What’s up with “Back to Starbucks?”
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Anonymous
Starbucks recently opened a new one in my neighborhood (Union Market) that, while not "cozy", I'd inviting and relaxing and has tons of seating and good lighting and good customer service. I actually to go there and "hang out" sometimes because it's pleasant inside. And I probably go there a lot more often than I would otherwise because it's nicer inside. There are multiple fancier chains in our neighborhood (a Blue Bottle, Maman, others) but I increasingly like the Starbucks more. The Blue Bottle is actually kind of cold inside, with minimal seating and very bright lighting -- it's fine, but I don't stick around. The Maman is good in theory until you get inside and realize half the tables are sticky, the AC is often out in the summer, and service is really slow. Most of the other options are inside something else, so not necessarily where I go if I'm looking for a "coffee shop" vibe. So surprisingly, I've been going to Starbucks a lot. And it pretty busy so it's not just me. |
Anonymous
| It seems to me that there is a huge demand for good, welcoming coffee shops in the DMV. But there are so, so few places here. I find better coffee and a better experience pretty much anywhere else in America. DC and the burbs suck when it comes to coffeehouses. And Starbucks is just grim these days. There is zero point in going to Starbucks. It's like a methadone clinic now - only for those suffering from caffeine withdrawal. On the upside, I make very good coffee at home now and have saved heaps. |
Anonymous
| I experience the sharpie thing yesterday and I am not a fan. It takes time but also so much more handling of my cup. And I don’t know I feel about receiving LIVE LAUGH LOVE inspirational messages from the corporate barista. |
Anonymous
Wrong Not only are their breakfast sandwiches good they have a tin of protein Yes a lot of sodium you’d get that with any quick food The four is more accurately priced than the coffee Their fera wrap is great |
Anonymous
Wow McKinsey couldn't throw in about 50 novel quotes for their outrageous fees. They probably arrange the sharpie deal and marked them up too. "here we are trapped in the amber of the moment. there is no why" "grateful to be a little boat, full of water, still floating." "josie's on a vacation far away; come around and talk it over" Come on Mckinsey? Is that so hard? |
Anonymous
Really? I live in Richmond and go to a mobile order only Starbucks. You can’t even walk in and order! |
Anonymous
To be fair, I don’t know what the barista wrote on my cup because it was illegible. There’s a line of customers and this poor guy has to start each order by writing out something on each cup. This after the sous barista had to first stick the “Kate Gr lat skim no whip” label on my cup. |
Anonymous
| Duh, OP, their sales are down and they are trying to get back to their roots. I don't know how dumb you have to be to even ask this question, but I guess as dumb as you. |
Anonymous
| I have been seeing free coffee ads at Starbucks for the day after the Super Bowl. I imagine it would be for a regular coffee… |
Anonymous
😆😆 |
Anonymous
| I love that they are going back to their roots as a cafe. They are a hub for community connection in my neighborhood. I hope they keep going in this direction. |
Anonymous
Except I’d rather support the local independent coffee shops that have popped up to fill that void. |
Anonymous
| I think they also want to cut the number of drink offerings so that people are not changing and substituting ingredients which makes baristas take longer to fill orders. This would be a good thing bc so tired of people basically creating brand new drinks when all I wanted was a simple latte. |
Anonymous
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They should stop taking online orders. The baristas can’t mange the tons of mobile orders, plus a drive thru, plus give good customer service to patrons that come into the store.
Plus they need more (comfortable) seating and tables and they need to bring back the creamer station and self serve water. |
Anonymous
The aftermath of consultants is never pretty yet CEOs have not figured this out and continue to use them. |