"An important part of the Hurricane Ike recovery has turned out to be Starbucks"

That's what CNN is reporting. Nearly half of the 150 Starbucks in the Houston area were open on Wednesday. "All open stores had power and water, a welcome refuge for people still without electricity at their own homes," says this story. "Starbucks stores have also turned out to be places where people can get together to share information and comfort each other. Usual gathering spots such as most businesses and schools are closed for the week." Let's hear from some Houston area baristas.|| Houston's recovery from Ike continues at Starbucks

Comments

[ryanawesome]

its truly amazing that no matter how much we may complain, from both sides of the counter, about the directions starbucks has branched out into over the years... they really did achieve the status they were striving for.
to be the place people went, when they needed somewhere to go. whether it be to read a book, hold a meeting, or gather together in support of the community.
it really makes you take a step back and wonder why we bicker so much about the details, when in the big picture starbucks really got it right.

[ken]

I saw on CNN the other day, the Howie accually went down to Texas, and feed all the displaced people, with only 5 loaves of bread, and two fish!

[Barista Joe]

@Ken: Well he certainly would have to walk on water to get there at this point...

[Will]

All sbucks partners are being paid for shifts from sept 12-21. Stores are providing free wifi. Little things like these are gracious and invaluable and make me proud to be a part of this company.

[20secondshotguy@gmail.com]

This reminds me of a great anecdote a friend from SoCal shared with me just about a year ago when wildfires were raging north of L.A., in Orange County and San Diego.

Customer comes into the store and exclaims in thanksgiving: "Firemen; Policemen; Post Office and You Guys!"

It's said that you find out who your real friends are in times of trouble not just when things are going well. I would extend that to organizations also.

Starbucks partners have been learning the hard way what sorts of things happen when a business struggles. This part of working at Starbucks is not easy or fun for anyone in any job there.

It's been a crazy six + months since the first layoffs. Yet what we see here is that even with all the changes, all the email, the closer management of staff and focus on accountability, the heart of Starbucks culture beats strong. And most importantly, that Starbucks doesn't just have storefronts in communities. Starbucks is part of the communities where its stores are. That's the core purpose brought to life.

When that customer walked into that store in SoCal the environment inside the company was different than it is now. There was some concern about the business and folks were talking about things like "changing the game" yes. But no one could see the changes that have taken place since. Still, the heart was there during the fires and so were partners for each other and for the community.

All the changes - and some of them are hard - have not gotten in the way of the customer experience of Starbucks as a Third Place in their lives.

Complaining about the changes is okay. That's letting off steam, etc. Heck my job was one of those that were eliminated. But pay attention that you don't get stuck in your complaining mode and can't see straight, that you can't see that while "how" the work is done, or "how" you are managed is different, the end result for the customer is the same.

You're still part of something that's very special.

[Borrowed Partner]

Thank you...just thank you for the positiveness (is that a word?) about our company. I needed that tonight.

[motorhead]

store 6723 kick ass, 60 customers /30 minutes,and everyone happy,

[Rob Williams]

You know, when Hurricane Charlie came through Orlando our local Starbucks was open and had power. We didn't so we hung out there with many others needing a jolt of java and wifi! Oh, and it was cool b/c wifi was free for about a week after the hurricane there.

[dave ferry]

Was wondering why the Starbucks on Mason Rd in Katy, Texas, closed the day before the hurricane, on Friday, and didn't reopen until last Wednesday, five days after Ike hit?? It had power; you could see the lights inside the building. It was closed for 5 days.

[Will]

A lot of starbucks incurred water damage, and southwest traders couldn't bring any sort of orders, so a lot of starbucks had to toss out all their milks, pastries, juices, etc. The one near my house only had Soy to serve for the first two or three days. I'm not sure about Mason, just give them a call or ask to speak to the shift manager, I'm sure they can help you.

Wow dave, good way to hijack the positive thread. Could you really not think of why the store would be closed for 5 days? Maybe the manager is dead or trapped in his/her house. Maybe they have family members who needed their help first?

The post is about how many starbucks were available to aid their community during this crisis, and all you can add is "but mine was closed, waaaaaah." Looks to me like the hurricane missed a perfect victim.

[The ASM]

I am originally from Houston and let me tell you, the Starbucks there really are a part of the community. The passion and love that they have, to help out the community, is aww inspiring. I am so proud to call myself a partner at any point in time, however with the kindness shown in Houston, I can say that I love being a Starbucks Partner.

20secondshotguy@gmail.com , you are so right! Your words should be heard by all of our partners. Thank you for being so positive and so honest!

[matt]

Will, if a hurricane struck my area, and my store was closed for five days, because, you know a goddamn hurricane just hit, and some asshat called me and asked why I was closed, and best I would hang up directly, but more than likely there would be a lot of cursing.

If a store is closed for any reason, the customer is not entitled to know anything about it.

[dave ferry]

Sorry to get everyones panties in a wad over asking why Starbucks was closed the day before the hurricane showed up, and for four days afterwards?

Negative hijack? Asshat, what is a asshat? Doesn't sound too good. Was looking for information, not trying to piss in anyones Post Toasties.

[on the line]

I just finished a ten hour shift where we served well over 1000 customers. It was one of the busiest and BEST shifts ever! Every one was so hapy to see we were open and delighted to learn that we were safe. The partners and customers alike were genuinely concerned about each others wellfare.
To answer dave: The store was closed for any one or more of a myriad of reasons. The store may have had power on their 110 fuse to have lights, but did not have an active 220 fuse to power machines(very common after a storm). They did not have enough partners to open all stores so they used what staff they could to open select stores. This could be due to lack of power at partners homes or lack of gas to get to work. Due to limited shipments the DM could have pilferred the stock of that store to run another. The team could still be evacuated and the ones who are here worked at another location. There could be a health reason such as contaminated water or somesuch that prevented it from opening safely. The waste water disposal tract could be backed up from debris. There are so many more reasons that to enumerate here would take too long. Suffice it to say, if the store could be opened, it would have been. DMs, SMs, ASMs, SSs, and baristas want to have a stable job and will do what it takes to keep it. When it is possible, your store will open.
I know you probably miss the rapport you have with the staff and you are eager to see them safe and back at it.

[dave ferry]

Line, thanks for your thoughts, ESPECIALLY after working after such a busy shift!

[wenchorama]

Dave,

"Asshat" is a derogatory word used by those under 25 whose biggest thrill in life is to blow internet comments out of proportion and incite people to word wars from behind their keyboards.

[houtxbarista]

I'm well over 25 and asshat predates the internet, though I think Al Gore may have actually invented the term asshat....

An asshat is someone who has their head stuck where the sun don't shine, and thus he or she wears his or her ass as a hat....

[houtxbarista]

BTW,

As ontheline described, I believe my store has had 110 power for a few days but still no 220, and thus, is still not re-opened.

[Rah Rah Rah]

Dave Ferry owns Java Jo'z off of Mason rd.. his website:

http://www.javajozofkaty.com/

I don't see why he's complaining, he probably saw a little hike in his business from Starbucks being closed for those days..

[leftout]

Posted by: Barista Joe | September 18, 2008 at 12:58 PM

All sbucks partners are being paid for shifts from sept 12-21.
only half of houston is getting paid for the hurricane, area 107 is only getting it for 12,13,14. many of my partners have been let down by starbucks in their time of need.

[LittleMissBux]

"Posted by: Barista Joe | September 18, 2008 at 12:58 PM

All sbucks partners are being paid for shifts from sept 12-21.
only half of houston is getting paid for the hurricane, area 107 is only getting it for 12,13,14. many of my partners have been let down by starbucks in their time of need."

It could be because those of us in Area 62 (Galveston, Nassau Bay, Clear Lake, South Shore Harbor, Texas City, Friendswood, etc) suffered MASSIVE devastation. If your store was not in an area GREATLY affected, sure you're not get CATASTROPIC PAY as it is entered into payroll. There are plenty of open stores, and plenty of hours to go around. My store was closed for ten days, and I made sure I found my partners in greatest need of pay shifts to work at open stores. If baristas/shifts, etc really want to work they will find shifts.

I am SO proud of our area and how stores have reached out to each other. I worked in Galveston for over a year, and very recently was reassigned. One of my former partners on the island had to evacuate, with a pregnat fiancee, who gave birth while on the run. They lost everything. In a week we were able to fully restock their needs for their newborn son. Stores have donated coffee to emergency and security workers at other locations.

Not everyone will get a fair shake out of this, sure, but not everyone is in dire need. I had no power at my home near Pasadena for over days, and while I was at home complaining about not being able to watch the news, and how bored my kids were, our area's Partner Resource Manager lost his ten year old son to cancer. Put the whole situation into perspective.

If a partner is really in that dire need of the pay they lost, contact the CupFund. I know they paid out a VERY gracious amount of money (within days of the storm) to the partners who worked at our two Galveston locations.
Or, if they can not get help there, try an emergency payroll advance.

My store had power a full day before we were able to open, so their Catastrophic Pay did not extend to the Friday following the storm, because technically the store was operational, except we could not open because we are inside a mall, that chose to stay closed one more day. My partners made their money that day by coming in on non-coverage and deep cleaning the store as a team.

There is always a way to complain about how this company screws one or all of us over, but if you consult the company policies, Starbucks is only OBLIGATED to pay out for three days of Catastrophic Pay due to natural disasters. They have been TRULY generous to those who TRULY were in need.

The way I see it, if you don't live on Bolivar, or on the Island, really, you don't have much to complain about.

[xsbuxdm]

It was like that in the DC area after Isabel went through a few years ago...the stores that had power were crazy busy!! I did nothing but run products to my stores, including loads of milk from costco!!

[Darleen]

LittleMissBux,
What an awesome post! Your tag should read FIESTY LITTLEMISSBUX! Put it in perpspective, you are my hero for the day!