Starbucks® Nation

The story of Starbucks is no secret. I think we all understand that there literally IS a Starbucks at every corner. In fact, there are currently 4,666 Company-operated coffeehouses and 2,222 licensed locations in the United States alone. I also think we can agree that whether you like their coffee or not (I’m a Peet’s guy actually) they are here to stay. What got me to post today is best illustrated by the photo I’ve provided and the number 13. Why 13 you ask? Well 13 is the number of cars in line at the Starbucks on Eastern and Arden this morning. What’s worse? That 13 people decided that waiting in line for 20 minutes for a cup of joe rather than drive down the road a mile or two to another location OR that 13 people chose to use the drive through for a cup of joe rather than park their car and go into the store which is FAR less crowded than the drive through line (I’ve been paying close attention to this over the last few months and find it to be true).

Reader’s note: Should you find yourself near this location in the future, the coffee at Whole Foods Market is quite delicious and they rarely have more than 2 or 3 people in line. “But Whole Foods Market is so…” I know, I know. Just go for th coffee, dammit.

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Author: RonTopofIt

RonTopofIt is a complex personality, as are most of the small breed of modern day renaissance millionaires. He wishes more people were like him and yet believes that it takes all kinds. You've met RonTopofIt many times, you just don't remember him.

10 thoughts on “Starbucks® Nation”

  2. On the plus side, the white truck does seem to be leaving a generous gap for new vehicles to enter the parking lot. I for one, hope that at least 7 vehicles entered through that gap, parked, and had their caramel macchiatos before he was even out of the frame.

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  3. Ron, you ever been in line at Peet’s and had a customer order a “tall” or “venti?” To which the cashier says, “You mean small? Because we only have small, medium and large here.” I love that.

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  4. I sure have, Sac. And I really enjoy the way the folks in line will all sneer at the “offender” because when you’re at Peet’s, you’re family.

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  5. These people waiting in the Starbucks drive-thru are probably the same ones who circle the parking lot at the gym trying to get the closest space to the door (only so they can go inside and pretend to be walking, running, or biking somewhere.)

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  8. Sad that people will wait in line, idling gas, when they could just (if not more) as quickly pop into a Wal-Mart/Target/Sams Club for a nice cuppa joe, and support their local retailer, instead of sending the cost of a cuppa off to “the Man” in Seattle.

    Also sad that they seem to be that desperate to obtain this “coffee.” Sounds like a VERY addictive substance that should be regulated by those who know best for the rest of us.

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  10. This morning I counted 15 vehicles (mostly SUVs, of course) in the drive through at the same Eastern & Arden Starbucks. A new record!

    I parked and walked to find no more than 3 or 4 folks in line with me. In and out in fewer than five minutes.

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