with you that they tend to work best when there's plenty of negative space. Without it, it simply looks neglected or lacking.
My favorite is that place inbetween. Not super busy, not extremely minimalistic. Just cozy enough with plenty of room to breath!