Snoqualmie Starbucks drinkers love their coffee – and apparently don’t like waiting in line for it. So Snoqualmie, we’re either very efficient, or some might argue lazy, but let’s save that debate for another time.
Regardless, it appears Snoqualmie Ridge Starbucks customers are mobile [app] ordering aficionados – and according to Starbucks headquarters a popular location for the service.
If you visit the Snoqualmie location frequently you might understand why mobile ordering is so popular: 1) it’s is extremely busy – especially in the morning; 2) the design and size of the store offers little space for a line to form – a line ten people deep can push you out the front door; 3) there’s not a lot of seating; 4) there’s no drive-thru coffee shop on Snoqualmie Ridge where 80% of the city’s population resides.
It’s a perfect storm for mobile ordering. As a result, Starbucks is making the Snoqualmie location its national test store for 
a new service – “Curbside Pickup” – and also why baristas on September 28, 2016 began wearing headsets.
Snoqualmie the only location for Starbucks ‘Curbside Service’ and they’ll only be testing it for six weeks.
Employees say the service is pretty easy to use. Just order through your mobile app like normal. Find ‘Pickup Options’ at the bottom of the menu. Add ‘Curbside Pickup at Snoqualmie Ridge.’ Confirm your pickup store as Snoqualmie Ridge (7730 Center Blvd SE). Then look for the Curbside Pickup sign in front of the store, where a barista will bring your order right to the car.
The Curbside Pickup sign is at the entrance adjacent the IGA – not Steve’s Doughnuts. Due to safety concerns, Starbucks policy is that baristas cannot step off the sidewalk and into the parking lot when delivering your order – so do NOT pull into a parking spot and expect them to find you. They can only deliver the coffee from the sidewalk location.
The service is available from 6AM – 6PM daily. Starbucks will have an employee near the front door watching for Curbside Pickup customers. Simply tell them your name and they will use their fancy new headsets to communicate with the baristas behind the counter, make sure your order is ready, grab it and deliver it to your car window.
Important: the store is asking drivers to pull up to the curb facing the direction of traffic to help keep parking lot traffic flowing efficiently. If you pull up in the opposite direction of traffic, you will be asked to quickly loop around in the parking lot and return.
Employees hope Snoqualmie customers will give the service a try – and while they realize it’s not a drive-thru, it’s as close as they can get at their current location. Starbucks will be using customer feedback when considering adding the service to other locations with high levels of mobile orders.
An employee reported that so far they’d only had about five customers try the new service on its launch day. They’re still working out the kinks – but are excited to be the only Starbucks in the country giving Curbside Pickup a test spin.
[** This story has been updated to reflect new information from Starbucks corporate office. While the store is a popular location for mobile app ordering and pay, it is not second in the nation as stated earlier. That information from store employees was inaccurate according to Starbucks corporate. ** ]
Comments
I can imagine what this will do to traffic flow. Can you imagine even five cars lining up at Starbucks. How did Starbucks get permission for this from the adjacent stores?
I think this is a stupid idea—I frequently park in that lot when I stop at the library and pop into the IGA afterward. It’s already a very busy lot and I have to dodge cars and kids (so many kids!) on my way back and forth. There just isn’t enough room in the driveway in front of Starbucks to have additional cars parked, waiting for drinks. What if someone is coming from the Steve’s/Chinese restaurant side and wants to go to the IGA parking lot on the Kinsey Street side of the store? They’ll have to pull into the opposing lane of traffic to drive past waiting cars and with other cars coming off of Center Blvd. headed to the IGA or Starbucks, that’s an accident in the making. Considering that the new Starbucks (with drive-thru) will open in the new development across the Parkway next summer, I’m surprised Starbucks would open themselves up to the liability of curbside pickup at this point in time.
You have to know that most people who live here are entitled to this curbside service. I notice that so many want to feel active and run or walk, yet it’s ok when on the back roads to speed. I’m actually curious where the local police went? I haven’t seen maybe a patrol car or two in a few years, they sure aren’t at the 18 interchange where when the light turns green nobody knows what to do, and the backup builds for miles. Pretty soon everyone will be complaining how Safeway isn’t your fancy store etc, we will need a fancy grocery store, you know all that drive time when you guys aren’t here speeding through my neighborhood in your overpriced cars that none of you can seem to find where the actual gas pedal is when the light turns green. I get it, you are entitled, nothing is ever good enough. Sigh.. Signed a wealthy person who understands life…
I want my standing order delivered daily to my home. They should just know what I want by now. I shouldn’t have to go to the trouble of ordering the same thing every day, and then go get it! Besides, I’m not really comfortable even going outside anymore.
That mentality makes any barista’s job a nightmare. It’s not difficult to say your order every day.
If anything they should cater this to the husbands, who have to deal with the god awful commute, plus work etc. to all you that do what you do much love..
Wow El…. because women don’t work? (signed, a *married* working mother).
I appologize, that was a very stupid uneducated comment. I just wish so many people would slow down and not speed when there are kids and people always around.
[…] Snoqualmie store reportedly ranks second in the nation for the brand’s popular mobile order and pay system, which allows customers to order — and pay […]
[…] local website Living Snoqualmie reported on the launch of the service, commenters voiced those concerns, writing, “I can imagine what this will do to traffic flow. Can […]
[…] really using this service. Maybe that’s for logistical reasons: Commenters on the site Living Snoqualmie are worried that it’ll hold up traffic. The Starbucks has a special curbside section in order […]
Better coffee at the Shell in North Bend. Right across from Scotts. Bring your own cup, 75 cents.
[…] which means Curbside Pickup could be huge. According to Living Snoqualmie (and Starbucks policy), for Curbside Pickup, the baristas have to stay on the Starbucks sidewalk and cannot come out and find you in the parking lot. However, there is a designated area for […]
[…] which means Curbside Pickup could be huge. According to Living Snoqualmie (and Starbucks policy), for Curbside Pickup, the baristas have to stay on the Starbucks sidewalk and cannot come out and find you in the parking lot. However, there is a designated area for […]
Clearly HQ has never been to the location. Parking lot is too small and narrow. Not the best idea.
[…] local Living Snoqualmie website caught news of the new service, however, commenters voiced their concerns with the launch, writing, “I can imagine what this will do to traffic flow. Can you imagine even five cars […]