Posted on 06/23/2018 4:27:48 PM PDT by SamAdams76
There is a Starbucks near my office on 3rd Avenue and 48th Street in Turtle Bay (NYC) that I occasionally go to. I know most people here hate the Starbucks but this particular one is not that loathsome. The people working there are extremely friendly and recognize me right away. They always know I want the medium Pike Roast (and I drink it black).
So before people respond to say how Starbucks has "burnt coffee", let me say that I know! And I don't mind the taste of "burnt coffee" especially when it is super hot and black as can be.
Anyway, it has been a while since I've been in this one as a Gregory's coffee opened up right downstairs from my office and I've become partial to their coffee. But I still have about $15 on a gift card I got last Christmas so decided to drop in there yesterday.
Right away, I noticed that there was zero seating at this Starbucks. See picture I took below. They still got the little tables but the bench running along the wall and the few chairs have completely disappeared and the entire wall has some kind of mural on it now. Maybe the mural was there before but I never noticed it until now. Definitely however, the seating (which would accommodate at least 10 people) is completely gone. So I guess that is one way to solve the problem of "homeless" hanging out there and stinking up the place.
Can't say I blame the store for doing that. Who wants to have non-paying bums hanging around because the virtue signalers at HQ deemed that they be welcomed with open arms?
Anyway, just thought I'd post about it. Down below, I'll post a photo on Yelp of the same store but with the bench. You can't see the bench in the photo but clearly you can see that people are seated. Which is not possible anymore with the new layout.
Lastly, there are rumors of Black Rifle Coffee taking on some franchises in the NYC area. Can't wait for a BRC store to hit Manhattan. When it does, I'll be sure to post about it here.
I guess folks who are disabled, but not enough to need a wheelchair, are out of luck.
Now wait a gosh darn minute.....my bra is still soaking!
Yes, this really annoys about NYC. And the subways are filthy and because few bathrooms are available, people piss in the elevators.
McCafe is the only decent decaffeinated around.
Just because it is the law, doesn’t prevent places from doing otherwise.
I have been to plenty of places in Texas that seemed good that didn’t have a public restroom.
There is a law in Illinois that says if your site sells fuel you have to have a restroom, but I have seen that not be the case. And neither state is going to respond to a complaint on either. I’m certain that’s the case all across the country.
Unless it’s become high profile it’s going to be ignored.
They may do otherwise, but only until the state health department catches up with them. And, they WILL catch up with them. Put it this way. Texas Health and Safety Code 341.069 says this:
(b) A retail establishment that has a toilet facility for its employees shall allow a customer to use the toilet facility during normal business hours if:
(1)the retail establishment does not have a public restroom that is immediately accessible to the customer;
So, if your "restaurant" has a restroom for you or your employees, you better have one for your patrons, or you will have to let them use yours.
LOL - anything to keep the delusion going...
Yeah, and the people seen in the images are different, too!
NOTE: It's possible that the store was entirely remodeled, meaning that they pulled out the seats, changed the wall murals, and replaced the flooring all in one go.
Regards,
Re the new photo. Are you sure those aren’t diaper changing stations, not tables for standing people?
A public bathroom in NYC is about as severe a disease vector as they come. Hence, few businesses offer them and it’s up to the city to provide city facilities.
That is a good idea to get rid of loiterers. But the residential Starbuckses (?) around here all have outdoor cafe tables. That is where you see the guys with bags o crap or shopping carts. Residents who don’t live on the street just come up in cars.
Restaurant vs. Retail. Perhaps there is a law that covers eating business, likely.
In both cases Law vs enforcement=different.
Even in the large cities they don’t keep up on large chains and the huge turnovers of employees, sanitation violations, smaller places sometimes catch less or more attention with reasons in the variables.
If a bathroom isn’t available for every moment an establishment is open, unless publicly called out and media attention... reality shows.....
I grind my own every day.
In our town in eastern TN we have a Hardee’s and a McDonalds next door to each other. The retired libs congregate at Hardee’s, and the retired conservatives hang out at McDonalds. It’s a funny little war, and there’s no crossover. (We don’t have a Starbucks.)
I keep forgetting how old I am. I should remember to ask for the discount next time. I’m 56 but look younger (good genes). I actually got carded at a bar a few years ago.
Smart.
The grocery store where I work has built another store, with a food court. There is a Starbucks there, but it is a kiosk, set in the middle of the seating area. The seats and bathrooms belong to the store.
Restaurants are "retail." I've owned two. And, even in a one-horse Texas town, the health inspector managed to make it out twice a year. Maybe that's the problem in NY - no law.
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