New Starbucks Location Near NT

Salma Kassim-Lakha Contributor

Given that there are just a few Starbucks locations near the school, you won’t have any trouble fnding students studying there. Starbucks is considered by many students to be the ideal study spot. With its large drink selection, sweet treats, and nice environment, why wouldn’t it be a perfect work location?

Although it recently moved a few stores down, the Yonge location’s Starbucks, located across from the Eglinton station, has been a popular spot for many years. Many people found the two-month closure to be inconvenient, but the removal of seating was the worst aspect of this move. Where have all the chairs gone? Students from North Toronto appear to be puzzled by this, despite the fact that the foor of the cafe is spacious enough to accommodate tables and chairs. The four stools side by side with each other aren’t doing any favors for those who want to study. The removal of cafe seating in response to COVID public health regulations would be a valid justifcation, but as of now, how many indoor dining establishments still follow COVID protocol?

“Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity” is one of Starbucks’ guiding principles. If that is the case, then where is the great work environment? Is this “graband-go model” something we want Starbucks to become? Have they gotten sick of people buying a single coffee and then sitting at a table for 4+ hours with their laptop using the wif?

Students don’t seem to be very pleased with this adjustment, regardless of the reasons why the customer seating was removed. When asked about the store, grade 10 student Sophie Ratner said, “I was disappointed with the little seating provided when I frst entered after the reopening.” NT student Sabrina Soros also added, “I don’t like the fact that there’s zero seating; there was limited seating before, but now there’s even less.” Sandra Tauroni Fernandez stated, “I’m a big fan of the location, as it’s really close to the subway and our school, but I like to sit and study, and there’s no place to do that.”

With all of the construction and the COVID-19 outbreak during the past few years, the area surrounding Yonge and Eglinton has been diffcult for businesses. Numerous Starbucks branches have been slowly disappearing in the midtown area, frst at Yonge and Davisville and then at Yonge and Lawrence. The last thing students need is a new Starbucks without adequate seating.

Aside from the unavailability of seating at this new location, students also expressed other opinions on the new Starbucks. Sabrina mentioned, “I really like that it’s close to the station, and their employees are super nice, and it’s always a great experience.” Sophie also found the customer service to be really pleasant: “The frst time I went there, they were having some issues with their new card system, but it ended up being a good thing because I got a free drink.”

Overall, the decline in customer seating within Starbucks is certainly unfortunate for students who fnd it a suitable study spot. The next time you’re looking for a Starbucks study spot, you might want to avoid this one.