Good parking, terrible customer service..along with the lack of enthusiasm fron the barista, I couldn't find my treat receipt so I asked to show the barista that I made a purchase this morning through my app but she kept insisting that there is a code on the treat receipt that she HAS to have. I go to Starbucks at least once a day and I know for a fact that those codes are all the same on every receipt and can be overridden very easily. MOST locations would have honored it, but she didn't seem to care. She had already put the item in a bag too, which most likely means it's trash now. The other barista even whirred to her that she already bagged it anyway. This may not seem like much of a big deal because yes, rules are rules; However, the baristas at other locations always go above and beyond with their customer service, ensuring the customer is taken care of. I'll be sure to take my business to the location 1/4 mile down the street. The parking may not be great, but the service is much, much better.
(1)
Jake S.
Park, no drive through... (standard starbucks) does anyone know if you are "legally" allowed to make the right turn on a red light for woodward southbound traffic? the *$ lot dumbs out in the middle of the intersection and I always feel like a 16 yr old making that "Pure Michigan" driving move.
(4)
NR E.
The staff is really great! Everyone is very friendly, and seems to pay attention to each customer that orders a drink... Unlike other places, when people don't even bother to look at you, or seem bothered that you show up to spend $4 on coffee. Here, they always get my drink right, and hand it off with a big smile, even when they are slammed. I don't give them a higher rate because even though they are in a high-traffic location, the place is so small and usually packed, so no room for homework, or meeting a friend for coffee. Also, getting out of the parking lot can be tricky. FYI, do not go on red or you may get a ticket! People that have been there know what I'm talking about. I was pulled over one time, and was told that if you are behind the light, then you have to obey it. Makes sense, but a sign wouldn't hurt. :o) Lastly, the place smells damp when you walk in... but not regular humid, more like dairy-humid. I bet they steam so much milk during the day, that some of that condensation just sticks around... Either way, I find it a little gross, but nothing that better ventilation can't fix.
(3)
Ben O.
Fast, friendly, and they make it how's it's supposed to be made. Wish it was a drive thru but hey what can ya do? It does get very very busy at night, good luck finding a seat. I've also seen Jiri Hudler and Chris Chelios here. Aww yeah!
(4)
Linda T.
Actually, I've never been to this one, only driven by it, but I just wanted to let people know that this one is open 24 hours! Why is this one open 24 hours? My guess would be that it's close to William Beaumont Hospital, which, duh, is open 24-hours. I found out because sometimes one of my coworkers would show up in the middle of the night with a Starbucks drink, so I had to ask where she was getting them from. At the time, it was located between home & work for her, so it was very convenient. BTW, we don't/didn't work at the hospital named above, not that it's a bad place. Located on the west side of Woodward, north of 13 Mile (I think), in a free standing building.
(4)
Maggie N.
nope. it's nice that this place is 24 hours but it's not worth it. even at wee hours of the evening, it's overfilled with students, which is expected. but i swear some of these kids come every night and don't buy coffee. the seating arrangement is such that if you sit in a couch you are staring straight at a goofy looking college student who makes both of you uncomfortable. and then, in those same wee hours, there's quite a few homeless people tooling around and hanging around the establishment. offputting. not to be a jerk about it but you sometimes smell way more than coffee there, and you'd think management would do something. the coffee is never made well. i've never had a 'good' cup of anything there. they always seem to mess it up. and then i've been treated badly by the staff there several occassions. the staff that is usually there at night are twenty-something students that sit around and talk to each other rather than pay attention to what is going on in the store. such as a homeless man walking around. and they will keep talking, too, until you make your order. i never get a 'can i help you' or anything from them. it's very irritating. i don't know. it may be the stereotypical coffee scene to act like that and to hire a bunch of kids to handle the business late at night but i don't appreciate the laziness of the customer service or the craftsmanship of the coffee. went there something like four times out of desperation but haven't gone back since summer. i'd rather go to mcdonald's for a cheapo frappe.
Coffeeshops exist for the purpose of offering caffeinated succor for the needy and a place of shared suffering for all writers. As such, I tend to judge coffeeshops on several criteria: willingness to tolerate people being there for a while, comfortable seating, access to power outlets and wifi, and then offerings. Starbucks has a bit of a bad reputation due to the high calorie drinks they sell, though I can blind myself to the awful evil of these facts as soon as Pumpkin Spice Latte makes an appearance on the scene. Otherwise I live off Tazo Passion and usually give anything caffeinated a bye simply because I cannot afford the damages, so to speak, caused by nursing a drink for hours. This one is one of the few 24 hour joints, and no telling when a writing bug will hit! For that it is a great asset for the Royal Oak-Ferndale-Birmingham region. The parking lot's U-shape gives the suggestion that there might be a drive-thru and I was surprised to see this location lacked one. Inside, the reconverted restaurant (or arcade? I'm not sure which it was before) has a dearth of stools and small tables usually occupied by patrons with their laptops and iPads, happily taking advantage of the wifi. I have only come on in-and-out PSL trips, addicted as I am to that autumnal ritual of Pumpkin Spice Latte magic, I don't know what this location is like for longer term occupation. I found it to be surprisingly busy at 11PM on a weekday, and I think finding a comfortable perch is difficult given the layout and limited number of seats. It's good for snagging a drink, certainly, and the staff are prompt, friendly, and alert. Be careful popping in and out of the parking lot onto Woodward. The intersection lies near Coolidge, which is hectic at the best of times, let alone trying to nose into traffic on autopilot.
(3)
Becky C.
The staff's a bunch of grouchy teenagers. They openly bemoan their job and don't care about the product.
(1)
Marie B.
Really disappointed that it's not 24 hours anymore. It was the only Starbucks in driving distance that is open 24-hours. Drinks are fine. Service was adequate. But their downfall are their hours, and reliability of hours. They would close early randomly because their staff was too lazy to show up for work, and it's obviously not safe for one person to run the place at night (I totally understand that). But... man.... miss those 24 hour days. If they change it back, I'd happily change my review!
(2)
Dea A.
Fairly new Starbucks on Woodward, trying to compete with the hours of Java Hutt. Why it doesn't have a drive thru is beyond me. The bathroom was more disgusting than the Detroit Mack/Woodward location. That's pretty bad. Anyway, this is the closest we have to a non-casino 24 hour Starbucks. Open daily from 5am-12a.
(3)
Jim A.
When did Starbucks remove emphasis on speed??? This place is slower than molasses
(2)
Tamara Y.
The bad: the parking lot is small and a lot of times it's hard to find a parking space. A parking space is REQUIRED because they have no drive-through window. That said, I love Starbucks, and this is the closest one to my house. The staff is always friendly and courteous.
(3)
Steven L.
It is official, people are sheep. I just two coffees and two of the breakfast sandwiches. How can anyone talk poorly about McDonald's, their sandwiches are fresh and not microwaved. Unlike the rubbery garbage I just got from the new Starbucks on Woodward. Never again for me and now I am on a quest to prove to the sheep to break away from the nastiness.
(1)
Joe B.
If you're on Woodward this spot is only slightly more convenient than the downtown location but a little slow and lethargic feeling. Service is weak and friendliness is near nil...but they do serve coffee.
(3)
Cough S.
Wish it was 24 hours but it's not. Not many tables but I somehow always find one to study at. The parking lot is the usual pure Michigan but that makes it fun to crash my jeep thorough!
(4)
Sarah C.
While it's always really busy at this Starbucks, and parking is often limited/crammed, the staff is real friendly and they move as quickly as they can without making you feel like cattle. :)
(5)
Jes H.
I've been in there multiple times and the staff were rude and uninviting. I ordered a soy mocha with no whip, and that being my usual, I know its price. I was undercharged and I said "did you get the soy no whip?" politely. The barista rolled her eyes and said "no", added it in but didn't mark it on the cup. When I got my drink, it had both whip and dairy milk, and according to my boyfriend who tasted it, they forgot the espresso because it tasted "like weak hot chocolate". I then politely told them (at the register) that I asked for soy no whip, and the barista on bar overheard and responded "I don't have time to remake it!" in a snarky, standoffish tone. One lady was nice. She apologized and remade my drink, and as I was waiting for it, the same guy snobbed off to another customer who said "medium coffee" "It's grande. Do you even know what you want?!" Overall, pretentious, rude and very "order and get out" atmosphere. Never coming back. If I could give zero stars, I would.
(1)
Lulu D.
Always unbelieveably slow. Expect to wait at least 10-15 minutes regardless of the time of day. They need to have more than one staff member making drinks.
(3)
Tera J.
This is the perfect spot for a relaxing break! The coffee is delicious, staff is friendly, and atmosphere cozy. The only downfall is that there is sometimes limited seating during busier hours. Overall, this is a nice little coffee shop.
(4)
Jeff R.
I work closer to the Starbucks on Main in Royal Oak, but I go to this one for the people. It's mostly the same employees every time I go in there, and I like that they know what I drink and that some have taken the time to ask my name and actually remember it. Even if I haven't gone in for a couple weeks, they always remember me. They'll also honestly answer questions I occasionally have about the pastries, which I appreciate. I get the same drink every time and there's some variation between different baristas, but not much. It's always good. Overall, it's a good spot if you're going in-and-out. I do wish it had a drive-through, but everyone in there is so nice, I'm okay with it.
(5)
Laura H.
One of the two 24 hour coffee shops in the area, which is why I'm giving it the 4 star review. Also, the Internet here does tend to be faster than the offerings at Zuma in Birmingham (the other 24 hour coffee shop around), so that's also a mark in its favor. Another good thing about it is that the parking is free - most coffee shops around tend to be located in areas that require you to feed meters and other such nonsense. The bad news? Holy Caffeinated Calamity, Batman, this place is cray-cray! And by "cray-cray" I mean that you might actually get more work done at a dance club if you have a difficult time with distraction as compared to this joint. Now, if you visit during the middle of the day you can usually get a seat and it can be a relatively pleasant place to work. The issue arises at night, since, well, dining options are limited and this place attracts customers from miles around. If you come here at night it's best if you get your order to go, since this place is small (why in the world is it so small? It could easily be three times the size and still fill up!), and you'll be elbow jockeying with the guy sitting on the bench seat next to you, and that's if you're lucky enough to get a seat before one of the other irritated customers pacing around the seating area sharks it. It's crowded, loud, and downright unpleasant at times. So, it's not so good at night unless you're just dying for that double mocha whip frap with extra espresso and orange at 3am. Then it's a lifesaver, just don't expect to be able to enjoy the drink in the cafe. And as far as product quality is concerned, I mean, it's Starbucks. You know what you're getting into, right?
(4)
Haroun K.
Studying at this place always makes me wistful for the days when this building housed the Spacestation Arcade. I would much prefer to study anatomy while playing Rampage. The ambiance is very dark, which is no good when you are studying things that aren't so cheery in the first place. There are also very few tables. The coffee is as you would expect, and it always seems as if there are too many people working during each shift. The best thing, like most Starbucks, is the music in the background. Since there are so few good coffeeshop options in this area, I guess you couldn't go so wrong stopping by this Starbucks, but it is somewhere that I try to avoid unless all of the other shops nearby are full.
(2)
Alex M.
Whhhhyyy do the baristas feel the need to talk so loud?!? I've had to involuntarily listen to every conversation they've had with each other and each customer the few times I've been here. C'mon, I get that people come here to socialize, but the staff shouldn't take such a big part in that. They're also reaaaally fake-friendly, which is beyond annoying at 150 decibels. Terrible environment to work in. Too loud, too crowded, and their drinks really aren't that good. The only good thing is that there's free wi-fi.
(1)
Dave M.
I stopped in today for Frappuccino Happy Hour--a new promotion running 3 - 5 p.m., through May 16. Frappuccinos are half price and I got mine the "way I wanted it"....as the promotion states. Grande Soy Mocha that was ice cold, chocolatey and delicious. Super friendly staff behind the counter. Tasty drink served up quickly, in spite of the large crowd. I'll be back for another.
Jessica K.
Good parking, terrible customer service..along with the lack of enthusiasm fron the barista, I couldn't find my treat receipt so I asked to show the barista that I made a purchase this morning through my app but she kept insisting that there is a code on the treat receipt that she HAS to have. I go to Starbucks at least once a day and I know for a fact that those codes are all the same on every receipt and can be overridden very easily. MOST locations would have honored it, but she didn't seem to care. She had already put the item in a bag too, which most likely means it's trash now. The other barista even whirred to her that she already bagged it anyway. This may not seem like much of a big deal because yes, rules are rules; However, the baristas at other locations always go above and beyond with their customer service, ensuring the customer is taken care of. I'll be sure to take my business to the location 1/4 mile down the street. The parking may not be great, but the service is much, much better.
(1)Jake S.
Park, no drive through... (standard starbucks) does anyone know if you are "legally" allowed to make the right turn on a red light for woodward southbound traffic? the *$ lot dumbs out in the middle of the intersection and I always feel like a 16 yr old making that "Pure Michigan" driving move.
(4)NR E.
The staff is really great! Everyone is very friendly, and seems to pay attention to each customer that orders a drink... Unlike other places, when people don't even bother to look at you, or seem bothered that you show up to spend $4 on coffee. Here, they always get my drink right, and hand it off with a big smile, even when they are slammed. I don't give them a higher rate because even though they are in a high-traffic location, the place is so small and usually packed, so no room for homework, or meeting a friend for coffee. Also, getting out of the parking lot can be tricky. FYI, do not go on red or you may get a ticket! People that have been there know what I'm talking about. I was pulled over one time, and was told that if you are behind the light, then you have to obey it. Makes sense, but a sign wouldn't hurt. :o) Lastly, the place smells damp when you walk in... but not regular humid, more like dairy-humid. I bet they steam so much milk during the day, that some of that condensation just sticks around... Either way, I find it a little gross, but nothing that better ventilation can't fix.
(3)Ben O.
Fast, friendly, and they make it how's it's supposed to be made. Wish it was a drive thru but hey what can ya do? It does get very very busy at night, good luck finding a seat. I've also seen Jiri Hudler and Chris Chelios here. Aww yeah!
(4)Linda T.
Actually, I've never been to this one, only driven by it, but I just wanted to let people know that this one is open 24 hours! Why is this one open 24 hours? My guess would be that it's close to William Beaumont Hospital, which, duh, is open 24-hours. I found out because sometimes one of my coworkers would show up in the middle of the night with a Starbucks drink, so I had to ask where she was getting them from. At the time, it was located between home & work for her, so it was very convenient. BTW, we don't/didn't work at the hospital named above, not that it's a bad place. Located on the west side of Woodward, north of 13 Mile (I think), in a free standing building.
(4)Maggie N.
nope. it's nice that this place is 24 hours but it's not worth it. even at wee hours of the evening, it's overfilled with students, which is expected. but i swear some of these kids come every night and don't buy coffee. the seating arrangement is such that if you sit in a couch you are staring straight at a goofy looking college student who makes both of you uncomfortable. and then, in those same wee hours, there's quite a few homeless people tooling around and hanging around the establishment. offputting. not to be a jerk about it but you sometimes smell way more than coffee there, and you'd think management would do something. the coffee is never made well. i've never had a 'good' cup of anything there. they always seem to mess it up. and then i've been treated badly by the staff there several occassions. the staff that is usually there at night are twenty-something students that sit around and talk to each other rather than pay attention to what is going on in the store. such as a homeless man walking around. and they will keep talking, too, until you make your order. i never get a 'can i help you' or anything from them. it's very irritating. i don't know. it may be the stereotypical coffee scene to act like that and to hire a bunch of kids to handle the business late at night but i don't appreciate the laziness of the customer service or the craftsmanship of the coffee. went there something like four times out of desperation but haven't gone back since summer. i'd rather go to mcdonald's for a cheapo frappe.
(2)Greg N.
Yes, this is one of I think 2 or 3 Starbucks in the state that is 24 hours, but it's really only because of it's close proximity to Beaumont Hospital, which keeps the business afloat, catering to those endless med students/staff. It hardly has the "charm" of most 24 hour locations, mainly based on college campuses. That being said, I think this place TRIES to be like the one in DT Royal Oak, but misses the mark by a lot. I've been in here about 4 or 5 times, due to MY close proximity to this store, and I've never once been greeted nicely, or really ever gotten a proper drink. At least not the way I ordered it. I think I'll just stick the one downtown, or skip the whole thing altogether, as my Fiancé will soon have her own store, hopefully closer to our neck of the woods. So yeah, unless you need your coffee fix after hours, I would just find some sleep, and wait till the morning. Cheers!
(2)Heather J.
Coffeeshops exist for the purpose of offering caffeinated succor for the needy and a place of shared suffering for all writers. As such, I tend to judge coffeeshops on several criteria: willingness to tolerate people being there for a while, comfortable seating, access to power outlets and wifi, and then offerings. Starbucks has a bit of a bad reputation due to the high calorie drinks they sell, though I can blind myself to the awful evil of these facts as soon as Pumpkin Spice Latte makes an appearance on the scene. Otherwise I live off Tazo Passion and usually give anything caffeinated a bye simply because I cannot afford the damages, so to speak, caused by nursing a drink for hours. This one is one of the few 24 hour joints, and no telling when a writing bug will hit! For that it is a great asset for the Royal Oak-Ferndale-Birmingham region. The parking lot's U-shape gives the suggestion that there might be a drive-thru and I was surprised to see this location lacked one. Inside, the reconverted restaurant (or arcade? I'm not sure which it was before) has a dearth of stools and small tables usually occupied by patrons with their laptops and iPads, happily taking advantage of the wifi. I have only come on in-and-out PSL trips, addicted as I am to that autumnal ritual of Pumpkin Spice Latte magic, I don't know what this location is like for longer term occupation. I found it to be surprisingly busy at 11PM on a weekday, and I think finding a comfortable perch is difficult given the layout and limited number of seats. It's good for snagging a drink, certainly, and the staff are prompt, friendly, and alert. Be careful popping in and out of the parking lot onto Woodward. The intersection lies near Coolidge, which is hectic at the best of times, let alone trying to nose into traffic on autopilot.
(3)Becky C.
The staff's a bunch of grouchy teenagers. They openly bemoan their job and don't care about the product.
(1)Marie B.
Really disappointed that it's not 24 hours anymore. It was the only Starbucks in driving distance that is open 24-hours. Drinks are fine. Service was adequate. But their downfall are their hours, and reliability of hours. They would close early randomly because their staff was too lazy to show up for work, and it's obviously not safe for one person to run the place at night (I totally understand that). But... man.... miss those 24 hour days. If they change it back, I'd happily change my review!
(2)Dea A.
Fairly new Starbucks on Woodward, trying to compete with the hours of Java Hutt. Why it doesn't have a drive thru is beyond me. The bathroom was more disgusting than the Detroit Mack/Woodward location. That's pretty bad. Anyway, this is the closest we have to a non-casino 24 hour Starbucks. Open daily from 5am-12a.
(3)Jim A.
When did Starbucks remove emphasis on speed??? This place is slower than molasses
(2)Tamara Y.
The bad: the parking lot is small and a lot of times it's hard to find a parking space. A parking space is REQUIRED because they have no drive-through window. That said, I love Starbucks, and this is the closest one to my house. The staff is always friendly and courteous.
(3)Steven L.
It is official, people are sheep. I just two coffees and two of the breakfast sandwiches. How can anyone talk poorly about McDonald's, their sandwiches are fresh and not microwaved. Unlike the rubbery garbage I just got from the new Starbucks on Woodward. Never again for me and now I am on a quest to prove to the sheep to break away from the nastiness.
(1)Joe B.
If you're on Woodward this spot is only slightly more convenient than the downtown location but a little slow and lethargic feeling. Service is weak and friendliness is near nil...but they do serve coffee.
(3)Cough S.
Wish it was 24 hours but it's not. Not many tables but I somehow always find one to study at. The parking lot is the usual pure Michigan but that makes it fun to crash my jeep thorough!
(4)Sarah C.
While it's always really busy at this Starbucks, and parking is often limited/crammed, the staff is real friendly and they move as quickly as they can without making you feel like cattle. :)
(5)Jes H.
I've been in there multiple times and the staff were rude and uninviting. I ordered a soy mocha with no whip, and that being my usual, I know its price. I was undercharged and I said "did you get the soy no whip?" politely. The barista rolled her eyes and said "no", added it in but didn't mark it on the cup. When I got my drink, it had both whip and dairy milk, and according to my boyfriend who tasted it, they forgot the espresso because it tasted "like weak hot chocolate". I then politely told them (at the register) that I asked for soy no whip, and the barista on bar overheard and responded "I don't have time to remake it!" in a snarky, standoffish tone. One lady was nice. She apologized and remade my drink, and as I was waiting for it, the same guy snobbed off to another customer who said "medium coffee" "It's grande. Do you even know what you want?!" Overall, pretentious, rude and very "order and get out" atmosphere. Never coming back. If I could give zero stars, I would.
(1)Lulu D.
Always unbelieveably slow. Expect to wait at least 10-15 minutes regardless of the time of day. They need to have more than one staff member making drinks.
(3)Tera J.
This is the perfect spot for a relaxing break! The coffee is delicious, staff is friendly, and atmosphere cozy. The only downfall is that there is sometimes limited seating during busier hours. Overall, this is a nice little coffee shop.
(4)Jeff R.
I work closer to the Starbucks on Main in Royal Oak, but I go to this one for the people. It's mostly the same employees every time I go in there, and I like that they know what I drink and that some have taken the time to ask my name and actually remember it. Even if I haven't gone in for a couple weeks, they always remember me. They'll also honestly answer questions I occasionally have about the pastries, which I appreciate. I get the same drink every time and there's some variation between different baristas, but not much. It's always good. Overall, it's a good spot if you're going in-and-out. I do wish it had a drive-through, but everyone in there is so nice, I'm okay with it.
(5)Laura H.
One of the two 24 hour coffee shops in the area, which is why I'm giving it the 4 star review. Also, the Internet here does tend to be faster than the offerings at Zuma in Birmingham (the other 24 hour coffee shop around), so that's also a mark in its favor. Another good thing about it is that the parking is free - most coffee shops around tend to be located in areas that require you to feed meters and other such nonsense. The bad news? Holy Caffeinated Calamity, Batman, this place is cray-cray! And by "cray-cray" I mean that you might actually get more work done at a dance club if you have a difficult time with distraction as compared to this joint. Now, if you visit during the middle of the day you can usually get a seat and it can be a relatively pleasant place to work. The issue arises at night, since, well, dining options are limited and this place attracts customers from miles around. If you come here at night it's best if you get your order to go, since this place is small (why in the world is it so small? It could easily be three times the size and still fill up!), and you'll be elbow jockeying with the guy sitting on the bench seat next to you, and that's if you're lucky enough to get a seat before one of the other irritated customers pacing around the seating area sharks it. It's crowded, loud, and downright unpleasant at times. So, it's not so good at night unless you're just dying for that double mocha whip frap with extra espresso and orange at 3am. Then it's a lifesaver, just don't expect to be able to enjoy the drink in the cafe. And as far as product quality is concerned, I mean, it's Starbucks. You know what you're getting into, right?
(4)Haroun K.
Studying at this place always makes me wistful for the days when this building housed the Spacestation Arcade. I would much prefer to study anatomy while playing Rampage. The ambiance is very dark, which is no good when you are studying things that aren't so cheery in the first place. There are also very few tables. The coffee is as you would expect, and it always seems as if there are too many people working during each shift. The best thing, like most Starbucks, is the music in the background. Since there are so few good coffeeshop options in this area, I guess you couldn't go so wrong stopping by this Starbucks, but it is somewhere that I try to avoid unless all of the other shops nearby are full.
(2)Alex M.
Whhhhyyy do the baristas feel the need to talk so loud?!? I've had to involuntarily listen to every conversation they've had with each other and each customer the few times I've been here. C'mon, I get that people come here to socialize, but the staff shouldn't take such a big part in that. They're also reaaaally fake-friendly, which is beyond annoying at 150 decibels. Terrible environment to work in. Too loud, too crowded, and their drinks really aren't that good. The only good thing is that there's free wi-fi.
(1)Dave M.
I stopped in today for Frappuccino Happy Hour--a new promotion running 3 - 5 p.m., through May 16. Frappuccinos are half price and I got mine the "way I wanted it"....as the promotion states. Grande Soy Mocha that was ice cold, chocolatey and delicious. Super friendly staff behind the counter. Tasty drink served up quickly, in spite of the large crowd. I'll be back for another.
(5)