July 9, 2008

The Newbury Street Starbucks: Where They Really Care

The Church Street Starbucks in Harvard Square made my enemies list today. Let me tell you how.

I should begin by saying I’m not all that big a fan of Starbucks in general. I’d much rather sit down to milk art on a latte flavored with homemade caramel sauce, and let the world drift by me as I sip at someplace like the divine L’Aroma Cafe.

But sometimes you’re in a hurry, or out of town, or mad at the world, and you want something you know will feel good, without the quirk and personal touches that make a local coffee shop great. And it’s only the best Starbuckses out there that give you that fast, friendly, efficient service that you need in those times.

My day job’s in Harvard Square. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great coffee shops there, too, but I was in a hurry and wanted something cold and caffeinated posthaste. So rather than walk all the way around the corner to Peet’s, I figured I’d head over the Church Street Starbucks for a Chai Frappuccino. When I got there, though, the place was packed.

No big deal, I thought, I’ll just wait in line. While I’m not the sort who’s above cheating the queue late-night at Daisy Buchanon’s, Starbucks’ service is fast enough that I’ll be in and out in a minute or two; besides, all these folks probably need refreshment as much as I do.

Thing was, the shop had about 4 different baristas taking orders, and plenty of other sunken-eyed coffee fiends just weren’t feeling as philosophical about their addictions as I was.

I was OK with the the confused looking elementary schooler who stumbled in front of me to buy a sandwich, but when the guy who’d already been served his iced-venti-mocha-whatever came back around to the counter with a pound of coffee to grind, I was getting miffed.

So when, after both people in front of me had engaged at the register, another barista came by and asked for the next “guest”, I stepped over to him and ordered. And he said “Ok,” in a psuedo-polite tone of voice, “but could you get back into line where you were so things don’t get all, like, mixed up?”

Faux pas, bro. First off, I’ve spent enough time working jobs like yours to know that “Are you sure you were the next person in line?” or “I’m sorry, I think someone else was ahead of you” is the proper way to address a line-jumping customer.

Second, I’m the guy who’s been standing here patiently while you’ve been serving whoever felt like barging up to the register. And thirdly, though I’ve got plenty of spit to waste showering you in colorful descriptives, you ain’t worth the time and there’s another Starbucks over at the Harvard Square Garage.

Though I doubt the Church Street Starbucks is suffering for lack of my $4.20, I think they deserve some online recognition for their poorly-run shop. I’ve seen crowds of the snootiest, most thoughtless Bostonians, in full-on shopping rampage mode, flood the Newbury Street Starbucks (between Dartmouth and Exeter) and the staff has shuffled them through, happy and caffeinated, with the efficiency of a Swiss watch.

Maybe it’s because those Newbury baristas know that certain Back Bay customers will make their lives living hell for five full minutes if an order is even slightly botched, but I like to think it’s because they care. The fact that I can’t tell proves this is a level of service you just can’t get at the Natick mall.

So here are some properties walking distance from what my well-traveled palate considers to be one of the finest Starbucks in the land:

160 Comm Ave #413
Back Bay, MA 02116
1 Beds, 1 Bath
977 sq. ft.
$695,000

271 Dartmouth #5B
Back Bay, MA 02116
0 Beds, 1 Bath
521 sq. ft.
$325,000

201 Newbury St #506
Back Bay, MA 02116
2 Beds, 2.5 Bath
1,314 sq. ft.
$895,000

Boston Sweet Digs Home

The Price of Solitude? $700/square foot

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