It's time for another weekend OPEN THREAD, where anything Starbucks-related is open for discussion. (Posts that aren't civil will be deleted and those who write them face a possible ban.) || Jump to the third page of comments.
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July 31, 2009
July 29, 2009
Maybe it's just as well people don't know that Starbucks runs 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea
THE COMFY CHAIR
By "JUAN VALDEZ"
Starbucks
328 15th Ave
Seattle
Instead of doing our usual Starbucks thing, the burro decided he wanted something different...perhaps try a real, down-home local, non-chain type coffeeshop where the ambiance drips like melted butter and everyone knows your name.
So, one bright sunny Seattle afternoon, we hoofed off to a new place on 15th Ave E. that just opened. Cleverly called "15th Avenue Coffee and Tea", it sits just down from the giant Group Health hospital complex and across the street from a Safeway Starbucks in a nice little neighborhood with tree lined streets.
As I walked in, my first impression was that I was walking into a deep dark hole. There were lights, to be sure, however they didn't really have a lot of firepower. That left several dark, mysterious corners where God only knows what could take place.
Along the counter was a series of white plates – a couple had some unidentified pastries, the rest held nothing but crumbs. There were authentic French baguettes placed along a couple of shelves but no prices to be seen. Good thing I wasn't in the mood for a nice, unnamed pastry because there wasn't much of a selection available.
Taped to the back wall was a big ole scrap of butcher paper with three sandwiches listed. A turkey sandwich, a ham sandwich and something else I can't remember. The turkey sandwich sounded interesting so I resolved to include that in my order.
When I got to order, that is.
I am not making this up. I stood there for seven minutes with exactly one customer in front of me. That customer had some questions for the register employee who had to step away from the register to get the answers. The woman was somehow indecisive which also added to the wait. All of that is fine and good. But what isn't fine and good is the fact there were five employees standing around at the coffee station a few feet further down the line and not one of them even bothered to look my way, much less greet me, much less offer to perhaps get a drink started or even, God forbid, answer a question./CONTINUED IN THE FIRST COMMENT
July 28, 2009
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July 24, 2009
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Take a look inside Starbucks' new "undercover" store in Seattle
July 22, 2009
What a week!: Starbucks reports a profit and Juan finds a store he loves!
BY JUAN VALDEZ
Starbucks
168th and Hwy 99
Lynnwood, Washington
Those of you who were betting your ole buddy Juan would drag the burro out of a nice warm barn fairly early yesterday morning just so he could get in on some of that Starbucks free pastry action had best drag your bookie out of bed and tell him to pay off because there I was, kind of early in the morning; rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and waiting with the rest of the free pastry crowd for something yummy to snack on and something tasty to drink.
Now, I have to tell you all, I'm well aware that whenever I write a good review, the number of comments goes way down and I start to hear crickets in the hall. But, damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead, I really liked this store and I'm not gonna let the lack of a bunch of comments that all tell me how much I suck get in the way of praising these partners.
This store, on the corner of 168th and Hwy 99 was flat out awesome. When I walk past a patio on my way to the front door and the darn thing is clean and free of ANY dried coffee stains or garbage, it sends a chill up my spine. And it reminds me just how full of it people like Lisa Suender, she of Ripon California "save our filthy pit of a store" fame, are. The patio is the first thing a customer sees when they walk into a Starbucks and it can easily set the tone for the whole visit.
The patio at this store rocked. And the lobby was just as great. These guys were pretty darn steady and the lobby and condiment bar were clean and stocked. The tables were clear and free of debris. The bathroom was clean. The place looked fantastic. I was there in the morning but late enough that they could well have had at least one rush if not two and the place still looked like it probably did when they first opened.
It was very steady while I was there and I saw a constant stream of cars at the drive thru too. The lobby line stayed at 5-7 people but it kept moving. My service time was 2.5 minutes. The register partner was friendly – she didn't engage me in a lot of conversation but I wasn't expecting a lot either as it was busy. I noticed, out of the fifteen people before and after me, all but one had free pastry coupons. The register partner handled them beautifully. When one person ahead of me asked what pastries were available for free, the partner smiled and said everything except for breakfast sandwiches. I immediately flashed back to one of the comments I saw on the pastry post at Starbucks Gossip which made it sound like one store was limiting the choices to a hand written list and I silently cheered...THIS was good customer service.
The partner rocked the bar. He could have done a tiny bit better with thanking folks but I won't say he didn't – he just didn't always make eye contact. I took my latte and my blueberry scone over to a table and sat down to watch the action before going back to work. I don't know if the blueberry scone was one of the pastries that is new but it tasted pretty good to me. But then I've always liked Starbucks pastries and, seeing how I'm not much of a coffee or food snob, it'd have to be pretty bad before I raised a fuss. Although, I have been known to from time to time.
As I sat there and watched the team of six expertly handle the rush, my eyes wandered and I noticed a wood lattice hanging from the ceiling over the condiment area. And guess what? It was CLEAN! Be still my beating heart! I don't normally mention high dusting in my columns just because I take enough crap as it is however it is very common to see these kinds of wood lattices covered in dust as they are flat out dust magnets. This one was clean as a whistle.
Before the free pastry day, I saw many predictions of doom and gloom in the comment section of Starbucks Gossip. I don't know how the other stores did but this one handled it as well as anyone could expect. I had a good bite to eat, a nice drink and hung out in a warm, clean, inviting environment. I couldn't ask for anything more.
On my way out, I snagged the store manager's card. So, Joanie Herrara, I don't know if you were there yesterday morning but, for what it's worth from an ex fellow store manager, your team did a great job and you should be very proud of them. And Starbucks should be very proud of you.
Grade A+
Time of day: morning
# of partners on the floor: 6
Service time: 2.5 minutes
Business level: busy
Was the bathroom cleaner than a gas station bathroom?: Yes
Legendary service: Yes
Would I recommend to a friend: Yes
COLUMN STATS
* # of stores reviewed where a partner has tried to connect with a customer – 15 out of 33
* # of stores where they've offered samples of anything – 3 out of 33
* # of stores that could have been considered "understaffed" - 0 out of 33
* # of stores with a clean bathroom – 18 out of 33
"Juan Valdez" is the nom de cyber of a former Starbucks manager who became disenchanted with the increasingly bitter taste of the Starbucks experience and fled to the mountains of Colombia where he now rides his burro and ponders the glittering sunsets. On a crisp clear day, when atmospheric conditions are just right and the moon is in the seventh house, Juan can be reached at juanvaldezsbux@gmail.com
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