Just because Schultz was better than the current guy, doesn't mean that Schultz is a good guy anymore... (don't forget that Schultz was also down with union busting, broke labor laws, and had to go toe to toe with Bernie.)
It's my day off. I went to Dunkin' for some donuts. Got there right at opening and no one was there, but two employees. This location is pretty big. One person was working on coffee. Another employee smiled and nodded. Soft music played. It was brightly lit, as most morning bakeries are. I stood at the display case picking what I wanted. When I approached the register, the employee that nodded (who was now helping the other refill sugar on the machine), casually walked over and asked "Morning, what can I get you today?" He followed me to the case. I selected my donuts. Added an iced coffee. They thanked me. And that was it. It was nice.
Alternatively, I walked into work awhile back on a day off to get some discounted coffee. This would have been roughly at the same hour of morning. I walk in. It's noisy as hell. Five people yell "welcome in!" Three people waiting, all look at me. Every employee is rushing around. One partner was trying to create small talk with a customer who is now pissed that someone is talking to them about their day before dawn while they just want their coffee so they can leave. The atmosphere (lighting wise) is "warm" but you can tell this is just a facade of what coffee shops once were, given how much noise is polluting it.
As the title suggests, this is NOT about Dunkin', it isn't. It is simply there as a comparison. If I were to walk into a Starbucks (if I weren't an employee), I would only do so if there weren't other options. In the early 2000's, I frequented Starbucks somewhat regularly until they started to become all about money and speed, and becoming a place for people who don't like coffee to go so they can get anything that can hide the flavor of coffee, a liquid dessertery where you can tell people that you like coffee while you slurp down frozen "venti" cup of sugar (quotations are there because the iced beverage size should be a "ventiquattro").
As far as donuts go, we have a couple of options where I live (very few locally owned though, and those that are just aren't open super early), but I generally choose Dunkin' because no one is trying to go "above and beyond". I feel incredibly more connected to the employee and company that understands they are providing a service and that I am a customer and that's it. They aren't trying to "connect" with me, they are friendly, kind, nice. It didn't feel "transactional" but it didn't feel like the employee was that dude at the bar that tries really hard to be part of your group. I'm sure that Dunkin' and many other places have their really busy times and people do have to rush around during those moments, but when you walk in at 6am to what is now the equivalent of a themed restaurant pretending to be a coffeehouse to see everyone in panic mode because their employer is telling them they need to get every drink done in four minutes or less...
Well, the world is chaotic already... why would I CHOOSE to walk into more chaos when I can just simply be?
Former baristas that have moved on but still visit here...
Where did you move to?
No degree here. Been working retail and food industry for... 25 years? (something like that). Need to get out for my own sanity, but the golden handcuffs are real with SB. I finally have health and dental which I've only had when I was growing up on my parents' plan. Anyway, post any suggestions you all have, many thanks in advance!