Coffee lovers savor freebies from Starbucks Coffee Company
Customers like store's location, atmosphere
BY RACHEL KIPP
rlkipp@marion.gannett.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AARON PENNOCK /apennock@marion.gannett.com
TIGHT - Judy Berry, Marion, tries to move through the crowd waiting for coffee. "Right now, there's a lot of confusion in there," she said. "It was so crowded you couldn't get to the dessert." Related news from the web
When Marsha Anderson told a friend from Virginia that she planned to attend the grand opening of a Starbucks store Thursday night, the response was laughter.
"She thought it was so funny," said Anderson, Marion, "because it's so common there."
Before today Grant County residents had to travel at least 20 miles to satisfy a jones for coffee drinks or baked goods from the Seattle-based company. To mark the opening of its Marion store, Starbucks had a Friends and Family night Thursday, offering a free products before today's grand opening.
"It's a great atmosphere, a convenient location. It should do well, I hope," Anderson said, while sharing a table with neighbor Sara Brown, 78.
Lines of customers snaked around the store and unclaimed beverages crowded the counter, echoing Wednesday's practice sessions offering free drinks throughout the day. Employees with trays piled with sample-size bites of brownies, breads and cookies weaved through the crowd.
Standing just inside the front door was Debra Ballard, director of development at the Grant County Rescue Mission. Ballard drank a pumpkin-spice latte and manned a display board with information about her organization.
Ballard said Starbucks doesn't keep food or ground coffee for more than 36 hours and will donate extra baked goods and coffee to her organization, which serves about 150 meals each day.
A cup of house blend coffee at Friends and Family night likely marks one of the few times Fairmount resident Eric Aschendorf, 49, will visit Starbucks instead of a locally owned store.
"I don't think (a Starbucks) is necessary," he said. "We already have Tree of Life, we have Hidden Treasures, we have Beatniks. But it will probably do a good business."
While sipping a caramel frappuccino, Brett Blum, 25, Marion, said he thinks all of the businesses can coexist.
"You come here looking for coffee," Blum said. "Tree of Life, that's a small part of what they do. You go there for Christian music or books, for leadership activities or for food."
At Anderson and Brown's table, the women laughed when asked what they were drinking.
"We're not sure," Anderson said, but then admitted she was having a caramel latte.
"Is that what you're drinking?" she asked Brown.
"I don't know," Brown said. "I just said, 'I'll have that.'"
Originally published September 30, 2005
You can buy Starbucks Coffee Online Too! Click Here To Go To StarBucks Coffee Company Store Now.
BY RACHEL KIPP
rlkipp@marion.gannett.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AARON PENNOCK /apennock@marion.gannett.com
TIGHT - Judy Berry, Marion, tries to move through the crowd waiting for coffee. "Right now, there's a lot of confusion in there," she said. "It was so crowded you couldn't get to the dessert." Related news from the web
When Marsha Anderson told a friend from Virginia that she planned to attend the grand opening of a Starbucks store Thursday night, the response was laughter.
"She thought it was so funny," said Anderson, Marion, "because it's so common there."
Before today Grant County residents had to travel at least 20 miles to satisfy a jones for coffee drinks or baked goods from the Seattle-based company. To mark the opening of its Marion store, Starbucks had a Friends and Family night Thursday, offering a free products before today's grand opening.
"It's a great atmosphere, a convenient location. It should do well, I hope," Anderson said, while sharing a table with neighbor Sara Brown, 78.
Lines of customers snaked around the store and unclaimed beverages crowded the counter, echoing Wednesday's practice sessions offering free drinks throughout the day. Employees with trays piled with sample-size bites of brownies, breads and cookies weaved through the crowd.
Standing just inside the front door was Debra Ballard, director of development at the Grant County Rescue Mission. Ballard drank a pumpkin-spice latte and manned a display board with information about her organization.
Ballard said Starbucks doesn't keep food or ground coffee for more than 36 hours and will donate extra baked goods and coffee to her organization, which serves about 150 meals each day.
A cup of house blend coffee at Friends and Family night likely marks one of the few times Fairmount resident Eric Aschendorf, 49, will visit Starbucks instead of a locally owned store.
"I don't think (a Starbucks) is necessary," he said. "We already have Tree of Life, we have Hidden Treasures, we have Beatniks. But it will probably do a good business."
While sipping a caramel frappuccino, Brett Blum, 25, Marion, said he thinks all of the businesses can coexist.
"You come here looking for coffee," Blum said. "Tree of Life, that's a small part of what they do. You go there for Christian music or books, for leadership activities or for food."
At Anderson and Brown's table, the women laughed when asked what they were drinking.
"We're not sure," Anderson said, but then admitted she was having a caramel latte.
"Is that what you're drinking?" she asked Brown.
"I don't know," Brown said. "I just said, 'I'll have that.'"
Originally published September 30, 2005
You can buy Starbucks Coffee Online Too! Click Here To Go To StarBucks Coffee Company Store Now.
Labels: freebies from starbucks, starbucks, starbucks coffee, starbucks coffee company
posted by Colin & Donna-Lee | 11:48 AM
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