This is the latest and greatest Starbucks in my area. I can't say it is new, because it has been around for about a year. It is under 2 miles from my house, on the way to work, has a drive-through, and is almost sitting right on top of the freeway entrance.
This particular location and I had a very rough start and we almost didn't make. I almost retreated back to the amazing people at the Starbucks located at the West End Shops,
8902 W Broad St.
Now you may be asking yourself how someone can have a rocky beginning with a Starbucks. Well, to be honest it is pretty easy. When I first noticed that there was a bulding being erected in the little no man's land at the top of the entrance ramp I was a bit intrigued. When I saw the sign that read "Caribou Coffee Coming Soon", I was immediately non-plussed (albiet impressed with their use of alliteration) because of my vast experience with the Caribou Coffee franchise in many American airports, none of which were ever good. The building was finished, but sat vacant for a number of months. Ultimately the sign was removed and a few months later the familiar Starbucks moniker was raised.
When the store finally opened it was plagued with a number of mishaps. At least twice I showed up to get coffee around 7 am and found it to be closed, with a small signed posted at the drive through window indicating "delayed opening due to difficulties". This was a bummer since I had bypassed my usual Starbucks location in favor of a speedy drive through coffee run on my way to work...at the entrance to the freeway. So that screwed up my coffee run. Not to mention unless I want to make a course correction on my way to work, I run into no more Starbucks stores. As odd as that sounds since I have 12 Starbucks within spitting distance of my house, there are zero anywhere close to my office.
The last issue on their end was the fact that no matter what I ordered it always tasted like watered down coffee. Screw that, it actually tasted like the water they put in the shot glasses to rinse them out between shots. Then for a few weeks after that everything I ordered tasted like the new Pike Peak flavor of bitterness. I would order a cappuccino and it would taste like drip Pike Peak roast coffee. I would order a latte and the same thing. It was so bad in fact that I quit going to that location completely. I just took the extra time to stand in line at the West End Shops Starbucks (8902 W Broad St).
A few weeks later I was headed out of town and decided to give the place one more chance. I went to the drive through and armed with a free gift card I received a few days prior, ordered my usual drink. It came out exactly as I would have wanted it to. It was perfect. Since that time I almost exclusively use that Starbucks location for my "on the way to work" coffee.
The Good. The store is clean inside and out. Think about that. How many Starbucks locations can you actually say that and mean it? Sure you may have an immaculate inside, but you pass that overflowing garbage can on the way in, or spot the tables and chairs outside sprawled apart as if they had been partying all night, complete with the overflowing ashtray to prove it. Or you may have a beautiful entrance and parking lot only to find a hideous bathroom inside or a shelve of consumer products in complete disarray.
Sure, most of you are thinking who the hell cares? Well, first impressions are very important to me, but more importantly a clean store communicates to me that the staff is up to the task of taking care of their customers. I love good customer service and I think it should be considered the cornerstone for any good business. I, however, am in the minority when I also think good customer service does not mean "the customer is always right", but thats another post altogether. Anyway, cleanliness counts. Enough said about that.
The staff at the store is incredible. I think they would be the second best staff I have ever encountered in a Starbucks. The people in the store are polite and cheerful whenever you come in. They take your order, tell it to the barista, who actually repeats it back to confirm it, and then complete the transaction. I have not seen this level of competence in a long time. Now I am not trying to claim that other locations who do not repeat the order back are incompetent, but this store gets rid of an question regarding the drink to make sure it is flawless and to keep the line moving. No mistakes means no remakes means no line congestion.
Finally the drive through staff is incredible. They actually recognize my voice. One young lady said I should just say "its me" instead of ordering. The next day I did, and it worked just fine. Of course it also means I happened to recognize her name when she greeted me before asking to take my order.
I guess by and large the store is very friendly . I am not saying that every Starbucks must recognize me on sight or by voice. What I am saying is that this store is polite and cheerful which creates the type of atmosphere where recognizing the regular is a priority.
The Bad. Well there is not too much I can say about this store that it bad, but I do have a criticisms. It seems that they have not obtained "coffee ninja" status. There are days when the operation of the store seems very slow. I could be third in line, but end up waiting almost 10 minutes before getting to the window after I had already placed my order. Now everyone has an off day, and I have been stuck in line at a Starbucks before, but if you are going to place a store near the highway and have a drive through option, that is where your star coffee makers need to be, not working the inside bar.
Final. A great store which makes for a great experience either on the way to work or if you just want to lounge in the store on a Sunday morning. All in one of my favorite in town.
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