Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Montvue Starbucks
I’m not a chain restaurant kinda gal. Everywhere I love to go, everything I love to do is hyperlocal, unique, one-of-a-kind. That’s why I’m surprised at my loyalty to my neighborhood Starbucks. After all, there’s one on every corner, in malls, airports and hotel lobbies. You can’t throw a dead squirrel without hitting a Starbucks. So what makes the Montvue Starbucks so special?
Sounds corny, but it’s the people. Doesn’t matter if it looks and smells like every other Starbucks. My Starbucks has personality. It’s got heart.
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they’re always glad you came;
Montvue Starbucks baristas
Yes, the baristas know my name, and they know my drink and that I like my chocolate chip cookie heated up and served on a plate with a fork. But there’s more going on here. When Corporate decided to discontinue my beloved signature hot chocolate, another Starbucks in town said, in effect, too bad, so sad, you’re the only person who ever ordered it. But Amanda and Molly and Josh at Montvue said, “We’ll pre-order it, stockpile it and start a movement to save your signature hot chocolate!” No kidding. So for months, Montvue was the only Starbucks in town that carried it. When they finally ran out, we shared a moment of silence. I switched to regular hot chocolate, and life went on. But I have never forgotten that they went above and beyond the call of duty for me.
Would you like to try something new?
When the Starbucks phenom first began, the cynics sneered that no one would pay $3 for a cup of coffee, but people do. It’s the little things in life that count. When there are floods, earthquakes, volcanoes and layoffs looming, a piping hot cup of your custom beverage of choice makes all the difference. It’s like a sip of empathy. A taste of our shared humanity.
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
And when my microwave was possessed by Satan, it was Amanda at Starbucks who told me she sold appliances at Sears on Saturdays and would be glad to help me buy a new one. She gave me her mobile number and met me at Sears on five minutes’ notice. I now have a shiny new Kitchen Aid, no exorcism necessary.
A friendly Starbucks neighbor
The Montvue Starbucks is my ad hoc office now that I’m self-employed. I have meetings there, do paperwork and work the New York Times crossword on Sunday mornings. It’s not just the people behind the counter who matter to me. The whole world passes through Starbucks – friends from high school, Twitter pals, colleagues from my previous workplace, old flames and sweet old people who smile at me, even though we’ve never met.
I strike up conversations with patrons at the table next to me, just as my mom used to do in the grocery store line, much to my mortification. Yes, I’m becoming my mother, but that’s another story for another time.
A fellow Starbucks patron
Be glad there’s one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they’re always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
Recently, Adam, a baristo at Montvue Starbucks, gave me a CD of songs he had written and recorded. I passed it along to a friend of mine who works with local talent. What a gift to be able to repay in even a small way, the kindness Adam shows me every single morning — and to know that he has the soul of an artist under his green apron.
I think the neighborhood coffee shop has replaced the neighborhood bar as the gathering place and social hub of our communities. Starbucks is the new Cheers. And with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and happy customers plinking away on their laptops, a coffee buzz is all you need to feel at home. Or in my case, a chocolate buzz.
Where everybody knows your name …
Comments 18
Everything you shared could have been shared verbatim by me! For years here in Knoxvegas, having moved from Boston, I longed to find a local, friendly, homey coffee shop nearby (live what’s downtown, but was looking for something closer to home and work)…Who would’ve ever guessed I’d find it at a Starbucks?! It is more my actual office than my “satellite” one. Great folks there…They know my name and I know theirs…Good stuff. And a cup of coffee’s only $1.64, if ya just want coffee!
Working there is just as fun! Thank you so much for being awesome Laura!
Great post, Lala! I love to read what you write.
Once again, a fab article my friend. Loved this one!
I could write thousands of words about the Montvue Starbucks or just sum it up: Montvue is the best Starbucks. EVER.
Ditto. And kudos to the whole Montvue team. You guys really are one-of-a-kind!
This is the Starbucks right by my office and I love it too! Thanks for the write-up, Laura!
Laura, Great article, as always…you captured the essence of so many of my favorite things, chocolate, service and all around friendly folks w/ whom to share and connect. It’s awesome to find that in one place…lucky!! todd
Check out what others said their favorite coffee shop was: https://knoxify.com/kfq-best-coffee-shop-in-knoxville/
Awesome blog post Laura. I used to work there, and wholeheartedly agree. There’s no other Starbucks like Montvue, not that I’ve seen. I think the thing I love most is that Montvue is a FAMILY, and when you visit, you’re not visiting just another Starbucks. You’re invited to join Montvue’s family.
You are right! I too love local one of a kind shops because it gives a sense of continuity and closeness in any community that you are a part of. Knoxville is a beautiful well kept secret. Thank you Laura for reminding us that this little Starbucks has that feel. I love it.
Great writing Laura – I love my Starbucks down here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but can’t wait to visit Montvue Starbucks when I come home for a visit!
Thanks media queen for another fabulous human interest story that pulls the heart strings. You are the local treasure.
Thank you for writing this! This team works so hard to bring to the community exactly what you have captured in this article. Thank you.
Nice writing. Now I wanta go here too. I remember that hot chocolate.l
Laura,
Simple but sweet piece. Namaste 🙂
You are right! I too love local one of a kind shops because it gives a sense of continuity and closeness in any community that you are a part of. Knoxville is a beautiful well kept secret. Thank you Laura for reminding us that this little Starbucks has that feel. I love it.
Awesome blog post Laura. I used to work there, and wholeheartedly agree. There’s no other Starbucks like Montvue, not that I’ve seen. I think the thing I love most is that Montvue is a FAMILY, and when you visit, you’re not visiting just another Starbucks. You’re invited to join Montvue’s family.