Starbucks - Houston

Starbucks always operates like a well oiled machine.

I went to this location to meet a friend for a quick drink and catch up. It’s a hectic holiday season, and as usual, Starbucks is JUMPING. When we walked in, we were helped immediately and waited for our drinks. While waiting, I couldn’t help but notice Justin. Justin’s kindness and hard work are why we pay $5 for coffee. Justin greeted everyone who walked through the door while working, making eye contact with everyone and giving updates on orders while busy folks came in and out waiting on their order. Justin the teamwork was incredible. I was in such awe of Justin. Keep being great, Justin. You run a tight ship, and you are going places.

The staff and atmosphere make this Starbucks a pleasant place to enjoy coffee and work, relax, or have a social gathering. Great attitudes from the staff, welcoming and positive. I still occasionally choose Starbucks for my coffee shop choice because of this location. Others certainly need to use this one as a nationwide example.

The people who work here are nice, and it’s Starbucks so you know, consistency. But the drive-through at this location is all kinds of STUPID… 1) The line often backs up around the building, preventing people who went inside from getting out of their parking spaces. FAIL. 2) People can and do try to skip the line by coming in the south side from a small side street, because there’s no physical barrier to them doing so, resulting in the occasional honk fest. Extra FAIL. 3) The menu is located a few feet *beyond* the microphone where you’re supposed to order, which means people sometimes pass it up by mistake and have to order from the window instead. Mega FAIL. 4) The drive-through exit on the east side has a big drop-off onto Washington Ave, which is seriously harsh enough to make you spill your coffee. Super FAIL. IT’S SOOO DUMB. Like could we make it dumber?.. I dunno, I’ll share some new ideas when I think of them. Let’s try to get this place some drive-through Razzie awards or something! Argh.

This review is about the physical location and not Starbucks in general. The location makes sense in theory. There are a lot of houses surrounding the store, plus with Memorial Park nearby, it’s a great place to enjoy a nice beverage or snack. But the parking lot is way too small to handle a drive through that goes right in the middle of it. People that park and go in are frequently trapped until a nice person lets you out. I follow the adage of don’t complain about a problem without presenting a solution but the only one is to request patrons to walk if they can. It is an unfortunate situation so be aware if you’re new to the area.