I decided to drop by the Starbucks in the Wedgewood neighborhood in Seattle today (May 7, 2011). The last time I wrote about this store, I didn’t actually give away the location that I was writing about: The previous blog post was Goodbye Push Button Espresso at Starbucks: The Simonelli has Arrived. In that prior article, I discussed that Starbucks was experimenting with a new generation of manual machines produced by Nuova Simonelli. The Wedgewood Starbucks is now back to using Mastrena espresso machines, which is the most commonly found machine inside Starbucks.
I dropped by this store today not knowing if the test was still ongoing. I was told by a partner that Starbucks pulled the manual machines out of their store about three to four weeks ago. The partner I spoke with obviously missed having a manual machine, and it was clear she loved working with the Simonelli. She raved about the great tasting shots that she got out of it.
The Wedgewood store is a fairly busy neighborhood location. It definitely has a steady stream of customers, and has every single time I’ve been to this store. It can be hard to find a seat. Although the manual espresso machine test is no longer in the works, I thought it would be fun to introduce my readers to this store. It’s small but has a homey feel. I love that it has a fireplace, and I like the art hanging over the fireplace. If you’re in the area, be sure to drop by. Here is the store’s address:
Starbucks
7303 – 35th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 517 – 2877
I like to give blog time to both the glamorous beacon stores and the little unsung heroes of neighborhood stores, and so you’ll see a bit of both of that this coming week here at StarbucksMelody. Hope you enjoyed this very short article on the Wedgewood Starbucks. (For lots more store reviews, click here.) Here are a few pics from visiting this store today:
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A beauty of a store, Melody…reallc nice review of a really cozy location. 😀
I love fireplaces at Starbucks…unfortunately very rare to find. I only spotted a few locations in the U.S. and UK with fireplaces.
I love the big comfy chairs with little tables in between…that makes it look like a Lounge or something like that. Very cool. 😀
Love that you do include some ‘regular’ neighborhood stores. They are really (to me) the ‘core’ of the whole thing. They are the truly ‘everyday’ places to many people, who come to know the baristas and often, each other.
I like the fireplace stores too. I think we actually have quite a few in the Chicago ‘burbs, which is nice. And I love the fireplace outside in this store…..something I’ve never seen here….nor would it be practical. It’s generally either frigid or very hot. not alot of in-between….. maybe ‘fall’ but very little real ‘spring’ usually.
AND, the SHOTS. I think we have many of us forgotten the taste of a good manual shot. I literally remember the DAY and the store that I tasted my first ‘push-button’ shot in a Sbux. yuk! Even the partners all said…..tasteless compared to a pulled shot, takes 2 to equal one manual shot. (maybe that’s how I got so quickly up to a quad tall) I think that was around 2000????
Thanx for sharing, Melody.
@Denise and @Sebastian – I too think these regular stores are the heart of the experience! Fireplaces are rare at Starbucks so this store is so great! If I wrote about all the beacon stores only (cutting edge design, the beer and wine stores, Clover stores) then it wouldn’t really be the experience that so many people are really having! Today is a neighborhood store, tomorrow is another neighborhood store, and then a beacon store next week. I have a number of store articles coming up.
See you soon!
Thank you for sharing neighborhood stores! Yea to the neighborhood store. I really think that SB would lose something if they did not continue the feel of the neighborhood store. Is the fireplace outside? Have not seen any stores around here with fireplaces. And I too like the tables and chairs. Great post Melody and thank you.
What? Wedgewood neighborhood? Now I HAVE to come back to Seattle and go, as I live in the Wedgewood neighborhood in Texas! Ha!
I also agree that manual machines have great tasting shots and it would be a dream come true to get those back in stores..
It may not be a concept store but it is pretty!
I believe each starbucks (not all though) had it’s own character if they let it bring it out in the design – I know at one point locality was an important factor in store design, but i am not sure how true that is for new, non-concept stores.