Starbucks — Restaurant in Alexandria

I became a Customer of the Potomac Yard Starbucks after the pandemic although I have been a customer of Crystal City and surrounding Starbucks for years. This Starbucks is special. The team have endured the capture of my area by Amazon forcing community businesses in to decline and challenge.

This morning I saw the manual Starbucks employees have at the register for Customer who need large print and/or Braille. In an ADA conscious world, this is awesome, to be applauded!!!!

This Starbucks team was further challenged with Amazon/Vtech construction on the Potomac Yard shopping complex. This Starbucks was further challenged with the Vtech/Potomac Yard construction that staged itself exactly where the Potomac Yard Starbucks sits. That said, dark clouds have silver linings. The silver lining here became those horrific walls became the ultimate private walled off quiet Starbucks spot to relax a bit. Cup half full or half empty, when the wall came down Customers missed the quiet privacy.

The staff overturn is significant. That said the staff for the most part are wonderful. In fact, about a week ago, I ran in to a former barista who moved out of state. My joy to see her. More important, my joy was to hear her say I was a favorite customer. Sure, sure, sure- I know. I greet my baristas, ask how there day is going, some share more. Starbucks baristas are people do. I wish more people would be kinder to them- say please, thank you etc rather than race to jump online and knock them down.

As this barista moves up the Starbucks managerial line, they know, if they ask, there is an honest supporting note from me.

There is a pickle sucker or two but they are outweighed by the resounding nice non union people that bust themselves to keep sometimes Customers wanting something to complain about, in to a complaint. If the lines are too long or slow, fact is that is the problem of people who want everything now or sooner. The mobile orders are screwing up the Starbucks experience. Staff are working four times as hard to serve people on line and people who pre order, run in and out skipping the line of people who prefer the pre pandemic ways of doing things.

Starbucks was a great idea when Howard Schultz started it that is still a great idea if Customers would get on board to greet your baristas, thank them for working, and in the VA area learn if their barista is a military spouse and thank them for serving.

Starbucks newest CEO- celebrate the Customers who show up in the stores. We keep your brick locations alive. Oh and bring back the holiday Sugar Plum Fairy cheese thingie.... omg!!!

This treasure Starbucks sits right next to a Subway, across the parking lot from a cleaner, from a bed store, around the corner from a men's warehouse, near enough by to a Chase, a vitamin shoppe, a navy credit union, across the parking lot from a Michaels, a Homegoods, an Amazon Fresh, a TJ Maxx and the only store that was open 24/7 during the pandemic- a Totally Wine.

Lots of parking, right next to Richmond Highway that takes travelers north in to DC and further south in to Virginia. Shhhhh there is an IHOP, Target, Staples, Dunkin Donuts, Old Navy, J Crew and even a Barnes & Nobles.... for people who read the old fashioned way- one...

Rude guy today Friday November 26,2021 at 1:26PM . I order a caramel Frappuccino and the first one was perfect until another customer reached over it the whipped cream was exposed so I was uncomfortable I hate when people reach over any of my food. Also we are still in a pandemic the drinks should not be push all the way to the edge near other customers where they can cough on your drink , sneeze even breathe on them . Other Starbucks have it behind the counter until you come up and get it after calling your name . He didn’t even wait for me to come he pushed it out in the open to be exposed. Then I asked him very kindly , I mean I was so sweet to remake it he gave me this rude attitude as if I was a bother . The new one he made was nothing like the first one. He gave me less of everything because he was upset after I kindly asked him to redo it. So I just asked for a refund. Never coming...

I placed my order via the Starbucks App. When I go there it was very busy. The 2 people ahead of me ordered multiple drinks and sandwiches. Sadly there were only 2 people working there. They needed at least 3 people. The Barista, Olive. did an amazing job. Even though it took me apx 15 minutes to get my order I stood there and watched her work. She never stopped and was very courteous to people who were upset because their orders were not ready. She was very congenial and pleasant and kept apologizing to people for the delay in them getting their order. It was no fault of her own. This young woman is a hard, conscientious, professional worker. She and the young woman working on the register both did an awesome job. I just had more interaction with Olive. The delay in getting their orders was not their fault. There were too many people ordering and they were...