Health & Fitness
STARBUCKS HAS REOPENED
The area behind the counter is very large compared to the old store, with the seating area appearing as an afterthought.
140 Turnpike Road
Westborough, MA 01581
(508) 898-9421
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The following is an accurate transcript of a fictional meeting with the Architect and Owner of Starbucks on Rt 9 Westborough prior to their Memorial Day renovation:
Owner – we need to increase our sales per square foot. We can’t reduce our lease square footage commitment, so we need to increase our sales.
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Architect – Why do you have seating? Once a guest buys a Triple Salchow, do they ever stay and buy more?
Owner – You’re right. Reduce the seating area, increasing my associate’s area, we’ll staff up and sell more caffeine. Heck, toss me some space for a Clover machine…they produce an even higher margin product.
This fantasy was dreamt up while visiting the newly reopened store on Route 9. We asked the staff how many seats they lost, and the general sense is a table (rumored to be lost in an earlier discussion with the fire inspector) and a single seat.
That’s not the impression upon entering. The area behind the counter is very large compared to the old store, with the seating area appearing as an afterthought. On occasion, I would meet someone at Starbucks for an informal meeting, and it looks like these sessions will be Panera or Red Barn bound.
Staffing seems heavier in the new model, and our order of four drinks was prepared in record time. The quality of the drinks has not changed.
The colors are more muted, giving away to a veneer appearance reminiscent of old school basement remodels: “Z-Brick” brick veneer along with wood veneer. It was a nice design goal, although not my taste in final finishes.
The truth is my guess is the owner really wanted to churn out coffee faster for patrons, especially those wanting to grab and go in the morning on the way to work. The new design will certainly help that, as the wait at the old Starbucks could be painful. If you used the place as an informal office, you’ll be a bit disappointed.
Overall, I am left with a feeling the new place is more like the ones at Roche Brothers or Target….and no longer very special.
The Author
Gary Kelley has lived in Westborough since 1994. His reviews are what he would tell friends, and are not an academic analysis. You can follow him @glkelley or www.garylkelley.com
