A recent practice in many of the old "destination" restaurants has been to freeze patrons out. A destination restaurant is one that developed their business model in a way that encouraged patrons to come in and enjoy the atmosphere. They enticed customers with the allure of fresh brewed morning coffee, exotic blends, free wifi, and breakfast, lunch and dinner served while you sit on a large comfy couch, rivaling grandma's old lazyboy standard you sat on until you feel fast asleep. Money was plentiful (or was I the only one who stopped in on my way to work and then again for an hour before I went back home), they welcomed us. The atmosphere was warm, the coffee hot and the room was a perfect temperature (or if it wasn't, you could tell them and they'd change it for you). I remember those days. Recently, I've been visiting those same restaurants and the atmosphere is not as welcoming as before.
The restaurants I find welcoming are the ones owned by small business owners. But the franchises like Starbucks and others like it are making a habit of what I call "freezing people out". I'd like to exempt Fuddruckers and Panera from these accusations because I've frequented those restaurants and they are always welcoming and the atmosphere and the people very warm.
I've recently visited quite a few Starbucks restaurants here in southern California and they are freezing people out and blasting their music so loud that customers have to yell to be heard. They clean around you when your visiting and bang garbage cans when they're changing the bags out. One night I was there and young man was apparently ending a date with a young woman (seemed like a first date). I remember that it was Valentine's Day and they were holding hands over the table, looking into each other's eyes. He asked her if she thought they could make a relationship work and before he could finish his sentence, an employee came behind him and started banging the garbage around. He spoke a little louder and the noise also got a little louder. Annoyed he looked around at the worker as if to say "would you mind?" . Honestly, I thought he was gonna punch him, but he didn't.
There was a similiar incident when a man was trying to read a story to his young son while they shared coffee and hot chocolate. Chairs banging, sweeping (cleaning) between the two and under their feet. By the way this was not closing time in fact, it was around 2 - 3 hours before closing time. Once again, the customer got very annoyed.
Many times I've left this particular place because the employees seem ill tempered and I didn't trust the atmosphere. This from a place that once prided itself in it's customer service and making everyone feel welcomed. Remember how businesspersons would be there for hours working on their computers? Now they're freezing you out!! Is it the bad economy? Are we not spending enough?
How can a place say come in and treat this place like home when money is flowing, then make you feel unwelcomed when we're all struggling and can no longer afford those $5 coffees? Well Starbucks, guess where I go when I DO have money......yep, Panera or Fuddruckers! I'm proud to spend my money there. Take a tip from them Starbucks! and maybe your customers'll come back!
The restaurants I find welcoming are the ones owned by small business owners. But the franchises like Starbucks and others like it are making a habit of what I call "freezing people out". I'd like to exempt Fuddruckers and Panera from these accusations because I've frequented those restaurants and they are always welcoming and the atmosphere and the people very warm.
I've recently visited quite a few Starbucks restaurants here in southern California and they are freezing people out and blasting their music so loud that customers have to yell to be heard. They clean around you when your visiting and bang garbage cans when they're changing the bags out. One night I was there and young man was apparently ending a date with a young woman (seemed like a first date). I remember that it was Valentine's Day and they were holding hands over the table, looking into each other's eyes. He asked her if she thought they could make a relationship work and before he could finish his sentence, an employee came behind him and started banging the garbage around. He spoke a little louder and the noise also got a little louder. Annoyed he looked around at the worker as if to say "would you mind?" . Honestly, I thought he was gonna punch him, but he didn't.
There was a similiar incident when a man was trying to read a story to his young son while they shared coffee and hot chocolate. Chairs banging, sweeping (cleaning) between the two and under their feet. By the way this was not closing time in fact, it was around 2 - 3 hours before closing time. Once again, the customer got very annoyed.
Many times I've left this particular place because the employees seem ill tempered and I didn't trust the atmosphere. This from a place that once prided itself in it's customer service and making everyone feel welcomed. Remember how businesspersons would be there for hours working on their computers? Now they're freezing you out!! Is it the bad economy? Are we not spending enough?
How can a place say come in and treat this place like home when money is flowing, then make you feel unwelcomed when we're all struggling and can no longer afford those $5 coffees? Well Starbucks, guess where I go when I DO have money......yep, Panera or Fuddruckers! I'm proud to spend my money there. Take a tip from them Starbucks! and maybe your customers'll come back!
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