Starbucks — Restaurant in Virginia

I recently visited Starbucks barcroft plaza and had an extremely disappointing experience with the manager, Zak. I placed an order for two cheese danishes, a Venti Pink Drink with coconut milk, and a Caramel Crunch beverage. Unfortunately, my food was served cold, and my drink was made with almond milk despite my explicit request for no almond milk due to a severe allergy.

The service at this location consistently favors drive-thru customers over in-store guests, leading to long wait times and poor service. However, what stands out most is the concerning pattern of discriminatory treatment. I, along with others I’ve spoken to, have noticed that white customers receive courteous and attentive service, while Black customers are met with hostility. During my visit, Zak, the manager, refused to issue a refund for the incorrect order, even though consuming almond milk could have put me in the hospital. When I requested to speak with him, he dismissed me, stating he was too busy—even though the store was empty at the time. Later, I witnessed him issue a refund to a white customer for a similar mistake.

Zak himself is a person of color, yet he seems selective in his treatment of Black customers. A Black woman in the store shared a similar experience, reaffirming that this issue is not isolated. As a law student, I reviewed the store’s policy, and his reasoning for denying the refund was unfounded. His actions reflect a clear disregard for fairness, customer safety, and basic respect.

I am sharing this in the hope that necessary action will be taken to address the discriminatory practices at this location. No one should be treated differently based on their race, especially in a place of business that serves a...

Today I had by far the worst Starbucks experience since I've been going to Starbucks. With only one person ahead of me in line, and the line filling up behind me, it still managed to take an employee 7 minutes to acknowledge the situation. The girl attending the customer before was oblivious, and at no point asked for help. The three other employees were so focused on the drive through line, not one of them cared to help those inside the store. Meanwhile, two other employees were restocking shelves and fridges, seemingly oblivious to the situation as well. I ordered a drink and a banana. After paying for said items and moving down the counter. The employee who took my order points to a basket of rotting bananas, and tells me those ones are "free". I just paid for one (he could've told me then) and why do the have a basket of rotting bananas next to where they brew coffee? Gross. Somehow, the employee making the drinks skipped over mine, and preceded to make others for people behind me in line. It wasn't until the employee who took my order corrected him, that my drink was made. Without mentioning the drink or a name, he set it down on counter, and went back to his business. My drink was 3/4 coffee and 1/4 whipped cream. Not that big of a deal, I just top it off with whole milk, which of course was empty! I pointed it out to another employee who was visibly annoyed by my request. I finally left the store 16 minutes after walking in, just to take a sip of my drink and it be awful.

This is a reflection of poor management, and poor employee training. I like Starbucks a lot. This particular store is...

I normally do not give reviews unless the service or food is horrible and in this case I just need to vent and warn people. This Starbucks is the worst I have ever been to. Today I vowed never to return. What happened? I walked into the order line. There was one person ahead of me. She disappeared to the back office along with the person taking orders. Someone eventually came and took my order. I ordered a short Pikes Place; I was given a small (not what I ordered). I did not say anything. I then ordered a cinnamon cake warmed. I paid for the order. The person taking my order gave me my coffee then told me to wait at the end of the counter, someone would bring my cake. So I went to the end of the counter and waited, and waited, and waited. All the time more people were coming in and being helped. I had this all play out before. Waiting and waiting for my breakfast sandwich, or roll, or some food only to feel like the only single person allowed to process that part of the order was out of the store on a smoke break. Finally after about 20 minutes I could not stand it any more. I went to the register to cancel my order only to discover my cinnamon bun was in a paper wrapper sitting on a shelf behind the register. Someone picked it up and handed it to me after I asked to cancel the order. There is a major disfunction at this store. I will never go...