Starbucks is Starbucks, so I won't waste your time or mine writing about the coffee or the food served here. If you're not familiar with Starbucks by now, you're probably not a coffee or tea drinker anyway so why are you reading this review?
I love coffeehouses. They're the only places an adult can just hangout - read, write, work, socialize - without getting drunk. Not that I don't like hitting the bars every now and again, I do, but when I just want out of the house, I head for a coffeehouse.
If you read my review of The Grind Coffeehouse located a half-block north of this particular Starbucks, then you know I don't go to coffeehouses just for the coffee and pastries. I go for ambiance and amenities. Starbucks, adopting the corporate philosophy that making each store virtually the same builds brand identity and offers consumers (notice I didn't say guests or even customers) a consistent experience, rarely offers either ambiance or amenities.
The furniture is the same, the music is the same, the uniforms are the same and WIFI must be purchased through T-Moblie. But, they're everywhere and though I'd much rather be sitting in Wicker Park's now defunct Filter or Lakeview's long-gone Scenes (closed when Starbucks moved in down the street and demanded the landlord terminate the lease), I go. Begrudgingly.
The Starbucks on the corner of Wilson and Lincoln in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood is a little different. Everything here is the same as at any other Starbucks on the planet, yet somehow it still manages to feel like a neighborhood hangout.
There are two main factors that make this place appealing: the staff and the customers.
I've spent a lot of time tending bar and each time I walk in here I have the same thought, "These baristas would make great bartenders."
The staff here is friendly, conversational and helpful. They treat regulars like myself with the same welcoming attitude with which I've always tried to treat my bar regulars. You should know, none of the employees here is a personal friend. I'm writing this because they do good work and deserve recognition.
People criticize Starbucks for being a corporate giant sucking the personality out of neighborhoods and towns and turning our diverse city and nation into one big strip mall - a Starbucks next to a Gap, next to a Baby Gap, next to a Pre-natal Gap. But, the people who work there aren't corporate giants, they're students, actors, writers, and people trying to figure out what's next. This Starbucks is fortunate to have a really nice group of people working for them, many of whom could probably earn a good deal more waiting tables or slinging beer.
And then there are the regular customers. I don't interact with anyone really, but it is nice to walk in here, see familiar faces, give them a quick nod and a smile and them plop down in my usual spot.
This is a very active community and it's nice to see lots of people coming and going, hanging out and talking, reading, working, whatever - the activity helps me recharge my batteries.
The only real negative here is that sometimes, especially during the day, the place is filled with screaming kids. Now, before anyone gets upset - "Oh, another complaint about kids," - I really like kids. But, there is a large contingent of parents and caregivers here who come in, sit down to talk with the other adults and let their kids run around and climb all over everything. Not all parents, mind you, but enough so that on several occasions when a parent or group of parents have left with their children, everyone in the place sits up, looks at everyone else and smiles.
Note to parents, nannies, mannies and babysitters: some of us go here to work, unwind and relax. There are even other parents out there who go here to escape from their own screaming kids. They certainly don't want to trade listening to their kids for listening to yours. Adults need places to hangout too. Use your trips to Starbucks and other places to teach your kids how to behave in public places. You'll be doing them a favor. Teach them now and they won't grow into the type of adult you're embarrassed to go out to dinner with. I'll get off the soapbox now.
The one thing I would like to see Starbucks' management do here is add more comfortable seating. The store is large enough to accommodate more than two big, comfortable chairs. There used to be three, one was broken so they got rid of it, but never replaced it. Also, they rearranged the store less than a year ago and moved the only two comfortable chairs right next to the doors.
Note to Starbucks Management: You have lot's of competition in this neighborhood. Make it a more comfortable place to hangout and you'll steal away business from the other coffeehouses - especially at night.
That said, I do like this Starbucks. The staff is great and it manages to have a neighborhood vibe. read more