Sunday Mornings at Starbucks

Sunday morning, I woke up and set out on my favorite morning ritual – I walked to Starbucks. Walking toward caffeine and breakfast, pulled by the Siren’s call, it seemed to me the corner of University and Asbury was a hub of activity. I saw students walking to the gym or returning to campus after late Saturday nights. Students weren’t the only people, however. The parking lot was full, overflowing in fact, with cars parked on sidewalks and medians. The entire University neighborhood seemed to revolve around that one intersection, that one coffee shop. It was a bustle of activity, but it wasn’t hurried or strained. Watching students nurse hangovers and families pushing strollers getting ready for a sunny day at the park, Starbucks was brimming with life. Walking through the door, I was greeted by a line of people and the striking smell of coffee. I asked a mother standing if front of me in line, “What do you like about Starbucks? What brought you here this fine Sunday morning?” “It’s my little treat in the morning,” she answered, baby in her arms and a toddler in tow. Looking around the coffee shop, I noticed that although most of my fellow customers were in and out, beverage in had, I saw that every seat and table was occupied. Some people were dressed up, possibly chatting after a religious service. Others were donning pajamas and big sunglasses, clearly just having woken up, coming to Starbucks to get their morning fix. A few people were reading the Sunday paper, others reading what looked like books for pleasure. One couple had a gaggle of children around them, little toys and coffee cake crumbs strewn around the table. I took my seat, ready to enjoy my extra foamy Misto and croissant, and began to observe. I stayed for about an hour, but the crowd remained about the same. Some people walked in and out, others arrived for a coffee date and stayed to chat. As time went on and I found my cup empty, Starbucks maintained that calm life, sustained an easy-going buzz. It remained a hub of lazy activity, of people enjoying their Sunday mornings. I don’t know if people value Starbucks for the experience or merely for the caffeine. It could be one, both, or something else entirely, but a morning stop for coffee was a popular thing to do.