Starbucks — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Full disclosure, I didn't have the app on my phone, but for the large travelers, this has never been an issue when i've called it in.

So there I am, early morning, calling in an order for two travelers for work when the barista who answers the phone says they only take mobile orders. I mention that I'm driving (about 40 minutes away) and don't have the app on my phone let alone the ability to use it while I'm driving. She insists, but then adds that she'll get them made, but I'll need to download the app and pay when I arrive using the app. All good I say, I can work with that.

I show up, park, download the app, load it up with funds to pay for the travelers, pay for two travelers, then walk in and up to the counter. I show them the receipt and mention I had called ahead and they should be ready. All the baristas look at each other, "Did you start any?" and "Did you know anything about a traveler order over the phone?"

So I quickly realize they don't have the travelers ready and whichever of the baristas I spoke to is now playing as if they (like the rest) have no idea what I'm talking about. They ask if I'm at the right Starbucks, which I confirm because when I called they answered with "Starbucks Ogden and Damen".

So the manager finally jumps in and says she can get them started. At this point, I'm 4 minutes away from where I need to be in 5 minutes with the travelers in hand. She then adds, "It'll just be 15-20 minutes." I mention I'm now in a hurry, which is why I called ahead and she retorts, "They'll be ready when they're ready!" Okay, that's enough for me, I'd rather show up with no travelers than be late by 20 minutes and have given her the satisfaction of making me wait. I ask for a refund and leave empty-handed.

Yes, I could have left earlier, yes I could have downloaded the app the night before and ordered it then, but as I said, it has never been an issue. Won't be...

I just walked out after getting my order and I was genuinely shocked that in 2024, as a black man, I'm being mistreated by someone of the lgbtq community. I placed a simple order I do at every Starbucks for the last 5 years.i placed a mobile order and went to the Aunt Anne's across the plaza, and still stood there, unacknowledged and getting weird looks. all the while, there are other customers and regulars, all greeted verbally and warmly. Normally I don't care about something so trivial, until I see the young lady being trained look over at me and ask the alternative community individual, I want to keep this as civil on my part as possible, "is this guy waiting for something" and the individual responds" I don't think so, maybe it's the mobile order". Instead of asking me if I placed an order, they call out the name on the order. Im then asked if I have more than one personal cup, which I'm asked alot, as my thermos is pretty sizable. I let them know that both usually fit, but when not, they usually put the rest in a little espresso cup so that it's not just thrown away. The individual shot me a kinda disgusted look. the traineeI'm assuming because I heard her being instructed on how to use the foam spoon( No judgement, I use to be a barista as well), then was handed my thermos and as she walked away, the individual In question, pink hair, muttered under her breath " you people are always tryna get free drinks or something. You thought." I then audibly chuckled out of legitimate disbelief and we both noticed each other and she just muttered more quietly from that point. I honestly hate leaving long reviews and I'm not usually the type to be upset at peoples potential ignorance or trauma, but for someone who is supposedly part of an inclusive" community, judging because I clearly look like I'm not part of their normal demographic, in late 2024 is...

I’m still unsettled by what I witnessed at this Starbucks. The service here is consistently slow, and staff attitudes are often rude — but what I saw today was on another level.

A nurse who had just finished a long shift politely asked how much longer her food would take. A heavy-set Hispanic male barista suddenly became hostile, raising his voice at her. When she calmly responded, “I just want an answer — you’re being rude,” he escalated even more, shouting at her and aggressively demanding she leave. He even threatened to involve the police and refused to refund her order.

By sheer coincidence, police officers showed up at the store for an unrelated reason right as this was happening. Thankfully, another customer and I immediately stepped in to tell them what actually happened. We explained that the barista had been unprofessional and aggressive, and the nurse had done nothing wrong. The officers were respectful and believed her side of the story.

The employee’s behavior was completely inappropriate and potentially dangerous — especially considering the customer was African American. If we hadn’t spoken up, it could’ve gone much worse. Eventually, after the police got involved and one of his coworkers stepped in to help deescalate the situation, she was able to receive her order.

This was one of the most uncomfortable and unprofessional experiences I’ve ever witnessed at a Starbucks. Management needs to address this urgently. No customer — let alone someone just off a shift as a nurse — should be...