The strangers will probably outnumber the more-civil regulars because of the number of people traveling to their cabins, to the lake, etc. People are either a little boozy and acting strange because of the heat and sun (about to hit 100 here in Chicago!); my observation from past years, too, is that a good number people just enjoy acting like asses on holiday weekends. Too cynical? Or right-on?
Discuss this or anything else Starbucks-related in the OPEN THREAD.
Howard Schultz's pay has been beaten to death on this site, but I'll still post the latest news:
For 2nd year, Starbucks CEO is Northwest's best-paid executive"
Posted by: Jim Romenesko | July 01, 2011 at 06:35 PM
My DM just told us that our Philadelphia area store will be getting Clover this fall. I guess that means Clover is coming into more markets now. What markets is it in now (I had thought just Seattle, Boston, and Chicago)? How does it affect the store- both physically and labor wise? Anything else to share?
Posted by: morningbecomes | July 01, 2011 at 06:56 PM
There are clovers in Olympia and Portland.
Posted by: I <3 music | July 01, 2011 at 09:09 PM
There's a clover in Savannah, GA and I know there's at least one in Atlanta.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 01, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Anonymous: Where in Atlanta. I want to try it.
Posted by: Georgia. | July 01, 2011 at 11:44 PM
You can double check on Starbucks.com but I believe its on Piedmont Rd.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 02, 2011 at 12:01 AM
Surprisingly, there is a Clover in Edina, MN. It's in the Twin Cities Metro Area... I work in St. Paul, but haven't made it out there yet. I don't think many people know about it.
Posted by: veg barista | July 02, 2011 at 12:11 AM
There is now a Clover in Bellingham. There is a Clover in Irvine, San Diego, one somewhere in Florida, Vancouver BC, Toronto, one in Japan I think, and also DC, NYC, and a few other places. Roughly about 200 company wide.
Posted by: Melody | July 02, 2011 at 09:14 AM
There are several clover stores in atlanta. West peachtree and 14th street and emory village and west paces ferry coming soon.
Posted by: Presto! | July 02, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Still waiting for Clovers to arrive in Chicago's North Shore suburbs -- and downtown Chicago, for that matter.
Posted by: Jim Romenesko | July 02, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Ansley Mall and Roswell Marketplace also have Clovers.
Haven't heard anything about West Paces Ferry getting one. Just know the remodel is coming up this month.
Posted by: mondrary | July 02, 2011 at 11:29 AM
HA! Our remodel was suppose to be last year. Then this month. And now pushed back to next month. At the beginning of Fall 1.
Posted by: Person | July 02, 2011 at 12:07 PM
I hate holiday weekend. Understaffed, blah blah blah.
Posted by: M | July 02, 2011 at 01:39 PM
@ Melody; Do you know what stores in Bellingham and/or Vancouver that has the Clovers??? I live close to both areas and am DYING to try it!!!
Posted by: 108represent | July 02, 2011 at 10:54 PM
Long Island has 4 clovers at the moment.
Posted by: Stan | July 03, 2011 at 12:24 AM
@108represent
one of the robson st. starbucks (the two that are across from each other) has a clover.
Posted by: SPORK | July 03, 2011 at 01:37 AM
thanks all- didn't realize it was so widespread. how does clover effect the store?
Posted by: morningbecomes | July 03, 2011 at 06:50 AM
Clover adds one more conversation to your transaction "regular brewed or clover brewed" for every hot or iced coffee customer. Sounding simple enough until someone needs a thorough explanation...then you best slide someone into their old position because you lost them for 5 minutes!
Next it throws a wrench into deployment. Which partner in your current deployment will be responsible to make that Clover (1 min 30 sec minimum)? Keep in mind you will not earn a dedicated clover partner.
It can be done well and the conversations it creates around coffee are amazing, but its not for the faint of heart or stores and SMs that are not ready for a challenge!!
Posted by: B | July 03, 2011 at 09:46 AM
@108represent - I no longer put the link to my Sbux blog as a clickable link here. But you can find a list of about 120 of the 200 Clovers (inc Bellingham) on my site's Clover list. I went there. Great store! It's right downtown Bellingham. I don't know that area at all, so hard to describe.
Posted by: Melody | July 03, 2011 at 10:17 AM
The store locator on the official site also has an option to search for Clover stores.
http://www.starbucks.com/store-locator
Posted by: Jeff Tom | July 03, 2011 at 10:49 AM
No Pike Place at north suburban Chicago stores this week!
I stopped by a Lake Bluff store and noticed that the Mild offering was Breakfast Blend, not Pike Place. They said all week they'd be offering something other than PP "to clean out inventory."
Is this nationwide, or just this district?
Posted by: Jim Romenesko | July 04, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Jim, I can only hope it's nationwide. Fingers crossed. Haven't heard that here.
Posted by: Melody | July 04, 2011 at 11:23 AM
@Jim and Melody
Yes, it's a brew through week this week.
Posted by: otterinthewater | July 04, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Very disappointed in the Ice Carmel Via. What does everyone else think?
Posted by: Coffee Soldier | July 04, 2011 at 03:52 PM
The prices for the whole bean coffees are increasing, so stores with excess inventories are going to brew through their remaining pounds with the old prices.
So if you want to stock up on coffee, now is the time to do it.
Posted by: waltie | July 04, 2011 at 08:11 PM
I really disliked the Ice Caramel Via, overpoweringly sweet. Course I don't particularly like sweet coffee so my opinion may not be worth much.
Posted by: BamaBarista | July 04, 2011 at 08:31 PM
@waltie
It's not going to be that much; just twenty or so cents.
Posted by: Dave | July 04, 2011 at 09:58 PM
people are idiots on holiday weekends. especially my boss. (((hm. not my boss. our sm isn't in the picture, she has better things to do, so she gave all her work to another shift who we now call our boss since our sm isn't around))) onward.. since she didn't think we might be busy and didn't' bother to schedule extra hands. Although honestly i don't think she even considered the labor necessity since she doesn't work weekends now that she's in charge of the schedule. ihatemystore.
Posted by: inkedmuse | July 05, 2011 at 12:46 AM
I tried the Caramel Via (regular, not iced) and I thought it was overly fake-ly sweet too. I ended up giving my box away.
I guess the best thing to do would be stick with the basic Via coffees and add flavor. (Which kind of defeats the purpose of the "Take it anywhere!" goal.) :(
Posted by: Martha | July 05, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Lots of Casey Anthony verdict chit-chat in your stores?
Posted by: Jim Romenesko | July 05, 2011 at 03:07 PM
Just was separated after 3 years as a shift. Never a write up until I transferred to a store 4 months ago, supposedly to start training as ASM. Had a skip level about the mgr, who got a 3 and basically all 5 who were there started getting write ups. At my review she actually told me she wasn't going down alone. Got a 3rd write up from new mgr for being 2 min late. And Separated and told to reapply in 90 days. Anyone ever get hired back after 90???
Posted by: juanita | July 05, 2011 at 03:31 PM
Sounds fishy Juanita...what is a skip level? 2 min late is 2 in late...in training for an ASM which is supposed to be in training to get a store but can't get to work on time...sounds like there is more to the story. If not then call the business conduct line or your DM and have a chat.
Posted by: Coffee Soldier | July 05, 2011 at 03:40 PM
A skip level is when the shifts meet in the district meet with the DM. This is supposed to be an opportunity to discuss things without your SM.
Posted by: Kenya gal | July 05, 2011 at 07:52 PM
ohh ok...weird...I'm an 8 year partner...never heard that before...we call them round tables here in New England.
Posted by: Coffee Soldier | July 05, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Being fired after having three write ups sounds about right. What were the previous write ups for?
Posted by: waltie | July 05, 2011 at 08:54 PM
So Starbucks is bringing back treat receipts... for how long?
Posted by: twitter.com/calwatch | July 06, 2011 at 01:09 AM
Treat reciepts in the south have gone as long as October. Then again, it can still be 90 degrees in October.
Posted by: spence | July 06, 2011 at 10:11 AM
We just replaced our bold pick with the brew through choices. Granted we are a busy store and didn't have too much we needed to brew through.
Posted by: Barista Ben | July 06, 2011 at 12:48 PM
as of now, treat receipts are scheduled to end september 5. I seem to remember prior years they were extended for another month because of popularity.
Posted by: morningbecomes | July 06, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Listen just sell the coffee, deal with the rushes and don't think your doing rocket science or take this job to heart. IT"S A BULL$*!T JOB at whatever level...SUCKS @$$ all the time....been here for 2 many years and listening to you little girls cry all the time sucks. Shut up, do your job and move on.....p@Pi@SwallowBack
Posted by: ABDULA | July 06, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Starbucks' employees in Chile plan strike
Employees at Starbucks Corp's outlets in Chile plan to walk out on Thursday because, they say, their wages are so low that they can't afford to buy lunch.
Unionized employees at 30 of Starbucks' 31 Chilean stores plan to walk out for as many as several days, citing the president of the union Sindicato de Trabajadores de Starbucks Coffee Chile.
The starting hourly wage for Chilean Starbucks workers is the equivalent of $2.50 and has not changed in eight years the Journal said on its website, citing the union president.
The coffee chain's employees in Chile have been pressing for a lunch stipend since they organized two years ago and in April the union presented the company with a proposal seeking a monthly lunch bonus of $100, among other requests.
But because the demands have not been met the union voted to strike on June 25.
Starbucks could not be immediately reached for comment. A company spokesman said the company will be able to keep all of its stores open if the strike happens.
Posted by: STRIKE :) | July 06, 2011 at 10:10 PM
I don't know if I missed it somewhere but when does the treat receipt start? I only read a potential end date. I only know of free beverage with VIA promo right now. Is the treat receipt only going to be in select areas this time around?
Posted by: Hayley | July 14, 2011 at 09:42 PM