This review isn't your typical review. I am going to talk about a very unpleasant experience I had the other day, and how the Starbucks employees handled the situation. Here's the article. wreg.com/2015/04/14/man-… Soooooooooo.... I went to Starbucks to meet up with my friend that I was staying with in Memphis that night. A few minutes into my visit at the Starbucks around 3:45pm, a woman runs into the Starbucks screaming asking for a doctor. She found her husband slumped over dead in his car in the parking lot of the Starbucks. Apparently he had been there for a good majority of the day, and she found him by tracking his iPhone to his location. I couldn't move my car out of the parking lot because it was blocked in by police and paramedics. It wasn't for about 45 minutes that we could leave or move our cars. In the mean time, we camped out in the Starbucks with what patrons were left. A lot of people vacated for obvious reasons. During this time, the Starbucks staff were very friendly to make sure that the customers were doing okay. They went around asking if we needed anything. I appreciated the extra steps they took since it was pretty shocking to everyone... especially my friend since he lost his mother last year, and that dead body just also happened to be parked right beside his car. It was a pretty sad day considering the circumstances, but the Starbucks staff acted quick by calling 911 and managed the situation to the best of their ability.
(4)
Jeffrey J.
Me "HI do you have any Kenya?" SB "Hello?" Me "HI do you have any Kenya?" SB "Kenya?" Me "Yes Kenya" SB "Kenya cheese?" Me "No Kenya COFFEE" SB "ok no we don't"
(2)
Adeline L.
I stopped by this location on a weekday at 10am while on a trip to Memphis. The drive-thru line was getting long, so I decided to walk in, thinking it would be quicker. I soon realized my mistake. The cashier did not write anything down while taking my order. After ringing it in and completing the transaction, she asked my for my drink size again - I was honest and did not upsize, but if the bottom line shows incongruities, look no further than the staff. Also I witnessed an employee dropping a food item then nonchalantly tossing it in the trash. (I would be amazed if the operations cost / business profit at this particular location aligned perfectly.) There were about 6 employees working, yet the inside of the store was of questionable cleanliness and my breakfast sandwich took about 7 minutes - again I had to repeat my order and again I was truthful, but in the absence of a receipt (I was never offered one), I can see how there might be room for abuse from disgruntled customers. Of which there were a half-dozen during my 10-minute visit, waiting for their drinks to be made or fixed. Overall: no thank you, would not return to this particular location if you paid me to.
(2)
Jennifer B.
My favorite Starbucks when visiting Midtown MEM. That it's within walking from my mom's apartment is only one reason. Staff is friendly & efficient. Busy but moved fast. Interesting diverse people watching. The dudes hanging outside asking for $$ and/or food seem to be in shifts but aren't intimidating. Starbucks seems tolerant so long as they behave - also increases coffee and food sales for gullible guilty middle class folks like myself. Warming the pastries adds a lot. Nice to hang a while and watch the mix of folks change
(4)
William P.
Pretty much a regular starbucks that is always busy near the downtown area, If you really need your coffee fix then it's a decent but not great place. It's better to go to another starbucks that will actually greet you and ask how you're doing
(3)
Jeremy W.
Great Starbucks location and atmosphere. Can be a bit loud outside due to heavily traveled road and intersection but in the later evenings sitting outside can be quite nice. Great staff. Yes parking IS a pain and as a rule, I HATE drive-thru's in coffee houses.
(4)
LaShawn N.
Excellent customer service and staff. Clean store and exciting vibe from the employees.
(5)
Daniel P.
Starbucks drive thru on union is still super slow...i don't like waiting 20*+ minutes for coffee... What's going on in there?
(1)
Leslie S.
Nice place to spend an afternoon in. It is not super clean, but understandable given the rainy weather we have been having. Google connection is nice and fast. Parking is a bit of a challenge however. It is a crap shoot if you will get a spot. Also, drive thru blocks some of the parking lots. PS: they now have tiramisu latte. It is pretty good.
(3)
Christine L.
3.5/5 Not the friendliest starbucks or the largest, but they get the job done. Be prepared to come with patience if you come here. The inside space is kind of small compared to other starbucks so I generally don't study here but rather swing by for the drive through which is fast on a non-rush hour! I avoid rush hour times like the plague Bc the parking (parking is small too) and drive through lines get crazy.
(4)
Shu J.
This is my neighborhood Starbucks and this low rating is due to their bad parking layout design. No one wants to get stuck for an hour trying to exit. When approaching from the east, Starbucks is always holding up traffic on Union Avenue with cars trying to enter, meanwhile people who've gotten their coffee at the drivethrough already are exiting the wrong way, and the people who have parked on the side are waiting for ages trying to back up and get out, if they can find some room. Trying to turn left onto McLean upon exit is a joke -- the wait is too long, and the people waiting behind me trying to exit are only causing the Union Ave. situation to be worse. Terrible design that needs to be reconfigured.
(1)
Justin S.
Who doesn't need something warm on this cold ugly day? Nothing like the great taste of a mocha latte.
(4)
Andy S.
Starbucks is Starbucks. It's a decent coffee shop with some bold coffee. The service is quick. The staff is friendly. They have free wifi.
(3)
Amber C.
The employees here are some of the nicest in the city, and (this is a bizarre thing to find important, I know) their menu board is close enough to the drive through to actually read, even in the sun or rain. My only complaint about this location: the drive thru. The lot is super small, and despite the DO NOT ENTER signs at the end of the drive thru closest to McLean, people still try to cut in line from there. I don't let them, and all the people who do are just enabling stupidity. But if you can deal with people not following the generally accepted rules of lines, then this Starbucks is great.
(4)
Mike C.
Friendlier staff than poplar plaza ultra fast 50mbps wifi on board much cuter regulars than theold fat geezer setup out east24/7/365 of the year
(4)
Rich R.
What can I say about the Bucks? I need it. Friendly crew at this location. Memphis is a great little city, this Starbucks is evidence the neighborhood is on the rise. Ample seating, plenty of hipster patrons feverishly tap iPads surrounded by a nice assortment of branded swag. Parking is a bit scarce.
(5)
Tina J.
U Could never go wrong with this place STARBUCKS!!!
(4)
Hannah G.
A Starbucks is a Starbucks. The parking lot can get really packed, leaving you stuck if you want to get out, and sitting outdoors is loud sometimes due to all the traffic on Union. I agree with the other reviewer that said it's much more efficient to just park and go inside. The staff is really friendly and helpful, and they usually have really fresh food. Some other Starbucks I've been to can't even serve so much as a decent muffin. This one is much better about that. I always order an Iced Venti Caramel Machiatto, and I never know how it's going to taste from this store. Most of the time there is WAY too much milk, other times they've practically dumped an entire bottle of caramel syrup. That inconsistency earns it a 3.
(3)
Alix R.
It's a pretty convenient location and it has a very comfy atmosphere. It looks like most Starbucks stores, so I don't really have anything too specific to say. The parking lot it small though and they have a nice drive thru!
(4)
William C.
This is yet another Starbucks whose restroom is consistently dirty and lacking in accessories, as is their coffee amenity stand. Their sitting area always also looks unclean. To their credit, they usually have sufficient food goods.
(1)
Karen L.
It's Starbucks -- what can I say? If you're looking for a ridiculously over the top coffee-flavored cup of sugar, this is the place. I'm a big fan of their blueberry scones too, to the point that I can't remember the last time I got a different bakery item. The parking lot, and especially the drive-thru, tends to get backed up, especially on weekends. My advice? Park that car and get your butt inside, where there's usually about one person in line, as opposed to the ten cars waiting for the drive-thru. I can get in and out before that line even budges. The employees can get a little too Midtown though -- the last time I asked for a tray, I got the stink-eye and a blunt "No," and was only given one after I explained that I was waiting on a third drink and thus just might need something to carry everything in. People, this is not the place to save the trees, one cardboard tray at a time...I'm the customer, so just give me the darn tray and get on with making five dollar lattes.
(4)
Tom C.
The reviews commenting about the friendly staff must have been written by the staff themselves (while I was waiting in line). The parking is terrible, the space is too small, and the staff acts as if they are doing you a favor by being there.
(1)
Myia B.
Ahhh nostalgia! This was THE college hot spot. Any number of CBU or Rhodes and even some UT (downtown) students could be found here on any random night surfing the web, catching up on homework, and laughing... oh we laughed. Clean, cozy, and an awesome location. What Barista isn't friendly? The only hang up? Parking... it is not plentiful. But you know... it's Memphis... I'll take the limited parking... makes me feel like I'm in a big city! Guess why I checked in this time? Meeting an old college friend to catch up :) Love.
(5)
Ann P.
I waited the longest line just to get my order messed up. I love starbucks don't get me wrong. I just hate this location. I ordered a tall caramel brulee latte with a warm lemon pound cake. They charged and gave me a venti latte, and that's it. "?!?!?!?" I told them my order again and all she did was add lemon cake to my total. I didn't even want a venti. The drink wasn't made correctly either. They gave me the wrong drink!!! And the lemon pound cake wasn't even warm like I asked. I guess this location doesn't work well under pressure.
(2)
Anthony C.
Great location. I like the recent remodel. I don't like the increased presence of panhandlers, but what can you do?
(5)
Erica B.
I'll admit it. I'm a Starbucks gal. As much as I prefer supporting local businesses- I just can't get away from Starbucks. This happens to be my favorite location. The staff at any Starbucks is always spot on, quick, efficient and friendly. This one is no exception. It never matters how long the line is in the drive-thru, I'm always greeted with a smile and a friendly conversation. Word to the wise- the parking lot here is a bit of a nightmare- and the reason this spot doesn't get 5 stars. It's bad enough it is right off Union at an intersection with a ton of traffic. Multiply that by the fact that when you get 4 cars in the drive-thru you cannot get through the parking lot, but are forced to sit and wait in line as well. If you've parked and gone inside the establishment? Yeah, forget about getting your car out till that line is gone.
This is a great Starbucks to do your homework / work from home. The staff is great and helpful. The hours (they close at 11:00 during the week) are ideal. Great place. Plenty of outlets for ones laptop plugs.
(4)
Chris P.
Good, as Starsbuck go. Parking is a little bit of a pain and getting in/out is too, but once you're there the place has a lot of sitting room and is pretty good. :-)
(3)
Tom M.
Nice location, the parking is limited but there are a few extra spaces around back. I will go again next time I'm in Memphis.
Mary Kate M.
This review isn't your typical review. I am going to talk about a very unpleasant experience I had the other day, and how the Starbucks employees handled the situation. Here's the article. wreg.com/2015/04/14/man-… Soooooooooo.... I went to Starbucks to meet up with my friend that I was staying with in Memphis that night. A few minutes into my visit at the Starbucks around 3:45pm, a woman runs into the Starbucks screaming asking for a doctor. She found her husband slumped over dead in his car in the parking lot of the Starbucks. Apparently he had been there for a good majority of the day, and she found him by tracking his iPhone to his location. I couldn't move my car out of the parking lot because it was blocked in by police and paramedics. It wasn't for about 45 minutes that we could leave or move our cars. In the mean time, we camped out in the Starbucks with what patrons were left. A lot of people vacated for obvious reasons. During this time, the Starbucks staff were very friendly to make sure that the customers were doing okay. They went around asking if we needed anything. I appreciated the extra steps they took since it was pretty shocking to everyone... especially my friend since he lost his mother last year, and that dead body just also happened to be parked right beside his car. It was a pretty sad day considering the circumstances, but the Starbucks staff acted quick by calling 911 and managed the situation to the best of their ability.
(4)Jeffrey J.
Me "HI do you have any Kenya?" SB "Hello?" Me "HI do you have any Kenya?" SB "Kenya?" Me "Yes Kenya" SB "Kenya cheese?" Me "No Kenya COFFEE" SB "ok no we don't"
(2)Adeline L.
I stopped by this location on a weekday at 10am while on a trip to Memphis. The drive-thru line was getting long, so I decided to walk in, thinking it would be quicker. I soon realized my mistake. The cashier did not write anything down while taking my order. After ringing it in and completing the transaction, she asked my for my drink size again - I was honest and did not upsize, but if the bottom line shows incongruities, look no further than the staff. Also I witnessed an employee dropping a food item then nonchalantly tossing it in the trash. (I would be amazed if the operations cost / business profit at this particular location aligned perfectly.) There were about 6 employees working, yet the inside of the store was of questionable cleanliness and my breakfast sandwich took about 7 minutes - again I had to repeat my order and again I was truthful, but in the absence of a receipt (I was never offered one), I can see how there might be room for abuse from disgruntled customers. Of which there were a half-dozen during my 10-minute visit, waiting for their drinks to be made or fixed. Overall: no thank you, would not return to this particular location if you paid me to.
(2)Jennifer B.
My favorite Starbucks when visiting Midtown MEM. That it's within walking from my mom's apartment is only one reason. Staff is friendly & efficient. Busy but moved fast. Interesting diverse people watching. The dudes hanging outside asking for $$ and/or food seem to be in shifts but aren't intimidating. Starbucks seems tolerant so long as they behave - also increases coffee and food sales for gullible guilty middle class folks like myself. Warming the pastries adds a lot. Nice to hang a while and watch the mix of folks change
(4)William P.
Pretty much a regular starbucks that is always busy near the downtown area, If you really need your coffee fix then it's a decent but not great place. It's better to go to another starbucks that will actually greet you and ask how you're doing
(3)Jeremy W.
Great Starbucks location and atmosphere. Can be a bit loud outside due to heavily traveled road and intersection but in the later evenings sitting outside can be quite nice. Great staff. Yes parking IS a pain and as a rule, I HATE drive-thru's in coffee houses.
(4)LaShawn N.
Excellent customer service and staff. Clean store and exciting vibe from the employees.
(5)Daniel P.
Starbucks drive thru on union is still super slow...i don't like waiting 20*+ minutes for coffee... What's going on in there?
(1)Leslie S.
Nice place to spend an afternoon in. It is not super clean, but understandable given the rainy weather we have been having. Google connection is nice and fast. Parking is a bit of a challenge however. It is a crap shoot if you will get a spot. Also, drive thru blocks some of the parking lots. PS: they now have tiramisu latte. It is pretty good.
(3)Christine L.
3.5/5 Not the friendliest starbucks or the largest, but they get the job done. Be prepared to come with patience if you come here. The inside space is kind of small compared to other starbucks so I generally don't study here but rather swing by for the drive through which is fast on a non-rush hour! I avoid rush hour times like the plague Bc the parking (parking is small too) and drive through lines get crazy.
(4)Shu J.
This is my neighborhood Starbucks and this low rating is due to their bad parking layout design. No one wants to get stuck for an hour trying to exit. When approaching from the east, Starbucks is always holding up traffic on Union Avenue with cars trying to enter, meanwhile people who've gotten their coffee at the drivethrough already are exiting the wrong way, and the people who have parked on the side are waiting for ages trying to back up and get out, if they can find some room. Trying to turn left onto McLean upon exit is a joke -- the wait is too long, and the people waiting behind me trying to exit are only causing the Union Ave. situation to be worse. Terrible design that needs to be reconfigured.
(1)Justin S.
Who doesn't need something warm on this cold ugly day? Nothing like the great taste of a mocha latte.
(4)Andy S.
Starbucks is Starbucks. It's a decent coffee shop with some bold coffee. The service is quick. The staff is friendly. They have free wifi.
(3)Amber C.
The employees here are some of the nicest in the city, and (this is a bizarre thing to find important, I know) their menu board is close enough to the drive through to actually read, even in the sun or rain. My only complaint about this location: the drive thru. The lot is super small, and despite the DO NOT ENTER signs at the end of the drive thru closest to McLean, people still try to cut in line from there. I don't let them, and all the people who do are just enabling stupidity. But if you can deal with people not following the generally accepted rules of lines, then this Starbucks is great.
(4)Mike C.
Friendlier staff than poplar plaza ultra fast 50mbps wifi on board much cuter regulars than theold fat geezer setup out east24/7/365 of the year
(4)Rich R.
What can I say about the Bucks? I need it. Friendly crew at this location. Memphis is a great little city, this Starbucks is evidence the neighborhood is on the rise. Ample seating, plenty of hipster patrons feverishly tap iPads surrounded by a nice assortment of branded swag. Parking is a bit scarce.
(5)Tina J.
U Could never go wrong with this place STARBUCKS!!!
(4)Hannah G.
A Starbucks is a Starbucks. The parking lot can get really packed, leaving you stuck if you want to get out, and sitting outdoors is loud sometimes due to all the traffic on Union. I agree with the other reviewer that said it's much more efficient to just park and go inside. The staff is really friendly and helpful, and they usually have really fresh food. Some other Starbucks I've been to can't even serve so much as a decent muffin. This one is much better about that. I always order an Iced Venti Caramel Machiatto, and I never know how it's going to taste from this store. Most of the time there is WAY too much milk, other times they've practically dumped an entire bottle of caramel syrup. That inconsistency earns it a 3.
(3)Alix R.
It's a pretty convenient location and it has a very comfy atmosphere. It looks like most Starbucks stores, so I don't really have anything too specific to say. The parking lot it small though and they have a nice drive thru!
(4)William C.
This is yet another Starbucks whose restroom is consistently dirty and lacking in accessories, as is their coffee amenity stand. Their sitting area always also looks unclean. To their credit, they usually have sufficient food goods.
(1)Karen L.
It's Starbucks -- what can I say? If you're looking for a ridiculously over the top coffee-flavored cup of sugar, this is the place. I'm a big fan of their blueberry scones too, to the point that I can't remember the last time I got a different bakery item. The parking lot, and especially the drive-thru, tends to get backed up, especially on weekends. My advice? Park that car and get your butt inside, where there's usually about one person in line, as opposed to the ten cars waiting for the drive-thru. I can get in and out before that line even budges. The employees can get a little too Midtown though -- the last time I asked for a tray, I got the stink-eye and a blunt "No," and was only given one after I explained that I was waiting on a third drink and thus just might need something to carry everything in. People, this is not the place to save the trees, one cardboard tray at a time...I'm the customer, so just give me the darn tray and get on with making five dollar lattes.
(4)Tom C.
The reviews commenting about the friendly staff must have been written by the staff themselves (while I was waiting in line). The parking is terrible, the space is too small, and the staff acts as if they are doing you a favor by being there.
(1)Myia B.
Ahhh nostalgia! This was THE college hot spot. Any number of CBU or Rhodes and even some UT (downtown) students could be found here on any random night surfing the web, catching up on homework, and laughing... oh we laughed. Clean, cozy, and an awesome location. What Barista isn't friendly? The only hang up? Parking... it is not plentiful. But you know... it's Memphis... I'll take the limited parking... makes me feel like I'm in a big city! Guess why I checked in this time? Meeting an old college friend to catch up :) Love.
(5)Ann P.
I waited the longest line just to get my order messed up. I love starbucks don't get me wrong. I just hate this location. I ordered a tall caramel brulee latte with a warm lemon pound cake. They charged and gave me a venti latte, and that's it. "?!?!?!?" I told them my order again and all she did was add lemon cake to my total. I didn't even want a venti. The drink wasn't made correctly either. They gave me the wrong drink!!! And the lemon pound cake wasn't even warm like I asked. I guess this location doesn't work well under pressure.
(2)Anthony C.
Great location. I like the recent remodel. I don't like the increased presence of panhandlers, but what can you do?
(5)Erica B.
I'll admit it. I'm a Starbucks gal. As much as I prefer supporting local businesses- I just can't get away from Starbucks. This happens to be my favorite location. The staff at any Starbucks is always spot on, quick, efficient and friendly. This one is no exception. It never matters how long the line is in the drive-thru, I'm always greeted with a smile and a friendly conversation. Word to the wise- the parking lot here is a bit of a nightmare- and the reason this spot doesn't get 5 stars. It's bad enough it is right off Union at an intersection with a ton of traffic. Multiply that by the fact that when you get 4 cars in the drive-thru you cannot get through the parking lot, but are forced to sit and wait in line as well. If you've parked and gone inside the establishment? Yeah, forget about getting your car out till that line is gone.
(4)Jay F.
They get kudos simply because they're the only place in this city that affords me hassle-free wi-fi connectivity. Also, the staff is super cool and the soundtrack is usually jammin'. Oh yeah, I'm in love with the tall, cute barista. She can make my Caffé Mocha any day!
(4)Carlos S.
This is a great Starbucks to do your homework / work from home. The staff is great and helpful. The hours (they close at 11:00 during the week) are ideal. Great place. Plenty of outlets for ones laptop plugs.
(4)Chris P.
Good, as Starsbuck go. Parking is a little bit of a pain and getting in/out is too, but once you're there the place has a lot of sitting room and is pretty good. :-)
(3)Tom M.
Nice location, the parking is limited but there are a few extra spaces around back. I will go again next time I'm in Memphis.
(4)