Starbucks removes interior seating in San Francisco

[storewanderer]

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/sf- ... 854447.php

[Alpha8472]

These stores are now just drink ordering places. Without chairs or tables, people will not want to loiter. If the homeless are such a problem then it punishes other customers.

Starbucks may be trying to get city leaders to see that the homeless problem is out of control. Something needs to be done or it will be unpleasant for everyone.

[ClownLoach]

Two thoughts come to mind here: first, Starbucks has been making similar changes elsewhere due to homeless taking over the restaurant. This is probably a last ditch effort to save the store in most cases. Santa Monica Promenade store also has no seating and employee only restrooms now.

Second, even if the incidence of these issues is minor this sounds like a neighborhood store where business will be more negatively impacted since it is no longer a gathering place. Since it is also a unionized store this drop in sales will be used later to justify the closure of the location and dismissal of the employees as the store is "underperforming" and has "declining sales." When the union members protest the closure they'll be reminded of all the incidents that they reported which led to the furniture removal and closure.

[Brian Lutz]

Given the fact that this is San Francisco, there's a good chance someone from the city will just order them to put the tables back and enact an ordinance prohibiting it.

[storewanderer]

Really, I am surprised Starbucks continues to be as successful as it is.

I feel like they jerk around the customer, straw, no straw, straw too short to go more than in inch above the cup, their service is slow, things like this seating, no seating, restroom, no restroom, and various other crap... they are very inconsistent. Pricing at licensee units like casinos with a $6 12oz iced tea... I mean you can go find liquor in the casino for less. I no longer find them to be consistent enough and am not sure what to expect when I go to Starbucks. I used to go to Starbucks knowing the price was high but knowing it would be consistent, there would be a restroom, etc. There is just no use anymore.

[Alpha8472]

Starbucks has tried too much to become a fast food restaurant. They have added drive thru lanes to try to compete with McDonald's. They cheapen the decor of their restaurants or eliminate seating. They are doing everything to destroy what the brand was once about.

Starbucks was an affordable luxury. It was all about bringing gourmet hand crafted beverages to America. It was all about introducing European coffee culture to America.

Now you are turning the coffee experience into a fast food drive thru transaction. Starbucks was once the third place besides work and home where you spend your time.

People will just go to McDonald's for coffee now. At least at McDonald's you have chairs and a restroom in San Francisco.

[mbz321]

People will just go to McDonald's for coffee now. At least at McDonald's you have chairs and a restroom in San Francisco.

And at least McD's coffee tastes decent

[babs]

People will just go to McDonald's for coffee now. At least at McDonald's you have chairs and a restroom in San Francisco.

And at least McD's coffee tastes decent

McDs isn't serious about coffee. All they offer now is full fat milk. They eliminated 2% and skin milk. Many of us can't handle it. They lost my business when they did that.

[BillyGr]

People will just go to McDonald's for coffee now. At least at McDonald's you have chairs and a restroom in San Francisco.

And at least McD's coffee tastes decent

McDs isn't serious about coffee. All they offer now is full fat milk. They eliminated 2% and skin milk. Many of us can't handle it. They lost my business when they did that.

They still show 1% in bottles for the kid's meals, so they could put that in the coffee as well (even when I just asked for milk they usually took it out of a small bottle in the cooler, not from a machine or such).
Then again, most coffee places have similar options (usually half and half or cream and one kind of milk, maybe some of the non-creamer options), so that isn't unusual.

[storewanderer]

They still show 1% in bottles for the kid's meals, so they could put that in the coffee as well (even when I just asked for milk they usually took it out of a small bottle in the cooler, not from a machine or such).
Then again, most coffee places have similar options (usually half and half or cream and one kind of milk, maybe some of the non-creamer options), so that isn't unusual.

What you describe is what they SHOULD do, however, I have been told that is not an option. Something about "inventory."

At Starbucks, 2% milk is standard (but they have many other options).

Dunkin only offers Whole or Nonfat (plus various alternatives). But you can mix Whole and Nonfat to come up with 2%... the app doesn't do it, but if you ask for it they will.