At a coffee shop for an interview?

[unknownn]

Basically, my work uses other companies to re sell things through, so i am in touch with dozens of other companies that i communicate with daily. One of them are looking to employ someone at the moment, and i am unhappy with where i work and am looking to move jobs soon anyway. So i applied for the job. I got a response back within the hour from the main manager there, saying he has received my CV etc. Now i have spoken to this manager for a few years just over the phone to make deals and things and we make a little small talk here and there. He did find me on Linkedin years ago when i first called him to resell something. He would message me on there now and again, just asking how i am etc.. but i never gave him anything back really so its never been a regular thing. To me i found it a little unprofessional to try to communicate with me on something outside of emailing, seeing as he can see my profile picture etc, but its not really a big deal to me i guess.
Anyway, now i have applied for a job at his business, he is the guy that is taking the interview, hes saying that he will drive my way and meet me in a coffee shop to have a chat. Im assuming this is my 'interview'. I find it a little odd aibu?? To think that our work is office based. And he will be travelling 40 minutes out of his way from his office to my area just for an interview with me? Usually i would have to travel to his office for an interview.. right? lol.
I do not want to sound big headed at all but AIBU here to think maybe he just wants a drink with me? just feels odd.

I had an interview over a pizza once. Again, one of these "come and have a chat" interviews. (I got the job.)

Both the interviews I had for my current job were in coffee shops. The second one was a bit awkward as I’d never met the interviewer before and he was quite late, so I was nervously staring at all single men entering the cafe.

I'm meeting a potential new employer tomorrow in a coffee shop. Due to childcare issues, I couldn't get to their office so he's coming to my local town to meet me. I'm grateful he's making it as easy as possible for me.

Coffee shop interview isn't an issue IMO, the fact he's previously repeatedly tried to message you would be a concern to me though

I once had an interview in a pub.

The very first job I had after uni, I met the boss at the office and then we walked over to a coffee shop. I got the impression it was just them trying to make it a comfortable experience and not too formal, but since the offices were mostly open-plan, that also could have been why, as I'm not sure whether they actually had anywhere private to conduct the interviews.

Coffee shop interview: completely normal

Driving to your area: helpful firm that wants to recruit and is making it easy for candidates

Finding you on linked-in: completely normal, particularly in a sales/negotiation/deal type role

Non-work related chat: normal, building relationships is important when trying to secure good deals etc

Applying for a job with a company whose boss seems to make you uncomfortable (through no obvious fault of his own based only on the info given): a bit odd

My first thought reading that was he contacted you on linked in to keep in contact not over your work email, to try to poach you. And a coffee shop interview is normal I think.

This all sounds completely normal to me.

The whole point of LinkedIn is to network, which is what he’s been doing. I don’t understand why you think it’s strange he sought out your profile. Why have a profile if you don’t want potential employers to find it and connect with you?

Lot’s of people do interviews in coffeeshops. Often it’s an informal interview eg. they just want to make sure you are definitely suitable and you are definitely interested before they recommend you. Other times it’s policy because an organisation has found that the people they’d like to hire worry about being seen interviewing at competing businesses. Sometimes there’s nowhere private in the building to interview someone except cavernous formal conference rooms, which can put interviewee’s on edge. And of course, some people just want to get out of the office. Whatever the reason, it’s very, very common.