Starbucks - Parham & Staples Mill 8800 Staples Mill Rd. Richmond, Virginia

It is always a pleasure to discover something new, and even more of a pleasure when that something new looks like it has the potential to be something great. The new drive-though Starbucks at Parham and Staples Mill falls into this category. It looks like a Starbucks, smells like a Starbucks, costs like a Starbucks, but in reality it is more of a blank canvas than a coffee shop

I am not entirely sure how long this location has been open, but I know that the strip mall which is dominated by Starbucks and a Panera Bread was just an old gas station a matter of months ago. The reason I mention the quickness in which it appeared is because at this point in time, it looks like the store can go either way.

When you walk into the store it is quite and clean. This store did not seem busy when I was there, and that was just around lunch time on a Friday, so I expected some traffic other than the three cars queued up at the drive-through. There where four employees working behind the bar, two cashiers and two baristas (one set for the drive through and one set for the inside). They didn't really acknowledge my presence until I was all the way up at the bar to order. The barista took my order before the cashier. He was pleasant, polite, and professional. He sported a bit of an emo-ish haircut, but unlike previous experiences (see Twin Hickory Starbucks review) his competence and professionalism was much more noticeable. Since this is the second time I mentioned someone's appearance in a review I want to take a second and emphasize that appearance does not matter to me, I just wanted to draw the parallel between the two reviews.

The store was tidy including the consumer product section where everything was nice and neat. The bar and the "fixings bar" were both nice and clean. The exterior of the store and the outside sitting area was also very tidy and inviting. I do not typically linger after getting my coffee, but this location would be a nice pace to sit and enjoy your drink.

The downside to the store was the lack of enthusiasm. The employees did not seem to be on top of their game so to speak, rather they just seemed like they were in slow motion. They seemed as if they could go either way over time. They could end up like the Valium zombie baristas of the Twin Hickory Starbucks or like the top notch crew at the West End Shops Starbucks.

The drive-through was also something that could be problematic if the popularity of the store picks up. Since the little shops include a Panera it can be crowded for the number of parking spots, but more importantly the traffic flow could get confusing with such a small area available. As the popularity of the store grows so will the use of the drive-through which will, of course, spill out into the small parking area. Sicne Panera is as popular a morning destination as Starbucks you can imagine the jams that could occur. Anyway the store has a lot of promise, so lets review.

The Good. The store is at a nice location on two major roads. This makes it a great destination for a number of people in the surrounding government parks. The store is quiet, clean, and seems to be well run. The individuals in it are very professional. The drink I ordered was great. On top of that I was offered a free upgrade on the drink giving me more coffee for my buck.

The Bad. The crew could be a little more lively and pay a little more attention to the floor. Like I said I made it all the way to the bar before anyone noticed me and greeted me. I think the greeting is an extremely important part of customer service. Other than that I can not offer to much more bad information at this time. Like I said time will tell.

Final. Over all this is a great Starbucks with a whole lot of potential. If the store continues to operate as it is I would not be surprised if it became as atmospheric as the West End Shops location. I would certainly use this location again, and would even go out of my way to get to it.