Up front, this store was one of the last Safeways to still have the original Starbucks kiosk design. Most stores had their kiosks remodeled in the mid-2010s (ahead of the Modern remodel wave), but this store's redevelopment was already in the works at that point, so I guess Safeway wasn't interested in spending the money. The logo was at least updated, unlike in some other stores (mostly not Safeways) that haven't updated their kiosks. The customer service department is off to the right, with some unfortunately blacked-out windows that would have preserved some of the Marina aesthetic when the 90s facade and addition was initially built.
Oddly enough, at my local Randall's, even though the Starbucks is big enough to have a niche along the front end of the store rather than just a kiosk (Randall's stores used to have their own coffee shops even back in the pre-Safeway era), the Starbucks keeps a storage room a bit removed from the Starbucks itself next to where the in-store bank was (which is now a storage room for online orders). I had seen a sign on it saying that it was for Starbucks storage, but I actually saw a Starbucks employee go in there yesterday while I was waiting to check out. I'm not sure if visible front-end storage rooms like that are common for Starbucks at Safeways. I can't say I've seen it at Kroger locations.
ReplyDeletePerhaps coffee sells well at my local Randall's during the winter, especially when it is cold as it is now, because at least since the mid-2010s or so, it is usually quite cold in my local Randall's during the winter. I assume the building has heat, but maybe just not enough of it or the manager likes to keep the store cold. Maybe that is a Safeway-wide thing, though I don't think so because I don't recall other Randall's being cold during the winter. It usually isn't a huge deal, if it is cold outside, most people are wearing jackets and such.
It is going to be quite cold here, we're even expecting snow on Tuesday. If you're wondering about IAH and HOU's de-icing equipment, well, they must not have much of it because the mayor has already announced both airports will be closed all day on Tuesday at the very least. Speaking of IAH, I heard Alaska is adding a direct flight between PDX and IAH. It'll be nice to get some competition and hopefully added capacity on that route as United had a monopoly on that route otherwise as even Southwest did not fly it non-stop from HOU.
That's interesting! I've never seen anything like that, but I can't say I've paid much attention either. It wouldn't surprise me if some do since Safeways often have a lot of leftover space along the front end from the former video rental departments and banks.
DeleteSounds like Houston is having more of a winter than Seattle! It has barely gotten below freezing the last few days, and before that it hadn't gotten below freezing all winter, which is very unusual. Normally we have freezing nights starting in November, and whole days below freezing in December or January. My mountain vacation next month is going to be a shock to the system!