Woman wonders if it's OK to meet at Starbucks when only 2 of 6 people in group buy something

Sure, why not? Treat yourself to the samples tray, too. I confess that I've worked at Starbucks stores for up to four hours without getting up after paying just $1.51 for a drip coffee. Credit Starbucks employees for never giving me the evil eye for hanging out too long. (Rutland Herald)

Comments

[CoffeeBoy]

Sit, relax, enjoy. Not everyone in your party has to drink Starbucks. Just don't bring in your Caribou coffee cup - that - might -bring an evil eye...

[Hirayuki]

Then again, our local shop is home to gangs of four or five men--friends from the old country--that commandeer a tiny table, taking their chairs from other setups and other customers, then sit and talk loudly for hours over one can of Doubleshot and one (free) cup of tap water among them. Now that our shop is open 24 hours, it's only going to get worse.

[John_Halfz]

Consider yourself lucky, Hirayuki. The most enjoyable afternoon I've spent recently was at a Serbian restaurant in Hartford, CT (no sign, no menus, no English). Sure, the air was choked with smoke. Sure, I didn't understand a word, but I hadn't seen anything like it since I was in Europe.

It was literally like being in a different country. My bet's that in 75 years, those ethnic distinctions won't be so obvious. We may still have West African restaurants, Nicaraguan thrift shops and Burmese social clubs, but they'll cater to the soi-disant hipster, and not to the actual Africans, Nicaraguans or Burmese.

I can understand why you wouldn't want noise and cheapsters at your Starbucks, particularly if you work there. Consider, however, that you most likely displaced them from their original spot.

[Hirayuki]

Yet many such groups here have opened coffeeshops where they own the place--literally and figuratively. When you walk in, conversations and cardgames cease as everyone looks up to stare at the outsider. My friend and I came into one cafe expecting a relaxing cup of coffee and, as the only women in the place and the youngest (late 20s) to boot, were not comfortable enough even to give the menu a thorough looksee before hastily ordering a couple of cups of black coffee and skedaddling out of there. There was no "private club" sign on the door, and I think it's unfortunate that smaller places like that go out of their way to alienate the different when other cafes--and not just huge chains, either--put up with, welcome, or foster such friendly gatherings.

[John_Halfz]

I don't know. It is possible that some places are pretty hostile. However, in the past two weeks, I've eaten at a fish carryout stand in NE Washington, a West African restaurant in NW Washington and a Chinese place in SE. At the latter two places, I was the only person speaking English.

I suppose I could have been intimidated by the staring. But as long as I looked like I knew what I was doing, I didn't seem to have any problems.

I understand, however, that some things are different. I can imagine places like the ones you're talking about that be truly undesirable.

Where are you from?

[Hirayuki]

Metropolitan Detroit. Here in the 'burbs, we don't have a lot of the great ethnic eateries or shops you mention, but when I find them--whether downtown, in various traditional enclaves, or in cosmopolitan cities like Toronto, which I adore--I really appreciate their firm stronghold on customs, language, and, well, cuisine. Guess I have to get out to Toronto more regularly!

[Embot]

Or, maybe you could try branching out. Don't let yourself get intimidated by a new situation. You might just - gasp - like it. And you COULD go to Detroit more often; Greektown and Hamtramck have great hole-in-the-wall joints.

[John_Halfz]

I guess the areas surrounding Detroit are pretty frou. Very nice, obviously, but Applebee's on Sat., and T.G.I.F. on Sun.

However, the best ethnic restaurants in Washington are in the strip malls outside the city; the ethnics have been priced out. But I've not been to Detroit (just Traverse City, for some reason); so I really can't berate you.

[Shift for Starbucks]

My husband is from Commerce Township outside Detroit and there are tons of nice places to go. One is an asian one called Kim's the food is awesome, decor quaint, wait staff nice and it isn't too expensive. It isn't just your average take out place but it is yummy!

[Hirayuki]

I think I must have steered this off topic, for which I apologize. It's not a matter of whether there are cozy little ethnic eateries in my area (there are, most of them warm and welcoming).

To get back to the topic: It's not fair to other customers to commandeer a table (and possibly chairs from other tables) for hours, and it's especially not fair to the coffeeshop to do so thinking that one cup of the cheapest drink in the place (or even water) entitles you and your friends to put down stakes for the good part of an evening. It deprives others of their right to sit and enjoy their purchases, and it deprives the shop of the money they could make with more turnaround. Granted, it's less of a problem when the place is otherwise empty, but when the joint is jumping, a little courtesy is called for.

Whether they're students, buddies from the old country swapping war stories, or someone putting the finishing touches on their Great American Novel...it's not your living room.

The absolute worst stores for the table-monopolizing behavior are any Starbucks inside a Barnes & Noble. At least you can passive-aggressively verbally abuse the customers there when it happens, often with the support and encouragement of the staff (who are just as sick of the table trolls as you are).

They'll all pretend like they can't hear you, of course, but they'll still turn fifty shades of red as they stare intently at the books and papers scattered across the tables.

[joe]

why not? I always take mine to go but i think its nice to have the option of sitting for as long as you wish. And if the students are studying for hours on one cup, I actually dont mind it at all and im secretly glad that they can find a safe haven to study at when the libraries are closed. The ones i do mind are the homeless ones trying to pass themselves off as a regular customer with plastic bags, setting up tent for the night with a used cup filled with free milk.