The people that responded on here are very spot on! I have 3 LQS in my area and they each have their own 'feel'. A person may not get the true atmospheere the frist time in there but it comes out. The atmosphere is the combination of the owner/workers attitudes and what interests them.
One of the shops is pretty uppity. They offer classes band such but everyone in the store is VERY experienced and they don't cater to the 'newbie'. They have awesome exhibits in the store but not always can you buy what they display. (That is very annoying!!!!)
Another one seems to be more into teaching the youth and their newsletter and fabric is not as much quilting as sewing and really they don't carry a very wide variety of fabrics.
The third one is my favorite but they have a sort of bad attitude towards customers that don't spend major money in their store. Their hours are not friendly to the person that works. They once made a comment in a class that they do not allow comments to be made that recommend other places to buy quilt supplies. (Like blades from Harbor Frieght). That was a turn off. They seem to be about how much you can spend there. They were going to start charging to use their iron during open sewing times.