Starbucks — Restaurant in Town of Manlius

At best, coffeehouses are places where people meet. And at the best coffeehouses, people meet new friends. A number of New Starbucks are really great in that way. I loved the Royal Oak Michigan Starbucks with its outdoor cafe and its location on the street, where people from all over Detroit paraded, virtually paraded, on the way to bars and clubs and restaurants. Even old acquaintances walked on by and we had a chance to chat, catch up, exchange phone numbers. I found myself often working remotely from that Starbucks, making friends among the telecommuters. The Starbucks by Second City drew chess players from all over the city, and we played speed chess, timed by clocks, all afternoon.

I'm not so naive to believe that community in the coffeehouse is easy to measure on the bottom line. However, Starbucks keeps building units that have very little community space. The drive through and the carryout business has to have a better return on capital. The Fayetteville Starbucks has space to accommodate at most forty customers. The Feng Shui is off somehow. I've never really been able to focus on work in this interior. I wouldn't organize a poetry reading in this space. I can't imagine a musician attempting a concert. That's why I call this a lesser Starbucks. Burr. A customer exiting the door has just filled the seating area with cold air. Augh!

Saturday and eight inches of snow soften up but hardly melt in the warmth of today. I was comparing bus time to downtown to how long it would take to bike. Google maps makes the two equal. I have loved the thrill of winter bicycling in seasons before today. I could really use the exercise because pedaling and staying warm makes for a great workout. I keep telling myself a different bike will empower this. But really, I tell myself "It's not about the bike". I just have to find that streak of the "Wild Finn", that propelled me to run around Kent Lake every night and weekend for several years. Maybe, a fatty with the huge tires will help?

I visited the Starbucks this morning. A line backed all the way up to the parking lot door. So I reactivated my online app for ordering and feel meh about the entire experience. The breakfast sandwich arrived hot but before the coffee. So I picked it up, sat down, took a few bites and was chewing when the barista called my name to pick up my cappuccino. She called twice, so I had to get up a second time ril as picking up a bundle of tacos at the Taco Bell drive through. And now I know why I drink brewed coffee at Starbucks. I sipped through the foamy cappuccino in just a few draws. Plus, the whole order required me to put twenty dollars on a virtual card for a ten dollar order. So, did I just give Starbucks a ten dollar loan that rides until I decide to order another round of breakfast served virtually without human contact. The Hullars dinner closed, so that's the only reason why I found myself at the all too small, all too strip mall, all too anonymous Fayetteville Starbucks. Nearby Freedom of Espresso gives the feeling that Fayetteville is a village. Starbucks at least has the better wireless and I needed that. But forget about actually doing work at a Starbucks, which has Muzak on the overhead speakers. I find checking into a WeWork to be better decision because I'm working around real business people at a WeWork. We're trying to make money. And that requires room to spread out.

The only Starbucks I've really liked has been the one next door to Second City which had plenty of room and old men who played...

I will be leaving this review at a couple locations where the staff, management, and location is exceptional. They are accessible for Wheelchair ♿️ and walkers on the floor. The staff is so kind and understanding with Special Needs, verbal difficulties, and being patient with us as getting a wallet out and counting currency is extremely difficult for many. But doing it in real life is such an experience for some.

I routinely bring my special needs adults to a multitude of Starbucks locations, and they often require a very specific accommodations for a drink. By this I mean absolutely no ice (no solid food) or modifications to a drink to accommodate a Type 1 diabetic. Thus also can be asking for extra cups, lids, straws, whip cream etc. I always offer upfront to pay for these items but are never charged beyond a basic standard upcharge in a beverage.

Sometimes, grabbing a Starbucks is a routine thing. But for others, this is such a treat, and the only outing they get to have all week. (If I am off or take a personal day, they suffer 😞)

If you ever run into a person like me, who is with someone who struggles to get out a wallet, or it takes me extra time to order a drink or ask for this or that, please do not get frustrated at these...

They have a good product, but their service can be questionable and their ordering app is obnoxious. I generally get coffee from a local shop, but wanted to try out Starbucks, again, since my usual is still closed. Lines at Starbucks are generally unfortunate. So, I tried their app. You have to sign up to add a credit card to load a balance on some virtual card? You can't just pay for your drink and be on your way? You need to load a minimum of 10$, then it increases in increments of 5$. I just wanted to order a coffee. I can't say I've ever had to deal with this sort of payment model to preorder something. Unfortunately, it feels like a cheap way to get people to commit money to a virtual card and potentially forget it or not use the change stuck in the account. For that reason I decided not to order all...