Starbucks

Good quality Starbucks. I can’t call it a “great” Starbucks because there’s a few repeating issues. Sometimes the store will just be randomly closed and while there’s a sign on the door part of why I choose to go is reliability of Starbucks being open and delivering the same product each time fairly consistently, but it’s closed more randomly/often than other Starbucks; however given the pandemic, low salaries employees make, and general unpredictably of all service/restaurant industries, and the fact that I don’t go to other Starbucks often means I don’t have a great basis of comparison to others for the summer 2022 season. One bonus they have that other Starbucks don’t is the board game collection. They have like 10ish board games and I love this because it’s so welcoming and inviting and loungy- like I’d bring more people and it’s free advertising. Not sure why more coffee shops don’t have board games, maybe stuff gets stolen, kids, pandemic. Expect to spend $6/drink. That’s not worth it for me, but the lounge and friendly staff make the environment the key selling point for me. Also while they’re slower due to less staff, it’s 5-star service as long as corporate isn’t running a promotion like double star days. This store shouldn’t participate in bonuses and stuff for growth - I think they’re biting a bit more than they can chew so to speak.

Normally I enjoy this location, however my experience was different today. I had come from another location due to it being too busy and was pleasantly surprised to see Mad River was not. I was slightly irritated coming in as the app told me they were no longer taking orders online. I walked in and got in line where the sign is (and might i mention where the line has always formed) and proceeded to wait while the barista helped someone in front of me. Then, I started to walk up to place my order when two women who had gotten their after me walked up instead. I didn’t make a fuss, and then turned to see five other people had walked in and formed a line on the other side of the store, NOT where the sign is. At that point I left because I knew I wasn’t going to get helped even though I had been there the longest. Figure out how to organize your store and prioritize customers that have been waiting longest.

Normally this store is on it but had a bad experience today. I got a cold brew and i waited like normal. the barista i think she had green hair, got to my order. Proceed to pull my cold brew and started chatting with a customer for what must of been 5 to 8 minutes. then started pulling other orders it wasn't until she turned her back and notice that my cold brew was there and then with no effort at all put the cold foam on top and the drink looked and taste like garbage. I waited for a good 10 to 15 mintues for it. I normal not a Karen about this stuff but i was on my way to work was almost late for a lackluster drink. Im all for starbucks unionizing and taking care its workers but some of them need to pay attention to their work. i know it was probably an honest mistake but it made an impression.

This is the best Starbucks in the area hands down. Always very clean and very friendly staff. I've never been to a more welcoming place where I felt like home. The staff there knows My name knows my order ask me how things are going remembers conversations that I had with him the last time I was in and realizes when I haven't been there in a while. I don't think I've ever seen a better staff at the mad River station Starbucks since I've been a customer there. Through all of this pandemic and craziness and never knowing where you're going to be and what your store is going to be open they have maintained a positive attitude and an amazing upbeat outlook on things. I could say that has to be hard being so optimistic when you have your lobby closed and customers not in your surrounding environment. Way to go Starbucks mad River employees for giving me a sense of normalcy when I come in

Starbucks was empty. I walked in and asked about a specific mug I was looking for. The barista told me "no, there's delay in shipments and they're prioritizing stuff that actually keeps the business going." Pretty rude answer. I guess I'll keep my money instead, since apparently it doesn't help with sales anyway.