"From the Comfy Chair": Juan finds a Starbucks store that rocks!

Starbucks
2623 Bickford Ave
Snohomish, Wa.

BY JUAN VALDEZ

Wow, this is one big store. With a huge patio, to boot clean as a whistle with the exception of one small dried coffee stain on the concrete. And an indoor/outdoor fireplace, no less. Plus a majestic, twenty foot ceiling in the lobby. I bet this place looks awesome when it's snowing outside. Too bad Washington doesn't get that much snow (darn that global warming anyways). I wonder who designed it – Michaelangelo? Although there aren't any murals painted on the walls so probably not. In fact, there was really nothing on the walls except for a couple of coffee prints and a framed photograph of customers standing in the original Starbucks "circa 1971" hanging over the fireplace.

This is a newish type store so I can only imagine this is one of their attempts to get out of the cookie cutter design approach. It definitely doesn't look like most other Starbucks although I'm not sure that's a good thing. This store is too clean in appearance, too exact, too precise. It's just the sort of place you might expect to see from a cookie cutter design approach; the sort of place you could easily replicate a thousand times or more across this great nation of ours which is what I thought Starbucks was trying to get away from.

Thank goodness the vibe was wonderful when I walked in. The five partners on the floor in this drive thru store seemed to be genuinely having a great time. They were laughing and joking with each other and that good natured camaraderie didn't end when I walked up to place my order. The register called the drink over to the bar partner who, gasp, repeated it back. One minute later she called my drink, even though I was standing right in front of her, handing it to me with a hearty thank you and a gleaming smile. 

And, for the duration of my visit, I sat and watched as partners cleaned the pastry case (what the hell were they thinking? It was only mid afternoon, didn't they know the closers would get that?). And cleaned the lobby (repeatedly). And, oh my God, cleaned the bathroom TWICE, both times using the restroom caddy (first time Ive seen THAT) and once taking a mop in there too. All of this took place while serving several dozen customers. They weren't overly busy but there was a steady stream of patrons coming through the lobby and drive through.

So, Ramona Mortenson, store manager, your store rocks. It's clear your partners are focused and alert while thoroughly enjoying their jobs. That serves to give your customers an awesome, legendary experience which I, for one, appreciate. You should be proud of your partners and Starbucks should be proud of you.

Grade: A+

Time of day: afternoon






# of partners on the floor: 5



Service time: 1.5 minutes







Business level: steady



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 – 16 out of 36




* # of stores where they've offered samples of anything – 3 out of 36




* # of stores that could have been considered "understaffed" - 0 out of 36




* # of stores with a clean bathroom – 20 out of 36

"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

Comments

[Bugg-ING @ P@p!!]

Hey it's "Funny" how you said you're looking forward to the new Juan Val thread...connection Hmm....Have a great day both of you, and I still frequent the "real" Juan ValdeZ coffee shop in NYC by the Columbian Embassy 140 East 57th street, Ny, Ny 10022...Cheers! :)

[Man]

Hey Juan, you should check out my store...it's almost as good as that one! We even try to clean the pastry case at mid-day AND at night. Sometimes reading these columns I'm aghast how bad some of the stores you have visited are.

[spence]

YEAH!!!!!

[mike]

Juan,

Why not get a real job

[spence]

Juan, Clearly not everyone appreciates what you do. They may be fearful that you will show up at their store.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Juan,
How long were in the store for? I try to keep my up to your high standards and everyone looks at me funny.

[Back to Basics]

Juan,
How I wish you would venture through California Starbucks more! Love reading about your visits, and I wish more stores would follow this stores example! Our store only wishes we were THIS good! No excuses! Keep visiting, and keep us entertained. :]

[Thought of the Day]

Hey Juan, Inquiring minds want to know: Do you Twitter? Ok, now I'll read the post.

[brown dot]

Glad you had a great visit! I would love to see this store in action :)

[lavenderwrites..]

Juan, I can't tell you how excited I was when I drove back and discovered this store in my hometown (yeah, Snohomish, WA!). I took cell phone pics of the giant archways out front, I texted my partner friends and I brought my best friend in because really? The store is beautiful and not just beautiful, but your right, it does have a great vibe. Every time I've been there the baristas have been so friendly and accommodating. My friend made several comments about what good service it was, and then she went back a few weeks ago and mentioned it again. We talk about alot, my best friend and I, but usually we don't take the time to talk about our starbucks experiences (unless it's me, because I'm a partner) so it was significant that she mentioned it.

It was also significant because my best friend is "ethnic" (does it matter what race? no) and she said she's usually conscious when she goes to small towns like Snohomish because of her ethnicity and when she went back she brought another friend who's also ethnic and they were both surprised and overwhelmed by the service they received and the genuine care and considerateness of the partners at this particular store. So.. a Starbucks in Snohomish is helping to eliminate some small town stereotypes, how awesome is that? It's too awesome..

There is another gorgeous drive thru that just went in near Bellingham that I've been hearing some chatter about, I'll try and get you the name.

Thanks for all your entertaining posts, wish I had more time to be one and to comment.