Starbucks

I am a Starbucks fan and an avid visitor. I have been to many Starbucks, almost to every single one in NYC and the surrounding area. My job takes me all over the north east and all over NYC. Starbucks is my go to coffee spot. And I noticed there are a few types of Starbucks. Unlike other chains most SB are corporate owed and consistency should be high but it’s not. Unlike McDonalds where you get the same consistent horrible product and service Starbucks has many variations. Sometimes even variations between shifts. The E 161^st location is as consistent as McDonalds and worse. If you are not a lawyer from the Bronx criminal court and you dress casual, you will be treated same as a bum asking to use a bathroom in McDonalds. Having the Starbucks app doesn’t help you get the code to the bathroom here, neither does having the stale pastry and burned espresso drink. The consistently unfriendly staff simply told me «You don’t need a code, there is someone in there. Wait by the door.» I was shocked, the lady who burned my flat white knew more about the current bathroom occupancy than she did about espresso based drinks. And the look she gave me along with the attitude, were epic. The first two times I was here I didn’t catch the door in time as I felt uncomfortable to do stationary surveillance near a bathroom door while being forced to listen to the bathroom activities of the current occupant. Today I figured I’d brave through the challenge and I camped out by the door. The woman who came out met me in the door jam I was trying to rush in to hold the door and she was trying to escape what I shortly entered. It was a high category disaster area. I exited as fast as I entered. I found new limits to my body’s abilities.
Note to Starbucks: You opened a store in one of the poorest places in NYC. The employees need some better training to deal with the customer base. If the person has money to buy the overpriced fluid that passes for caffeinated drinks here or if they just need to come in to warm up or use the bathroom, the staff needs to treat them with dignity and respect. You are making $ from all the lawyers so hire an extra person to clean the bathroom and spend some extra money on toilet supplies. Once you fix the socioeconomic issues get the espresso shots right and give the staff better training and more money for working in this challenging environment. Or just close up shop. I’m thinking twice about going back to this location. The condition is evident after three visits.

Friendly and fast customer service. My grande hot chocolate was great! Great atmosphere and just across the street from the court house

This Starbucks is the closest from where I live and work. I can bike, walk or take the bus to this Starbucks. Nice and spacious.

Wow, possibly the best looking Starbucks in the entire NYC area I’ve ever been to. It’s so clean and spacious, doesn’t make me feel like I’m in the Bronx. There’s plenty of tables, booths, high stools for groups to sit and it doesn’t give off that crowded feeling. The pastry case was stocked, looked fresh. Even the bathrooms were immaculate.
Service was on point. The line moved quickly. I got my usual decaf drip. Except it tasted a tad bit watered down. Normally, I would have let the barista know but he had personally brewed the decaf batch for me with a smile that I didn’t want to be that annoying customer since I’ll be a frequent here.

It’s oooopen. Spacious location. Coffee is amazing. Across from the Court buildings.